Disaster threats to Guyana growing – UNDP

The vulnerability of countries like Guyana to disaster is growing faster than resilience, United Nations Resident Coordinator to Guyana Kadija Musa told a workshop on disaster risk management preparedness on Wednesday. The workshop was held at the Civil Defence Commission (CDC) in Thomas Lands, Georgetown.
According to the UNDP representative, the training programme is aimed at ensuring that the participants: learn the responsibilities and mandates of the UN in humanitarian response; be introduced to the humanitarian architecture and regional coordination; and become aware of regional partnerships while understanding the link between national, regional, and global coordination.
The programme will also ensure that the participants who come from varying entities are familiar with the main regional partners and aware of resource mobilisation tools. It is expected that at the end of the programme, participants would have essential knowledge of management tools; and the fundamental role of handling and disseminating information on national and international response. Musa noted that more often than not persons rarely think about the human actions that increase risk and turn danger into catastrophe.
“Similarly, the capacity of humans to reduce, meditate, and manage risk is often given less priority and focus in the planning process.” The UN resident coordinator added: “Vulnerability to disaster is growing faster than resilience and this is evident as we have seen devastating floods, earthquakes, tsunamis and drought-occurring globally over the past decade. And the impact of such disasters was dramatically brought into focus here in Guyana in 2005.”
According to her, countries such as Guyana and Cuba have shown how preparation can reduce risks from floods and other climatic elements.
“Investments in early warning systems and other measures are now paying off, even in Guyana,” she stated. Notwithstanding the improvements, Musa noted that the economic burden of disasters continues to grow, often making the case for investment in risk reduction an uphill struggle.
“Much can be gained from spending wisely rather than spending more,” she stated. Musa dubbed the workshop as timely, noting that it brings together national disaster risk management personnel from the government of Guyana, UN agencies, and other stakeholders with the aim of ensuring that coordinated emergency planning and response mechanisms are developed and strengthened.