PLANS BY the Government to phase out the use of schools as shelters in the event of disasters will not materialise this year.
This, according to Dr. Barbara Carby, director general at the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM).
"The plan not to use school is really a plan to be phased in, so we will still be using schools for this season as shelters, because other facilities would not have been prepared," Dr. Carby told reporters recently.
Responding to concerns about previous reports of vandalism at schools used as shelters, Dr. Carby said measures are to be put in place to prevent the recurrence of this problem.
NEEDS OF CHILDREN
This year the agency will, among other things, focus its attention on the needs of children during periods of disaster against the background of what it says is the limited information available on the welfare of children who are most always affected.
Meanwhile, ODPEM has partnered with the United Nations Children's Fund, which has pledged $8.4 million to fund the two-phase project that will provide basic supplies for children affected by disasters.
In addition, the ODPEM will also receive funding from the United Nations Development Programme to put in place an action plan to strengthen communication links between the agency and the various parishes.
D.R.
