| A DIPECHO V PROJECT Sponsored by the Disaster Preparedness program of the European Commission Humanitarian Aid Department. The Disaster Preparedness unit of the European Commission's Humanitarian Aid Office (ECHO) which, over several years, has been funding projects in the Caribbean which aimed at helping countries to better equip themselves to reduce the impact of Natural and man-made diasters. This year 2006-2007 (ECHO) decided to assist 5 countries in the Caribbean - Jamaica, Antigua & Barbuda, Bahamas, Cayman Island and St. Kitts & Nevis. Wihin St. Kitts and Nevis, the Red Cross, in conjunction with NEMA, identified 4 communities to be part of the project - Conaree and Molineaux in St. Kitts; Brownhill & Gingerland in Nevis. A similar project was conducted in Brown Hill, Nevis and in 4 communities in St. Kitts in 2004-2005. DIPECHO V is an educational project with the objectives of helping the communities to change their behaviour/attitude with regard to the Hazards and Vulnerabilities of their respective communities and thereby be better able to prepare for, respond to, recover from and mitigation the impact of disasters. VCA- Vulnerability Capacity Assessment was introduced as part of the Community based Disaster programme, by the Federation in 1995. With an objective of ensuring a successful preparation and Mitigation Programme at the community level. The Federation, as with other organizations which use this Methodology and these tools, it is vitally important to ensure that community Leaders and community in general, and the different levels of Government both, local (and National as well as other agencies) are aware of the tools, and in turn learn from other's experiences. Objectives: 1) To reduce the impact of natural hazards on life and property. 2) To develop public awareness of natural hazards and their potential impact. 3) To create and continually improve Disaster-Resistant environment by reduction of Vulnerability to National Hazards. 4) To improve the National capability to manage the impact of National Hazards. 5) To increase, encourage and promote effective Mitigation Practices. Project Objectives Vulnerability in high risk communities is reduced through an integrated community bases disaster management approach. |
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