REACT Attends Advanced Emergency Shelter Training for the Caribbean

REACT Operations Training Manager Jill Hamlin joined experienced emergency shelter practitioners from across the Caribbean at the Caribbean Advanced Emergency Shelter Training of Trainers in Barbados last week. The certified three-day programme was designed to strengthen the region's ability to manage emergency shelters safely, efficiently and with dignity when disasters force people from their homes.

The training was delivered by the IOM - UN Migration in collaboration with the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA), REACT Disaster Response and UN Women.

The course, which ran from 21 - 23 July, brought together 20 participants from seven Caribbean countries & territories - Barbados, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent & the Grenadines, and Sint Maarten - including representatives of national disaster management offices, government ministries & United Nations agencies.

REACT was delighted to have been invited to view, understand & look at how we can better integrate with & support our Regional partners in the Caribbean in preparing for readiness to Natural Disasters. Jill who has been REACT’s Operations Training Manager for a number of years was one of the first on the ground after Hurricane Beryl tore through the Caribbean in July 2024, giving her first hand experience of the impact hurricanes pose within the region.

Dr Ramona Archer-Bradshaw, Chief Education Officer, Ministry of Education of the Government of Barbados noted during the Opening Ceremony that:

”Across the Caribbean, shelters provide more than a physical space during emergencies. They offer safety, dignity, reassurance, and hope to individuals and families facing some of the most challenging circumstances of their lives.

Many of the shelters, most of which are schools, serve as safe havens for families displaced by severe weather events and other emergencies. The effective management of these shelters is therefore of paramount importance.”

The course  included intensive, hands-on facilitation practice so participants could train others when they return to their home islands within the Caribbean.  Patrice Quesada, IOM's Coordinator for the Caribbean shared the vision for the training - “This advanced, rights-based training package is designed to make a practical difference for families forced to leave their homes. The next time a shelter opens, staff will be better prepared to register families quickly, identify those most at risk, and connect people to the support they need with dignity and care.”

Photo courtesy of IOM Jill, 2nd from right along with trainers from IOM, CDEMA and other regional organisations.