News
Protecting Lives, Cuban Priority in Disaster Prevention
Saving lives is the Cuban government''s priority in its approach to the prevention and mitigation of natural disasters, says the report Cuba will present to the Human Rights Council in Geneva next week.
Source
Prensa Latina
Date
Saving lives is the Cuban government''s priority in its approach to the prevention and mitigation of natural disasters, says the report Cuba will present to the Human Rights Council in Geneva next week.
The text corresponds to the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) undertaken in Geneva, Switzerland, and reflects the steps taken to protect lives in the wake of weather events like hurricanes that frequently affect the Caribbean country.
The consolidation of a national civil defense system, the implementation of disaster reduction plans, scientific research and a strengthening of the regulatory framework and civic culture so that citizens have an accurate perception of risk are among the actions developed.
On that basis, Cuba has managed to limit the loss of life despite the onslaught of hurricanes that cause heavy rains, floods, storm surges and landslides on the island.
The Cuban report to the UPR will be presented on May 1, and points out the work done by its Civil Defense system to deal with situations such as those generated in 2008m when three major hurricanes swept the island, and more recently, the impact last October of super-storm Sandy.
International authorities have recognized the effectiveness of the Cuban system of disaster prevention and mitigation, considered a benchmark for the region.
"In this regard,Cuba is a leader in the region, not only in terms of defense but also preparation and recovery," Claudio Tomasi, the UNDP deputy resident in Havana told Prensa Latina last week.
Tomasi stressed Cuban involvement along with United Nations in projects for disaster risk reduction in Latin America and the Caribbean.
The Cuban Civil Defense system has expressed its willingness to continue its cooperation and contribution of experience to other nations in the region.
In this regard, the Caribbean country report that will be presented in Geneva for the UPR points out that between 2010 and 2012 nine regional and national workshops were conducted as well as technical advice being shared with Granada, Haiti, St. Kitts and Nevis and St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
The text corresponds to the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) undertaken in Geneva, Switzerland, and reflects the steps taken to protect lives in the wake of weather events like hurricanes that frequently affect the Caribbean country.
The consolidation of a national civil defense system, the implementation of disaster reduction plans, scientific research and a strengthening of the regulatory framework and civic culture so that citizens have an accurate perception of risk are among the actions developed.
On that basis, Cuba has managed to limit the loss of life despite the onslaught of hurricanes that cause heavy rains, floods, storm surges and landslides on the island.
The Cuban report to the UPR will be presented on May 1, and points out the work done by its Civil Defense system to deal with situations such as those generated in 2008m when three major hurricanes swept the island, and more recently, the impact last October of super-storm Sandy.
International authorities have recognized the effectiveness of the Cuban system of disaster prevention and mitigation, considered a benchmark for the region.
"In this regard,Cuba is a leader in the region, not only in terms of defense but also preparation and recovery," Claudio Tomasi, the UNDP deputy resident in Havana told Prensa Latina last week.
Tomasi stressed Cuban involvement along with United Nations in projects for disaster risk reduction in Latin America and the Caribbean.
The Cuban Civil Defense system has expressed its willingness to continue its cooperation and contribution of experience to other nations in the region.
In this regard, the Caribbean country report that will be presented in Geneva for the UPR points out that between 2010 and 2012 nine regional and national workshops were conducted as well as technical advice being shared with Granada, Haiti, St. Kitts and Nevis and St. Vincent and the Grenadines.