The National Office for Disaster Services (NODS) in collaboration with the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction recently concluded its workshop series on Disaster Risk Knowledge, Early Warning Early Action and Inclusivity.
This series began with a virtual session last week, concluding after a two-day session at the Trade Winds Hotel. This workshop, which formed part of the larger Early Warnings for All Initiative (EW4ALL), brought together a wide cross-section of stakeholders from different sectors of the Economy. Stakeholders in attendance included the Ministry of Tourism, Department of Gender Affairs, Ministry of Social Transformation, the Royal Police Force of Antigua and Barbuda, the Antigua and Barbuda Association of Persons with Disabilities, the Antigua Barbuda Met Service, the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA), among others.
The sessions focused on improving data collection and management practices in Disaster Risk Reduction, tracking damage and loss, and ensuring the most vulnerable populations are included in at every step of disaster preparedness and response. Mario Salgado Galvez, Risk Knowledge Officer from UNDRR, was the main facilitator instructing participants and best practices data for Disaster Risk Reduction. Sherrod James, Director of NODS, used recent examples of disasters in Antigua and Barbuda to highlight not only the gaps and inefficiencies in the system, but also to showcase successes such as the campaign to keep drains and natural waterways clear of debris so as to reduce incidents of flooding.
Finally, Mali Barnes, Technical Consultant with UNDRR, stressed the fact that for the EW4ALL Initiative to be successful, there needs to be a special emphasis on “ALL” and we strive to ensure that no one is left behind and everyone is included.
