IOM launches project to improve frameworks for human movement and deal with displacement after disasters

The Caribbean region faces significant threats from natural hazards such as hurricanes, flooding, and the escalating impacts of climate change, which often result in displacement and place considerable pressure on existing disaster management systems.

To address these challenges, a new initiative builds upon lessons learned from recent emergencies, including the response to Hurricane Beryl in 2024.

This International  Organization for Migration (IOM) project capitalizes on established partnerships and aligns with the priorities of CARICOM’s Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA), the European Union, and the recently signed Memorandum of Understanding on integrated disaster risk management between the EU and Latin America and Caribbean regions.

IOM shared in a media release that its core aim is to bolster the disaster preparedness and response capacities of Caribbean nations, empowering governments and communities to better handle displacement caused by disasters, reduce vulnerabilities, and strengthen resilience against natural hazards and climate-related threats.

Spanning 24 months from April 2025 to March 2027, the project will operate across 13 participating states within the CDEMA framework, including Dominica, Barbados, Antigua and Barbuda, The Bahamas, Belize, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, and Trinidad and Tobago.

The organization said that the initiative aims to achieve several key results: incorporating displacement and mobility considerations into CARICOM’s disaster management mechanisms, improving evidence-based planning for displacement risk reduction, enhancing coordination and capacity building within emergency shelter and non-food item sectors, and ensuring vulnerable displaced populations receive critical humanitarian aid during emergencies.

These efforts are reportedly designed to create a more resilient Caribbean capable of effectively managing the complex challenges posed by climate-induced disasters.

The project’s launch, on Tuesday, September 16, themed “RESILIENT CARIBBEAN: Prepared, Protected, and United,” seeks to introduce the initiative to government representatives, media, and the broader public. Aiming ro foster understanding, encourage stakeholder buy-in, and promote public awareness about the project’s objectives and activities, it also provided an opportunity for the project team to engage with key stakeholders, gather feedback, and establish channels for ongoing communication.

View recording of the launch below: