Even as unfolding weather-related events across North America and Europe point to more formidable climate-related challenges, going forward, the World Food Programme (WFP) has disclosed that preparations are underway within the United Nations (UN) system to use the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) member state, Barbados, as the base for the establishment of a humanitarian logistics and Training Centre to serve the region.
The initiative which a UN disclosure said is aimed at strengthening the emergency preparedness and response across the Caribbean will represent a partnership among the WFP, the Barba-dos Government, and the Caribbean Disaster Emer-gency Management Agency (CDEMA). The facility will be located at the Grantley AdMS International Airport.
The report says that once the facility is up and running the facility will be used to support air and sea operations and serve as a “prepositioning and response centre” as well as a shipment point for relief items.
The creation of the regional facility comers in the wake of global evidence of the need to create more such facilities in the light of what has been a recent significant increase in climate-related incidents.
Barbados is one of more than fifty un-designated Small – Island Development Developing States (SIDS) deemed to be particularly vulnerable to unique social, economic and environmental vulnerabilities. These countries are recognized as vulnerable on account of both their environmental and developmental circumstances. Their environmental vulnerabilities apart SIDS also face challenges linked to their particular economic vulnerabilities.
As a member of CARICOM Barbados has continued to play a prominent role in the regional movement, part of its objective being to benefit from the intra-regional synergies that can help their particular climate and economic vulnerabilities.
SIDS in the Caribbean are uniquely vulnerable to climate change with seasonal hurricanes inflicting serious economic damage and social dislocation. The islands remain conscious of the 2017 tropical cyclone season, believed to be one of the deadliest and most devastating of all time, which destroyed much of the communications, energy and transport infrastructure as well as homes, health facilities and schools during its 2017 rampage.
A 1994 Barbados Pro-gramme of Action advocated specific recommendations which it felt could help enable SIDS to take meaningful steps towards sustainable development.
Recently, Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley was joined by WFP Executive Director David Beasley at a ground-breaking ceremony to concretize the decision to establish the facility.
