This week, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) has been training a small group of government stakeholders, migrant community representatives and IOM staff to continue to support the Government of Dominica through the National Emergency Planning Organization, Office of Disaster Management (ODM) and community disaster management groups in improving disaster preparedness in Dominica.
The National Emergency Planning Organization (NEPO) bears the responsibility for emergency and disaster management in Dominica. The responsibilities of the NEPO include to ensure that there is adequate provision made to minimize the potential loss of life from any emergency that might occur.
One of the lessons learnt from Hurricane Maria was that consideration must be given not only to the population of locals and nationals during emergencies, but also to residents and workers from foreign countries. If provisions are not made for migrants living in country and for short-term visitors (overnighting or in transit) this could lead to a “disaster within a disaster”.
IOM has conducted a robust international consultation process led by the United States and the Philippines, in an initiative to develop guidelines to protect Migrants in Countries Experiencing Conflict or Natural Disasters, taking into account their unique needs including language, lack of local knowledge and other special needs.
Further to this, the Migrants in Countries in Crisis (MICIC) initiative was launched in June 2016, to reduce the overall impacts of emergencies on communities and to leverage all the capacities, skills, expertise and ideas available, including those of migrants.
Participants in 5-day training were provided with tools to facilitate engagement and preparedness of communities of non-nationals, including coordination mechanisms and techniques for conveying the messages of preparedness to the communities.
The training also included exercises to begin important actions for improving engagement and protection of migrant communities such as adaptation of preparedness posters for migrant communities and development of a contact directory of translators and interpreters, embassies and consulates, community based groups and associations, and key referral organisations who would provide support.
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