Context Setting and The Event
The Impact
The Response – National
The Response – Regional through CDEMA
Lessons Emerging
Way Forward
Recommendations
CONTEXT SETTING AND
THE EVENT
Apr 21, 2023 4Orgamization of American States, Washington DC
Poorest country in the Western
Hemisphere
Less than two US$ dollars per day earned
Majority below poverty line
More than 800,000 affected in 2008
hurricanes
151,000 displaced persons
• On Tuesday January 12, 2009, a 7.3 earthquake shook Haiti at 4:53 p.m. (AST)
• The epicenter was located at 18.451°N, 72.445°W
• The earthquake struck 15 km (10 miles) South West of Port-au-Prince at a depth of 10 km (6.2 miles).
• 52 aftershocks have been felt ranging from 4.0 – 5.9.
THE IMPACT
Deaths 302,977 Missing 23,384 Injured 310,928 (source: health services) 1,514,885 disaster-stricken 661,521 internally displaced people (IDP) 105,369 houses destroyed, 208,164 houses damaged More than 1.3 million people living in
about 400 camps 2 million in need of food and shelter
Almost 3 million persons (1/3 population) affected
More than 50% of schools severely damaged
Key symbols of government destroyed Air and Seaports Damaged Internal and External Migration triggered Communication and trafic problems Mechanism for Governance and
Coordination overwhelmed.
13 Ministries building collapsed, including the Ministry of the Interior and Territorial Collectivities
The second premises of DPC was also severely damaged
Alternative premises for the EOC were established at Rue Duncombe
The West Departmental Coordination premises also collapsed
All DPC staff affected (families or goods)
THE RESPONSE – National
The National Committee of Civil Protection (SNGRD), headed by the Prime Minister, led the operations . New Governmental Commissions created to manage the crisis
Declaration of the State of Emergency by the President (one week after)
DPC accomplished its regular actions and remained at SNGRD disposal through the Minister of the Interior and Territorial Collectivities, according to the National Intervention Plan
UN, NGOs, multilateral and bilateral donors provided humanitarian assistance for the victims
Mobilisation and Coordination Post-earthquake scientific assessment (WB) Damage assessment and information
management Search and rescue Dead bodies management Displacement of people affected Humanitarian aid (food, water and other goods
for the people affected) Shelter and shelter management Protection and security Support to the Governmental Commissions
Mobilisation of the National Committee of Civil Protection (SNGRD)
Limited establishment of the EOC as a hub for coordination (location and personnel)
Non application of the procedures developed by the SNGRD
Lack of coordination between SNGRD and international partners
Resource mobilisation
THE RESPONSE – Regional through CDEMA
100 countries in Haiti relief operations
Over 500 organizations in area
Ten thousands of troops and personnel
Crowded airport ramp
Crowded airspace
Congestion on ground and air
Plenty food and medical supplies but
little distribution
Poor coordination
No idea of what comes in and who
gets what
Haiti new CDEMA member - Sept 09
Civil protection system weak
Orientation to Regional Response Mechanism
in Barbados and Jamaica – Jun. and Dec. 2009
Assist in National Disaster Management Plan
Enhancement
Response coordination limited to CARICOM
states support to Haiti
Response Mechanism Triggered and Immediate Action Undertaken
Coordinated by CDEMA Coordinating Unit
Four (4) Sub-regional focal points (SRFP)
Jamaica (SRFP) for Haiti Countries coordinate pledges and advise
CDEMA Coordinating Unit
Arrangements made to move/lift pledges
Logistics centre established in Jamaica
CARICOM base on the ground
CARICOM Disaster Relief Unit (CDRU) deployed
Special Coordinator established
Technical experts provided for civil protection
support
Partnerships in delivering assistance
Regional Coordination Centre Activated and stood
up for six weeks.
• A team of 10 men from JFB, undertook 15 search and rescue operations – 6 lives saved
• Over 20,000 families in 10 communities initially benefitting from food distribution up to March 2000 – over 453,000 tonnes
• Estimated that another 50,000 is still benefitting from support.
• Over 125 security escort/convoy protection support provided
Assessment and repair of homes for vulnerable elderly , disabled and orphans
Technical Assistance for Strengthening Haiti Civil Protection◦ Haiti National Disaster Plan Translated to English◦ Guidelines for Relief Supplies Collection Points,
Warehouses & Distribution Centres Developed ◦ Guidelines for the Establishment and Running A Camp
Site Developed ◦ Camps established◦ Guidance for Improved Donor Coordination
Tents provided to house population of 3,000 persons.
A team of 20 health personnel (reaching as much as 26 in rotation periods)
Services provided primarily from three (3) fixed locations◦ The Centre Sante Bernard Mevs
◦ Community Hospital Freres
◦ Food for the Poor compound
Medical outreach (primary health care) in thirteen (13) locations - coupled with relief supply distribution
Personnel deployed from across the region totalling 140
Led by sub-regional focal point, Jamaica Ministry of Health
Barbados, Bahamas, Saint Lucia and St. Vincent and the Grenadines, JDF military
Over 12,000 patients treated ◦ Triaging, 220 surgical operations major and
minor including amputations, backslabs to stabilise fractures, delivering babies including premature and full-term, immunization, ICU recovery and counselling.
