The UN has announced plans for a new humanitarian logistics hub and training center in Barbados, backed by the World Food Program, and in partnership with the government of Barbados and the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency. To be located at the Sir Grantley Adams International airport, the hub is also intended to act as a focal point for improving emergency preparedness and disaster response throughout the region.
“This facility will ensure our partners across the region can serve the people of the Caribbean even more effectively in times of need,” David Beasley, WFP chief, told Caribbean News Weekly. “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.”
A statement from the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said of the importance of the hub, “With Caribbean countries, including St. Lucia, being highly vulnerable to endemic hazards that pose significant risks to lives and livelihoods, continuous support, especially in data collection and analysis, is critical to ensure more coherent, rapid, and effective response.”
Funding for the hub and training facility was provided in part by the United States, Canada, and the European Union.
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