Attachments
SITUATION ANALYSIS
Description of the crisis
- 29 -30 June 2024: A Category 4 Hurricane Beryl prompted a hurricane warning for Barbados, with shelters activated housing over 400 people as hurricane conditions were expected to worsen.
- 1 July 2024: Monday, July 1st, Hurricane Beryl passed 80 miles south of Barbados, sparing the island from large-scale damage, but destroying 64 vessels, impacting more than 150, and severely damaging key infrastructure and assets, devastating the fishing industry.
- 2-6 July 2024: Damage assessments began to determine the full extent of the damage; and on July 6th, Prime Minister Mia Mottley announced a plan to restore the fishing industry and rebuild coastal defense.
- 5 July 2024: CHF 1.7 million was allocated from the IFRC’s Disaster Response Emergency Fund (DREF) to support the response activities of the National Societies in the affected countries, including in Barbados, Grenada, Jamaica and St. Vincent and the Grenadines. Emergency Appeal launched for CHF 4 million to assist 25,000 people in these countries.
- July-Aug 2024: BRCS mobilizes volunteers, establishes emergency capacity actions for CEA, assessments, cash and voucher assistance and livelihoods; and coordinates with the Emergency Management Advisory Council (EMAC) and civil society, to redesign its plan to reach the most vulnerable.
- Sept 2024: BRCS scales up assessments, revises and launches its National Society Response plan to focus on Livelihoods and Basic Needs for fisherfolk affected by Beryl, and strengthening community resilience.
Barbados has densely populated and low-lying coastal areas, highly susceptible to natural hazards such as hurricanes, extreme rainfall, and climate change and coastal erosion. Despite its high ranking on various United Nations Human Development Index indicators, the nation faces challenges including youth poverty, economic dependency in tourism and financial services, and aging infrastructure. It has established disaster management mechanisms, but challenges persist with resourcing them and integrating vulnerable communities into disaster preparedness and recovery efforts.
Severity of humanitarian conditions
The storm damaged or destroyed over 220 fishing boats, and significantly impacting the fisheries assets and infrastructure through the south and east coasts. The disruption extended to fisherfolk who suffered considerable losses of equipment and assets severely affecting their livelihoods and posing long-term economic challenges.
The hurricane also exposed the ongoing vulnerability of housing on the island. Over 40 incidents of roof damage were reported, a vulnerability previously underscored by Hurricane Elsa in 2021, which damaged around 1,300 homes. The resultant displacement led to over 400 individuals seeking shelter, including many families with young children.
Since the passage of Hurricane Beryl, the economic disruptions have severely impacted vendors, scalers, boners and cleaners – fish processors, part of the fisherfolk community – who are mostly women working fishing landing sites across the country. The hurricane disrupted the availability and quality of goods and services, severely affecting their income and exacerbating gender disparities as these women often also bear primary caregiving responsibilities. Beyond economic losses, the community's mental health has been heavily impacted. The stress and anxiety from the loss of livelihoods and the physical dangers posed by Hurricane Beryl necessitate urgent mental health interventions to prevent long-term psychological impacts and enhance community resilience.
Moreover, the recovery has been complicated by the geographic vulnerability of the coastal areas where many fisherfolk live and work, heightening their risk to future hurricanes. A coordinated disaster response is crucial, focusing on restoring livelihoods, providing mental health support, and strengthening the resilience of the community against future disasters. Immediate and targeted support for affected and vulnerable fisherfolk is vital for a rapid and sustainable recovery, ensuring that the community can withstand and rebound from future natural disasters.