The facility is a partnership between the United Nations agency, the Government of Barbadian and the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA), and will be located at the international airport in the capital, Bridgetown.
Once operational, the center will support air and sea operations, and act as a response and preparedness center, as well as a delivery point for relief supplies.
WFP Prime Minister David Beasley was joined by Prime Minister of Barbados, Mia Mottley, and CDEMA CEO Elizabeth Riley at the groundbreaking ceremony.
Serving the area
“The Caribbean islands are right on the front lines of climate change. As storms become more frequent and severe, We need to be fully prepared for lives to be saved, livelihoods to be protected, and to protect hard-won development achievements,” Mr speak.
“This facility will ensure our partners across the region can serve the people of the Caribbean even more effectively in times of need.”
Disaster and damage
Caribbean countries are subject to many natural risks such as storm, storm, flood, droughtand Volcanic eruptions.
WFP reports that over the past seven decades, 511 disasters worldwide have affected Small Island developing States.
More than half, 324, occurred in the Caribbeanwhere economies suffer six times more than larger countries.
Construction of the center was partially funded by Canada, the European Union and the United States.
