Jamaica Red Cross signs MOU for community disaster preparedness project

Jamaica Red Cross, Office of Disaster Preparedness & Emergency Management (ODPEM) and Social Development Commission (SDC) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on Friday June 30, 2006 at the Knutsford Court Hotel in Kingston.

This signified their commitment to once again join resources in building more resilient communities through the community based disaster preparedness project - DIPECHO V.

The Community-based disaster preparedness (CBDP) approach includes participatory learning through Vulnerability and Capacity Assessments (VCA), Community Disaster Response Team (CDRT) training and the development of community disaster plans.  

Representatives from the European Union Delegation, ODPEM, SDC, Regional Officers, a community leader from Bull Bay, St. Andrew, and Red Cross volunteers and staff attended the ceremony.

According to Mr. Ronald Jackson, Acting Director General of the ODPEM, “Initiatives like this are always welcomed because sustained public education involving other agencies is the way to build a culture of resilience within communities.”

The post-ceremony discussions reflected the unanimous belief that through consistent integrated sectoral training - such as environmental preservation, community health, children in emergencies and psychosocial support - communities and subsequently the nation will truly be better prepared to deal with disasters.

Bull Bay community leader, Mr. Alpha Greene stated that the VCA training his community had received so far had been invaluable. “Now, with the training,” he added, “I really understand some of the things we can change for ourselves and how and where to access outside help if we need it.”

The project is supported by the European Commission’s Humanitarian Aid Office (ECHO) and the International Federation of Red Cross & Red Crescent Societies.

ECHO has funded previous Red Cross CBDP related activities in the Caribbean. DIPECHO – the disaster preparedness unit- was launched in 1996 to assist vulnerable communities living in the main disaster-prone regions of the world.