German Government Promotes Natural Catastrophe Prevention in the Dominican Republic

German Ambassador Christian Germann and the National Director of the NGO World Vision, Claudio Doñé Castillo, inaugurated the “Mitigation of Disasters Through Early Alert Systems and Strengthening of Local Capacity in the Municipalities of Villa Altagracia, El Seibo and Tamayo.” The German government donated 255,000 Euros (approximately 14 million pesos) to the NGO World Vision to carry out the project which will benefit some 95,000 people.

The goal of the German government, through this project, consists of contributing in an effective and sustainable way so that the Dominican community can react rapidly and in a coordinated fashion in the event of future natural disasters.

This project comes about as the result of the two tropical storms, Noel and Olga, that hit the DR last year.  On this occasion, and going around all bureaucratic obstacles, Germany has made available 9 million pesos to be used for humanitarian assistance so necessary following the storms. 

The goal of the German government, through this project, consists of contributing in an effective and sustainable way so that the Dominican community can react rapidly and in a coordinated fashion in the event of future natural disasters.

The expressed goal of the project will be carried out as follows:

• Strengthening of the response capacity though the creation of Community Emergency Committees
  
• Installation of an early warning hurricane alarm system
  
• Information and raising awareness about preparation and response mechanisms in the event of emergency

The proposed measures will be carried out in the three areas of Villa Altagracia, El Seibo and Tamayo which are characterized by high levels of poverty and vulnerability in the face of hurricanes, tropical storms and floods, according to data collected as recent as July 15, 2009.