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Contact:
Julita Peter
Wednesday, April 16, 2003 - The Caribbean region is being urged to
develop measures that would assist in minimising the loss associated with
natural disasters. Representing the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Relief Agency (CDERA)
at a consultation in St. Lucia earlier this week, Jeremy Collymore, Coordinator
of CDERA says his organisation is seeking to build a framework for dialoguing on
the priorities for accelerating disaster loss reduction initiatives.
The St. Lucia meeting was coordinated by the National Emergency Management
Office (NEMO) and brought together representatives of the United Nations
Development Programme (UNDP), USAID, ministers of government, permanent
secretaries, heads of private and public sector agencies, and chairpersons of
local disaster management committees, to discuss a comprehensive disaster
management mechanism in an effort to have this strategy embraced by every sector
of society.
According to Collymore, “Disaster management must be seen as an ingredient in
the development policy process as oppose to a relief activity. To pursue an
agenda that is not informed by this understanding will raise many questions
about our participation in international forum like the World Summit on
Sustainable Development.”
Lauding St. Lucia’s effort in the area of disaster management Collymore says, “I
hope that the support coming from CDERA and its UN partners will add value to
your efforts.”
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