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Dutch Caribbean Overseas Profile

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Dutch Caribbean Overseas Profile DUTCH CARIBBEAN OVERSEAS PROFILE Covered by UN RC Netherlands - Disaster Management 3 Constituent Countries of 3 Special Municipalities Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom in Trinidad and Tobago Structure The Netherlands* of The Netherlands** Relations (Aruba, Curaçao and Sint Maarten) ARUBA CURAÇAO SINT MAARTEN Pop: 101,484 Pop: 150,563 Pop: 15,868 21% 21% 23% 10% 12% 4% 69% 67% 73% BONAIRE SABA SINT EUSTATIUS Pop: 13,389 Pop: 1,737 Pop: 2,886 21% 18% 23% 9% 9% 8% 70% 73% 69% Population 0-14 Population aged 65 and older Population aged 15-64 Source: Netherlands Antilles Central Bureau of Statistics KEY ISSUES MAJOR DISASTERS VENEZUELAN MIGRANTS & REFUGEES HURRICANE IRMA (2017) The deteriorating political, socio-economic and human rights situation in Venezuela has forced many people In 2017, Hurricane Irma unleashed extremely strong winds (exceeding 190 mph) and storm surge which caused to flee to Aruba (17,000), Curaçao (16,500) and, to a lesser extent Sint Maarten, in search of safety and damages equivalent to 260 per cent of GDP in Sint Maarten.3 The sector most affected was tourism, which opportunity.1 Venezuelan migrants and refugees on these small islands are extremely vulnerable due to their sustained 21.2 per cent of damage and 86.6 per cent of total losses (US$855.5 million).4 Irma damaged 70 to 85 irregular status, preventing them from accessing the formal labour market, protection mechanisms against per cent of the housing stock on the island; however, most residents did not evacuate to public shelters due to abuse and exploitation, including gender-based violence, and basic social services.2 Most Venezuelans live in safety concerns, as the Government recommended shelters only as a last resort.5 In addition, the multilingual the shadows in the Dutch Caribbean due to the constant fear of detainment and deportation and continue to nature of the island was a source of vulnerability given that many Spanish- and French-speaking immigrant face discrimination and xenophobia, with migrants cast as ‘criminals’ by authorities.2 communities did not properly understand warning and evacuation information disseminated in English.5 COVID-19 The COVID-19 pandemic has rocked the Dutch Caribbean due to its heavy reliance on tourism and the high degree of social vulnerability prior to the crisis, with food insecurity, poverty and unemployment expected to rise exponentially. Venezuelan migrants and refugees have been disproportionately affected by the pandemic, as Government measures to contain the virus have resulted in lost income for many while assistance programs remain out of reach due to their irregular status.1 In Aruba, the catastrophic downturn in tourism, which contributes almost 90 per cent to total GDP and employment,6 has propelled unemployment from just five per cent before the crisis to an estimated 77 per cent.7 Since reopening its borders, Aruba has witnessed a significant upsurge in COVID-19 infections, the highest rate per one million people in the Americas region,8 placing significant strain on the island’s cash-strapped health system. In response to COVID-19, The Netherlands has made available €16 million in emergency assistance, whose distribution is being coordinated by the Red Cross in Aruba, Curaçao and Sint Maarten9. However, humanitarian financing needs are likely to be much greater to address the unprecedented economic, health and social crisis. For the most recent update on the COVID-19 caseload in the Dutch Caribbean, see the PAHO daily reported COVID-19 data. Sources: 1. Response for Venezuelans (R4V) / 2. Refugees International / 3. UNICEF / 4. ECLAC / 5. Natural Hazards Center (University of Colorado Boulder) / 6. Inter-American Development Bank / 7. IFRC / 8. Worldometer / 9. Curaçao Red Cross. The numbers presented are for orientation and not conclusive. The boundaries and names shown, and the designations used on the map above, do not imply official endorsement or acceptance by the United Nations. Creation date: 2020 October. Feedback: [email protected]. *Aruba, Curaçao and Sint Maarten are Constitution Countries of The Netherlands. **Bonaire, Saba and Sint Eustatius are Special Municipalities of The Netherlands. .
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