Limited Intelligence in Haiti◦ Membership not informed by usual capacity
assessment◦ Initial Orientation July (CDEMA), December
(Jamaica)◦ Planned membership launch and exercise
derailed
Weak Earthquake Planning◦ Capacity needs improvement◦ Initial investment through ERCB project◦ Search and rescue team establishment (USAR LL)
Resource Unpredictability◦ EAF US $50,000 ◦ High dependence on external donor support◦ Limited air and sea assets to move resources◦ Significant pressure on CDEMA CU staff for coordination
– programme delivery impact
Governance◦ Process for determining nature and scope of CARICOM
intervention in Haiti◦ Arrangements for meeting costs of SRFP interventions
LESSONS
DPC will require strengthening to drive risk and disaster management – including at departmental level
Multi hazards maps to be elaborated Building codes and procedures to be elaborated
and published Emergency communications must be
strengthened Training and establishment of more search and
rescue teams Need to build more hazard resistant shelters
throughout the country Communication to the population about multidisc
and seismic risk in particular must be improved
Finalise the framework with Haiti and OCHA to be advanced on the role of CDEMA in global response environment in Haiti
CDRU Deployment◦Capacity issues◦Embedding and equipping
Way Forward
Institutional Capacity Assessment Multi-hazard Contingency Plan
development/review and enhancement Development of community risk profile and toolkit
for community-level training Results-based management training for Haiti Civil
Protection and Government Ministries Strengthening of communications capability of
Haiti civil protections Strengthening of arrangements for relief supplies,
communications and shelter for hurricane season
Executing Agency: The University of the West Indies
Development Partner: World Bank
Beneficiaries: Jamaica, Barbados, Grenada (phase 1) Project Value: US$ 510,000
Project Duration: October 2009-2011 (phase 1)
Key activities: Risk Atlas and Assessment Platform for Earthquake, Hurricane, flood;
Training
Project Execution Unit: Disaster Risk Reduction Centre (DRRC), Institute for Sustainable Development
email: [email protected] telephone: 876 977 5530 or 876 927 1660 xt 2613
HTML: http://www.uwi.edu/drrc 37
Executing Agency: CARICOM Regional Organisation for Standards and Quality (CROSQ)
Development Partner: Caribbean Development Bank (CDB)
Beneficiaries: 18 CDB Regional Members Project Value: US$ 1,914,660
Project Duration: May 2006- 2011
Key activities: Caribbean Application Document Development (incl. flood and seismic mapping), building awareness, Training seminars, training- enforcement
Project Coordinator: A. Michael Wood email: [email protected] telephone: (246) 622-7677
HTML: http://www.crosq.org/
38
• It is expected that within 2 years the CADs will be completed, along with all planned training, consensus building and awareness raising.
• The Standard would be:
– Mandatory• National standards will feed into the CADs and once completed and approved
the MS can either adopt of adapt the Regional Standard
– A driver for the sustainable production of services within the CSME
– Accompanied by Incentives (private-public partnership)
– Enforced through Planning Authorities and the establishment of Building Code Authorities
– Applied in Haiti as part of rehabilitation measures
Improve capacity for Earthquake Management in CDEMA Participating States
PURPOSE OUTCOME ACTIVITIES
Benchmark earthquake readiness capacity
Status of Earthquake Preparedness Assessed in CDERA Participating States
Survey the earthquake readiness of CDEMA Participating States
Convene a regional forum on earthquakes
Report on the status of readiness of the region
Formulate a Regional Plan of Action for improving contingency planning
Review and enhance earthquake contingency plans and search and rescue capability
Capacity for earthquake contingency planning improved
Formulate regional Model Earthquake Contingency Plan
Plan adapted in four (4) Participating States
Plans exercised and evaluated in selected states
Plans strengthened through grant assistance
Promote Earthquake Awareness
Earthquake Awareness and Education developed and implemented
Develop interactive toolkit for schools children
Integrate an earthquake readiness webpage within the CDERA website
Launch earthquake awareness campaign throughout the region
Recommendations
Strengthen CDEMA CU and RRM for multi-hazard response and multi-island impact
Increase allocation of EAF to US $200,000 Promoting the architecture for the
application of the Security Assistance Treaty for hazard generated crisis.
Lobby for the initiation of a UN dialogue on Humanitarian Reform.
Ensure familiarisation with the RRM and examine clearly how the national preparedness arrangements interface with the RRM and the international systems.
Advance efforts for continuity of Government◦ Safety of leadership◦ Mechanisms for decision making◦ Integrity of facilities that house assets and data for
key decision making Revisit the initiative for safer building,
especially for critical facilities and a special consideration for safe cities programme
THE EARTHQUAKE UNMASKED THE REAL STORY:
DISASTER MANAGEMENT IS A DEVELOPMENT ISSUE –
A Call for Real Partnership
Contact Information:Contact Information:Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA)
Building #1, Manor LodgeLodge Hill, St. Michael, Barbados
Tel.: (246) 425-0386Fax: (246) 425-8854
Website: www.cdera.org
Questions?