UN Details Hurricane Contingency Plans In Haiti

UN Agency Details Hurricane Contingency Plans In Haiti

New York, Jun 3 2010 1:10PM
The United Nations World Food Programme (<"http://www.wfp.org/news/news-release/hurrican-season-opens-wfp-outlines-preparedness-plans-storms">WFP) is stepping up its emergency planning in Haiti as the official hurricane season begins to prevent the devastating rains and winds that accompany the storms from derailing the progress made following January’s earthquake.

“Preparing now will help ensure that the efforts of Haitians to bravely rebuild their lives and livelihoods are not undermined by nature,” said WFP Executive Director Josette Sheeran, who recently returned from Haiti.

The WFP has said that two million emergency food rations are being pre-positioned in 31 locations across the Caribbean country.

In addition, the UN agency is erecting six hurricane-proof warehouses in the south and east of the country, a region lacking reliable storage facilities.

To bypass mountain roads that could become blocked by mudslides, the WFP is creating alternative transport systems, which include transporting food and other life-saving supplies and equipment by tugboat and barge.

WFP has said that it will make these and other logistics capacities available for use by the entire humanitarian community.

In addition to minimizing the impact on food security, the agency’s food and cash for work programmes have led communities to erect flood barriers and rehabilitate canals.

The WFP said it is working on the measures in cooperation with the Haitian Department of Civil Protection.

ENDS

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