IOM Caribbean Office announces improved regional coordination following MoU with CARICOM disaster management agency

The Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA) and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) last week formally agreed to strengthen ties between the organizations to address matters related to human mobility in the context of natural hazards response, and adverse effects of climate change.

Both organizations entered a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) during the meeting for a Caribbean Regional Approach to Migration Policy in Saint Michael, Barbados, where it was announced that the IOM Regional Coordination Office for the Caribbean will be moved to Barbados.

Signing on behalf of CDEMA was Executive Director, Elizabeth Riley who remarked that climate change and non-climate related risks have exacerbated natural hazards in the region and has become an increasing factor in human mobility. She noted that recent movements of people have resulted in additional consideration for CDEMA’s disaster managers which include language, cultural dynamics and analysis of behavioural science factors which can drive decision making.

“The arrival of refugees and migrants into CDEMA participating states, both documented and undocumented, has added to the complex migration dynamics of this region,” said the Executive Director. She noted that the MoU reflected a shared institutional commitment to charting new pathways for resilience building in the Caribbean to multiple hazards.

“The MoU’s benefits will accrue to all people in CDEMA participating states as we collaborate in learning from each other through knowledge management, strengthen the capacity to support vulnerable migrants at risk to disasters, strengthen our technical capacities and the use of human mobility data to inform decision making,” shared Ms Riley.

Meanwhile, Regional Director, Central America, North America and the Caribbean, Michele Klein-Solomon welcomed the closer partnership between both institutions.

“IOM and CDEMA [will] use this opportunity to strengthen their relationship and dialogue to efficiently use resources to improve policies and practices that enable countries to better respond to emergencies and protect all persons, regardless of nationality or migration status,” explained Ms Klein-Solomon.

The IOM official also announced that the organization is in the process of improving its coordinating capacity with regional and global partners, such as CDEMA. She added that working with CDEMA in Barbados will allow IOM to readily respond to human mobility needs in the context of natural hazards.