UNDP mobilized US$25 million, restored buildings and boosted preparedness in hurricane-affected Caribbean

The UN Development Programme (UNDP) helped mobilize US$25 million, supported the revision and use of improved building codes and restored over 800 buildings for the most at-need people in Dominica and Antigua and Barbuda, some of the countries hit hardest by two powerful back-to-back hurricanes that devastated several Caribbean islands a year ago.

The results are highlighted in a new report released on September 17, only days after Caribbean islands braced up and withstood the passage of Tropical Storm Isaac and exactly one year after category 5 Hurricane Maria wrought havoc in Dominica.

Working with national governments and affected communities, UNDP partnered with sister UN agencies, NGOs and the private sector in the recovery process, including in initiatives to train hurricane-affected people to rebuild their own communities while injecting needed cash for families, according to the Summary Report “Hurricanes Irma and Maria, one year on: From early recovery to long-term resilience in the Caribbean” on the efforts to build back better in three of the hardest hit countries: Antigua and Barbuda, British Virgin Islands and Dominica. The initiative provided training and emergency employment to 400 people in Dominica, 42 percent of them women, and 28 in Antigua and Barbuda. Nearly 1000 contractors were trained in more resilient recovery techniques to build back better.

“We are honoured that Caribbean countries affected by the devastating hurricanes one year ago trusted UNDP to support their recovery efforts and we are proud to have been working on the ground with governments—at the national and local levels—and with several partners since the immediate aftermath,” said UNDP Regional Director for Latin America and the Caribbean Luis Felipe López-Calva, thanking several partners that provided financial support for the recovery process.

Read and download the report UNDP-RBLAC-Recovery-ProgrammeCaribbean,FINALv18Sept2018.

Original source: UNDP
Published on 17 September 2018