Barbados: New UN disaster preparedness hub built on ‘frontlines of climate change’

Ash from the eruptions of the La Soufrière volcano covers a town in St Vincent and the Grenadines.

A new UN-backed humanitarian logistics hub and training centre in Barbados aims to strengthen emergency preparedness and response across the Caribbean, the World Food Programme (WFP) said in announcing the news on Thursday. 

The facility is a partnership between the UN agency, the Barbadian Government, and the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA), and will be located at the international airport in the capital, Bridgetown. 

Once up and running, the hub will support air and sea operations and serve as a prepositioning and response centre, as well as a shipment point for relief items.   

WFP chief David Beasley joined the Prime Minister of Barbados, Mia Mottley, and CDEMA Executive Director Elizabeth Riley for the groundbreaking ceremony. 

Serving the region 

“The Caribbean islands are right on the frontlines of climate change. As hurricanes become more frequent and severe, we need to be fully prepared so that lives are saved, livelihoods are defended and hard-won development gains are protected,” he said.  

“This facility will ensure our partners across the region can serve the people of the Caribbean even more effectively in times of need.” 

Disasters and damage 

Caribbean countries are highly exposed to natural hazards such as hurricanes, storms, floods, droughts, and volcanic eruptions.  

WFP reported that over the past seven decades, 511 disasters worldwide have affected Small Island Developing States.  

More than half, 324, occurred in the Caribbean, where economies suffered six times more than larger countries. 

The construction of the hub was funded in part by Canada, the European Union and the United States.