Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, 9 May, 2024 - The Republic of Trinidad and Tobago welcomed a two-day Regional Workshop on Disaster Displacement, Disaster Risk Reduction, and Human Security from May 8 - 9, 2024. The workshop aimed to address critical issues related to human mobility, human security threats and disaster risk reduction in the Caribbean Region. The event was organized by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) in collaboration with the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA), the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) Commission and the Platform on Disaster Displacement (PDD). The joint programme is funded by the United Nations Trust Fund for Human Security.

The initiative underscores the importance of proactive measures and collaborative efforts in mitigating the impact of disasters on Caribbean SIDS and ensuring the safety and well-being of communities. In his remarks, The Honourable Fitzgerald Hinds, Minister of National Security of Trinidad and Tobago, noted that “This workshop provides all nations present, with the unique opportunity to pursue collectively a program of activities to fortify the intricacies of cross border evacuation measures and to ensure the safety and well-being of all individuals within our borders during times of crisis. This is of particular relevance as the complex multi-hazard environment within which we, as Caribbean Small Island Developing States exists, is disproportionately exposed to threats and shocks.”

According to Strategic Advisor to the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) Commission on Migration and Gender, Dr. Natasha Mortley “while the OECS sub-region continues to be challenged by a lack of comprehensive empirical data on human mobility, migration, climate and environmental crises, a few things are very clear. The Small Island Developing States (SIDS) of the sub-region are severely affected by a wide range of environmental and climate hazards, which drive multiple forms of human insecurity and have devastating impacts on our people.”

The event was designed to raise awareness on human mobility and the relevance of the human security approach in disaster risk reduction.  A tabletop simulation exercise was conducted to test the Cross-border Evacuation Protocols and to enhance regional and national stakeholders' understanding of the measures provided. This exercise also provided participants with an opportunity to offer recommendations to enhance these protocols to ensure more effective and efficient response mechanisms during times of disaster. Participants and stakeholders also examined the UNDRR’s Disaster Resilience Scorecard for Cities to address the complex challenges posed by hazards in the region.

Akeisha Benjamin, Project Officer for Montserrat Red Cross indicated that “the information given is indeed critical to the work that we do with the non-national population and being introduced to new tools and protocols is indeed something that I would be advocating for with our national disaster agency”.

Representatives from The Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA), the OECS Commission, government agencies, international organizations involved in Disaster Response and Humanitarian Assistance in the Caribbean region were in attendance in-person and virtually.

For more information about the Joint Programme, please contact Viola Pascal at vpascal@iom.int  Or follow for more at www.iom.int