Jamaica's disaster relief policy DISASTER RELIEF is an activity aimed at assisting persons who have suffered in disasters. Disasters are many and varied, categorised in two types Natural and man-made, causing serious dislocation and suffering and making it obligatory for displaced persons to seek shelter and welfare assistance in most instances from government and non-governmental agencies. In 1990, the ODPEM, out of its experience with Hurricane Gilbert, developed an Emergency Shelter/Welfare Action Plan for Jamaica which addresses the operational procedures to be taken by Government and other sectors to deal with victims of disasters. The objectives of this policy are to: 1. Assign the agency responsible for dispensing Emergency Response/Recovery and rehabilitation relief to victims 2. Develop guidelines on how victims access short and long term assistance 3. Develop guidelines for needs assessment of victims The following guidelines for dispensing relief to families form the basis of the relief plan: 20 families and below Incidents involving 20 families and below: Fire Brigade or other relevant response agency would respond Response agencies e.g. The Police would advise Parish Disaster Co-ordinator of the incident Parish Disaster Co-ordinator would call out the Ministry of Labour and Social Security (MLSS)/ Poor Relief personnel and identify local resources MLSS, lead agency for this response, would provide $10,000 to Poor Relief Personnel to purchase needed emergency relief items, if needed, and food If necessary the emergency shelters are opened by the Welfare Sub-committee Emergency Relief Items (Food, toilet articles etc.) would be distributed to victims by relief distributors, MLSS or Poor Relief Personnel. Victims would then be registered and processed for a rehabilitation grant which would then be paid by MLSS Parish Disaster Co-ordinator through the Welfare Sub-committee would provide ODPEM with a report. 20 families and over Response agencies respond and the ODPEM activates NEOC and alerts PDC If necessary the emergency shelters are opened by the Welfare Sub-committee Parish Disaster Co-ordinator through the Welfare Committee delineates Registration Centres in Parish. Registration Centres are activated within 24 hours of an event for no longer than five (5) days. If emergency assistance is needed, permission is given to purchase food from local distributors/retailers. The parish welfare team is responsible for ensuring that victims receive assistance promptly. Registration Centres can be public places, e.g. school, church halls, Poor Relief Offices, and are staffed by Zonal Committee Personnel, welfare Committee Personnel (MLSS, Poor Relief, Red Cross, Salvation Army, ADRA, NGOs etc.) Victims report to Registration Centres within the specified period and are given 'CALL BACK' Cards. 'CALL BACK CARDS' entitle victims to access emergency aid, that is food, clothing, bedding even before Registration Cards are fully processed, but after an initial assessment is done. The distribution takes place from one list presented to the Emergency Operations Centre (EOC). All assistance received by the victim is recorded on these cards Registration Forms are then processed by the Welfare Sub- Committee Verification is done by teams from the Welfare Sub-committee, led by MLSS and the Poor Relief Personnel, Salvation Army who verify claims by checking victims damage Then the Summary Claims Forms recording the needs of victims are filled out by the Welfare Sub-committee led by MLSS, sent to ODPEM for assistance ODPEM based on resources available provides assistance by the following means 1. Cheque Rehabilitation Grant 2. Medium Term Assistance Comfort Items The welfare team through the Emergency Operations Centre at the Parish Level distributes aid to victims as specified by Welfare Sub-Committee Recommendation: distribution of aid should be conducted at the Registration Centres, with victims required to bring their 'call back cards' PDC through Welfare Sub-Committee send Final Report to ODPEM For further information on the above-mentioned policy please call the ODPEM at 928-5111-4.
|
