GRC: Disaster risk reduction in Haiti
Since the beginning of May the German Red Cross is strengthening the Disaster Risk Reduction in the department Les Nippes in Haiti.
With the contribution of the German Ministry of Foreign Affairs it was possible to focus on five coastal communities, which are extremely affected by cyclones, heavy rains and landslides. There are even some coastal sections and an island, which are completely cut off from the mainland for a few weeks whenever a bigger cyclone occurs. Community preparedness unities only existed on paper until this project started. Also risk awareness was barely encouraged, neither in villages nor in schools.
The German Red Cross mainly aimed to raise the awareness of the locals in the department Les Nippes to a level, where they are so well informed that they can react early and appropriately to a disaster to prevent death and destruction.
Communities were encouraged and supported in strengthening their local risk-management. A vulnerability & capacity assessment was conducted by the communities themselves and coordinated with the civil safety units. Maps of the different potential danger zones were drawn up and explained and signs were put up in these areas. Large community meetings were held, where the population was taught about the dangers of extreme natural events and they learned how to react in such situations.
It was crucial to create a functioning network of local task forces and early warning systems. Emergency committees and first aid units were created and trained, so they can be activated quickly, in the case of an emergency, and are able to do First Aid on site. The inner country ties and communication were strengthened by the unifying of the evaluation methods. The vulnerability and capacity assessment is now coordinated on a national level. Due to several activities every Red Cross Unit in Les Nippes now has an emergency plan, which makes it possible for them to take care of themselves until they get support from the national and international institutions.
To raise the general risk awareness, teachers from over 20 schools were trained on disaster preparedness and on how to include it into their studies. In more than 10 schools the majority of the students took part in awareness raising events. Students from five schools even planned to take part in the workshops at the international day of Disaster Risk Reduction. Schools made there own emergency plans and regularly arrange disaster exercises with their students
When the project will be finished, more information on the development of it can be found on this website.