Collaboration necessary for better natural disasters early warnings – CARICOM Secretary-General

By Shanieka Smith

Staff Writer

#Barbados, February 11, 2023 – United Nations and Caribbean Leaders gathered in Bridgetown, Barbados on Wednesday to launch the region’s first initiative that will ensure the global implementation of early disaster warning systems by 2027.

The Early Warnings for All initiative (EW4ALL) comes as climate hazards become gradually worse.

It was the world’s first regional launch of the Early Warnings For All Initiative has taken place in Barbados led by Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley, who spoke with conviction about the disasters faced by her region and by nations around the world.

“We speak this morning in Barbados, but we extend deepest sympathy on behalf of all of us to the people of Türkiye and Syria,” she said, adding, “Even when you provide the warnings, if you do not have partnerships, if you do not have the reinforcing community education, if you don’t have the plans that cause people to know that you are serious, the warnings will on deaf ears.”

The initiative will call on support in the areas of observations and forecasting, disaster risk knowledge, communication of early warnings, and preparedness and response.  Priority will be placed on countries that are most vulnerable.

With the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) at the helm of this project, a target investment of $3.1 billion is anticipated.

“The Region has been bearing the brunt of global warming and therefore, it is no surprise that our Heads of Government have provided leadership for initiating the implementation of this plan in the Caribbean,” said CARICOM Secretary General, Dr. Carla Barnett.