Some hurricane shelters in the region are old and unfit for purpose, and the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA) is working to improve them.
CDEMA’s programme manager (preparedness and response), Mandela Christian, was speaking to the media yesterday following the opening ceremony of a three-day United Nations (UN) workshop, funded by the European Union, titled the Caribbean Advanced Emergency Shelter Training Of Trainers, part of the Resilient Caribbean Project. It was held in the UN House, Marine Gardens, Christ Church.
“From what we have seen, it’s that a number of shelters are not purpose-built facilities. It’s like schools and community centres that are being used as shelters, and some of these facilities have been there for a while. So, they have been through a bit of wear and tear over the years, and sometimes the facilities and amenities in those facilities are not adequate.
“So, we have been encouraging various governments, ministries and agencies responsible for shelters to integrate those recommendations when they go retrofitting the shelters. And they are building the facilities in accordance with these new standards,” he noted. (CA)
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