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Haiti - Europe : 683 volunteers trained to the emergency response techniques

Yesterday was held, to Moulin Sur Mer, Côte des Arcadins - Montrouis, the closing ceremony of a training session of volunteers to the emergency response techniques funded by the European Union.

Mr. Alain Damit, Chief of Project PER-SNGRD, Lut Fabert, Head of the Delegation of the European Union in Haiti and Mr. Paul Antoine Bien Aimé, Minister of Interior and Territorial Collectivities and the President Michel Martelly, who were also present at the ceremony have made speeches of circumstance. A demonstration was also held followed by the delivery of certificates of volunteers to Chiefs of Groups.

Funded by the European Union to the tune of 14.5 million Euros (± $20 million), this major project, aims the strengthening of Haitian system of Management of Risks and Disasters (the European Program PER-SNGRD). Several activities of the program are already underway, including training of volunteers in various rescue techniques: aquatic rescue, rescue and site clearing, and rescue and first aid.

To date, the European and national instructors have trained over 683 volunteers. By mid-July they will have reached over 2,000 volunteers, which will cover 104 communes selected for their vulnerability. These volunteers will be the first to be able to use their new skills related to rescue operations, and thus make face the hurricane season.

This resolutely practical training will allow volunteers to use all equipment and rescue tools that they will find soon in the 252 containers, that will be placed in the 104 communes. Indeed, these communes will receive relief materials adapted and organized as form of devices of Intervention of first aid (DIPS), that will be under the administrative responsibility of communal committees and under the functional responsibility of the local volunteers recently trained. The entire material will become the property of the Haitian State (DPC).

These technical training and the program and PER-SNGRD in general should therefore provide an important added value, practical and visible to the emergency services. The orientations take into account both the risks to which Haiti is exposed, including hurricanes and seismic faults, and secondly, the importance to provide to the communes an intervention material adapted to their specific geography.

Finally, with the technological support that will bring the European Union to the National Emergency Operations Centre (COUN) and the strengthening of capacities of different actors in the chain of communication related to the management of risks and disasters, this is a real effort to reduce the regional disparities and thus improve the lives of people face to the multiple disasters that Haiti is frequently confronted.

BF/ HaitiLibre