Project: Strengthen Emergency and Disaster Response

in vulnerable communities by building capacities and improving collaboration and service delivery in southern Belize

Overview

From 2018 to 2020, HPPB - in partnership with the National Emergency Management Organization (NEMO) - will upgrade the Hurricane Plan to a Multi-Hazard Operation Plan and provide training and supplies to strengthen response to natural disasters in southern Belize.

The project will also improve training curriculums for early warning systems; strengthen Village Emergency Committees; and conduct a nation-wide awareness campaign.

The project is implemented in 30 villages:

Aguacate, Barranco, Bladen, Blue Creek, Corazon Creek, Crique Sarco, Dangriga Town, Galespoint, Graham Creek, Hope Creek, Hopkins, Jordan, Mabilha, Machakil Ha, Monkey River, Mullins River, Placencia, Punta Gorda, Punta Negra, Red Bank, San Benito Poite, San Jose, San Juan/ Cowpen, San Lucas, Santa Ana, Santa Theresa, Sarawee, Seine Bight, Sittee River and Trio.

Highlights and Updates

(Redirects to photo album in HPPBZ's Facebook page)

View Photo Album

Objectives

Provide supplies and materials necessary for disaster response to selected communities.

Strengthen community-based governance and response systems related to natural disasters.

Strengthen accountability of Government disaster response.

Context

Belize is located in the second most natural hazard-prone region in the world. Environmental disasters have caused substantial damage to infrastructure, housing and agriculture, leading to significant erosion of livelihoods, especially among the rural poor.

Toledo and Stann Creek receive the most rainfall in the country.

The targeted communities:

- are remote with little access to communication, electricity or transportation (e.g. Graham Creek); are partially or totally inaccessible by car (e.g. Monkey River); are adjacent to rivers and the sea, and therefore at risk of flooding at random times throughout the year (Hope Creek) and/or face different risks such as coastal erosion (e.g. Gales Point).

- are at risk of being affected by tropical storms, hurricanes, floods, tsunamis, droughts, landslides, pollution (river/sea), fires (home/forest), explosions and chemical spills, among other risks.

- have maintained their resilient capacity through the utilization of indigenous knowledge, which facilitated the forecast of weather events and patterns as well as the development of community preparedness and mitigation measures. However, rapid changes in weather patterns, droughts, and water shortages have reduced the effectiveness of the adaptive capacity of residents in these rural communities. They struggle to sustain livelihoods, develop, and reduce poverty.