Disaster Response and Preparedness
Many poor communities in Latin America and the Caribbean are vulnerable to natural disasters. Hurricanes, floods, volcanic eruptions, and earthquakes can take lives and devastate livelihoods. Serving as the official disaster management arm of the Organization of American States, PADF’s disaster management program has evolved to include more than just post-disaster emergency relief. As in the past, the disaster management program works with communities, government authorities, local NGOs, and the private sector on relief efforts, but has also expanded to help countries manage disaster risk through mitigation and prevention activities, as well as supporting reconstruction and rehabilitation of basic infrastructure after a crisis.
For more information on individual efforts in each country:
|
  |
|
 |
Disaster Management Alliance
The Alliance for Disaster Management promotes the integration of the private sector into community disaster response, preparedness, and mitigation. It is a partnership between PADF, the Association of American Chambers of Commerce in Latin America (AACCLA), individual members of American Chambers of Commerce (AMCHAMs), the Mid-Atlantic Chapter of the Association of Contingency Planners (ACP) and targeted local communities. The Alliance currently works in Colombia, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Haiti, Honduras, and Trinidad & Tobago with funding from the USAID’s Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance and resources from the private sector. Since its creation in 2004, the Alliance has directly and indirectly assisted 165,000 people in 70 communities throughout the region.
|
|
Transnational Development Program The Transnational Development Program links U.S. -based immigrant groups from El Salvador, Haiti, and Mexico with training, matching funds, and other resources to help them implement development projects in their home countries. PADF has worked with several donors and partner organizations, including Banco Agricola, Citigroup, Unibank, USAID, World Vision, and others to join efforts with LAC immigrant groups on social and economic development activities. Because of these efforts, schools have been rebuilt in Haiti, women in Mexico and El Salvador have gained organic certification for their crops and learned how to process and package their products to sell on the local market, and children throughout El Salvador have gained access to better classrooms, computer and science labs, and uniforms and school supplies.
|
 |
|
Tools for Training and Health Services
PADF solicits and receives in-kinddonations of tools and health equipment from many sources in the United States and partners with local technical training schools and health care providers serving the disadvantaged in Latin America and the Caribbean. In 2006, this long-standing program helped over 127,000 people in nine countries:Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Guatemala, Honduras, Peru and Uruguay.
|  |
|
|
