Mr Thomas Doyle, PADRU Disaster Management (DM) Delegate in the Caribbean explained that the 2007 programme was a “follow on” from the previous project. “While it was a 12 month project, it was a continuation of the previous ECHO funded project and enhanced the already increased capacity of the Red Cross National Societies in the Caribbean region.”
He added: “Our aim was to make the Red Cross entities in the Caribbean capable of dealing with and responding to disasters either on their own or with international assistance.”
Mr Doyle said it was difficult to estimate how many people benefited from the programme, but noted that the project did not only cover the Caribbean islands. “We supported Belize, Guyana and Suriname as well as the British and Netherlands overseas territories who are also subject to all kinds of disasters including hurricanes, earthquakes, flooding and landslides.”
Globally, ECHO is one of the major donors of the International Federation both in capacity development and disaster response. The International Federation comprises of 186 Red Cross and Red Crescent National Societies of which 35 are located on the American continent. |
