April 2021

USAID’S BUREAU FOR HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE (USAID/BHA) regional office for latin america and the caribbean, san josé, costa rica

Caribbean Youth Lead Disaster Preparedness in Their Communities With support from USAID/BHA, Caritas Antilles (CA), has been engaging and empowering youth from hurricane-prone neighborhoods in Dominica, Grenada, Jamaica, and Saint Lucia to become disaster-preparedness leaders. The CA project, entitled “Youth Emergency Action Committees” (YEAC), prepares youth to help their communities better prepare for and respond to emergencies.

The program, which began in Kingston, Jamaica in 2009, aims to raise community awareness of disaster risk reduction (DRR) and increase readiness for disasters, while simultaneously providing opportunities, education, and purpose to at-risk youth who may be unemployed La Soufrière Volcano explosive eruptions covered with a thick layer of ash Sandy Bay village in northern Saint or out of school. The program adopts an Vincent. Photo courtesy of UWI-SRC. “edutainment approach”—a combination of education and entertainment— that Assisting Populations in Saint Vincent and the teaches youth to become agents of change Grenadines Affected by Volcanic Eruptions for their communities. For example, teens write and perfprm music—mainly rap On April 9, after months of heightened More than 22,000 people in Saint Vincent songs—to raise community awareness activity, La Soufrière Volcano in Saint were displaced through mandatory about disaster preparedness. Vincent and the Grenadines began emitting evacuation, and the vast majority of the explosive eruptions, releasing dense ash-rich country’s population—estimated at 110,600— Continues on page 2 plumes of up to five miles above sea level and has been indirectly affected to varying degrees pyroclastic flows that entered multiple valleys by ashfall, sulfur dioxide, and restricted access surrounding the volcano. to potable water, according to the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency. La Soufrière has threatened to erupt since December 2020, and scientists warned “The volcanic eruption prompted the populations to be prepared to flee. On evacuation of thousands of people with no April 8, the Government of Saint Vincent casualties. This was made possible thanks and the Grenadines (GoSVG) Prime to scientists’ advanced volcano monitoring Minister Ralph Gonsalves declared a and understanding of its behavior, the red alert due to La Soufrière’s increased communities’ level of preparedness, and eruptive activity and ordered the immediate GoSVG emergency officials’ efforts to save evacuation of communities surrounding the lives in Saint Vincent,” said USAID/BHA volcano. Regional Advisor (RA) John Kimbrough.

GoSVG emergency responders were able to On April 9, following an official request from evacuate most people from red and orange the GoSVG for international assistance, U.S. YEAC Program prepares youth to help their com- zone communities located within 6.2 miles of Ambassador to Barbados and the Eastern munities better prepare for and respond to emer- gencies, while also increasing their self confidence. the volcano before the explosive eruption of Caribbean Linda S. Taglialatela issued a Photo courtesy of CA April 9, the first explosion since 1979. Continues on page 2 Caribbean Youth Lead Preparedness, continued from page 1 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Volcanic Eruptions, continued from page 1

YEAC teams go into their communities to determine the areas disaster declaration due to the impacts of the explosive eruptions of most vulnerable to the effects of storms. They then develop a plan La Soufrière Volcano and requested humanitarian assistance funding of action to build resilience that includes replacing leaky roofs, from USAID/BHA. In response, USAID/BHA provided an initial cleaning drains and gullies, and helping neighborhoods dispose of $100,000 to support immediate relief assistance to evacuated families trash to keep drains from clogging. through the Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Red Cross (SVGRC) and shipped emergency supplies—including water container and The program provides teens with life-saving skills, including first hygiene kits—for 6,000 people, plus wheelchairs, walkers, and other aid, search-and-rescue, map reading, mass casualty management, medical supplies. Additionally, with previous USAID/BHA funding, fire safety, and shelter management, while also increasing their the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies self-confidence. Furthermore, the program has contributed to and the UN World Food Program are helping strengthen humanitarian giving participants an edge in the competitive job market and logistics in the country. subsequently involving them in disaster preparedness groups at their respective companies. USAID/BHA activated a team of disaster experts, including an RA, two disaster risk management specialists, and one Saint Vincent and Since its inception, the YEAC program has formed strong the Grenadines-based surge capacity consultant to assess the situation, partnerships with national emergency organizations, and liaise with GoSVG response authorities, and coordinate USG response participants have successfully assisted local relief agencies in efforts. Upon a request from the GoSVG for technical assistance, a response and DRR activities. For example, during the coronavirus team of scientists from the USAID/BHA-supported U.S. Geological disease (COVID-19) pandemic in 2020, YEAC members assisted Survey Volcano Disaster Assistance Program (VDAP) has remained Saint Lucia’s national emergency agency by packaging and in close communication with counterparts of the University of West distributing basic necessities to thousands of Saint Lucians in need. Indies Seismic Research Center (UWI-SRC) since April 8 to help them analyze monitoring data and discuss satellite remote sensing resources. YEACs play a relevant role in supporting response efforts Additionally, USAID/BHA deployed a three-person Americas Support during the annual Atlantic Basin hurricane season, participating Team to provide technical and logistical support to UN assessment in community improvement projects, conducting awareness teams on the ground. campaigns, and other volunteer activities. YEAC teams can also provide emergency response support to neighboring countries. In “According to VDAP and UWI-SRC scientists, La Soufrière Volcano the aftermath of Hurricane Maria, which impacted several islands will likely continue to erupt in the coming weeks and possibly months. in the Caribbean in 2017, 18 YEAC team members from Saint The long-term effects of protracted eruptive activity could further Lucia and Grenada were deployed to assist the most vulnerable exacerbate the already devastating socio-economic impact created populations in Dominica and Tortola. by the pandemic and reduce the capacity for recovery. Furthermore, the upcoming hurricane season, forecast to be on par with last year’s USAID/BHA helps enhance the emergency preparedness of record-breaking season, poses an additional threat to an already hundreds of communities in the Latin American and Caribbean vulnerable population,” said RA Kimbrough. (LAC) region, which is critical for reducing disaster impacts. Amid the ongoing eruptive activity of La Soufrière and the displacement of thousands of people who will unlikely return to their communities of origin and recover their livelihoods in the short-term, USAID/BHA is planning to provide additional funding to support relief efforts in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.

YEAC members support the distribution of basic items for Saint Lucians affect- ed by COVID-19 pandemic confinement measures.Photo courtesy of CA

USAID’s Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance Regional Office for Latin America and the Caribbean

Tel: +(506) 2290-4133 Email: [email protected] USAID/BHA provided funds to support SVGRC relief activities in Saint Vincent and the Internet: www.usaid.gov Grenadines. Photo courtesy of the GoSVG National Emergency Management Organization