ARTICLE - 683 TRAINED IN ER TECHNIQUES

683 VOLUNTEERS TRAINED IN EMERGENCY RESPONSE TECHNIQUES
(HaitiLibre) -

Yesterday was held, at Moulin Sur Mer, Côte des Arcadins - Montrouis, the closing ceremony for a training session of volunteers in 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, were also present at the ceremony and made ​​speeches. A demonstration was also held followed by the delivery of certificates to the volunteers by the Chiefs of the Groups.

Funded by the European Union to the tune of 14.5 million Euros (± $20 million), this major project, aims at strengthening the 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 taught over 2,000 volunteers, which will cover 104 communes selected by their vulnerability. These volunteers will be the first to put to use their new skills related to rescue operations, and thus will face the hurricane season.

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

These technical trainings and the PER-SNGRD program in general should therefore provide an important added value, both practical and visible of 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 intervention materials adapted to their specific geography.

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