The Suriname National Disaster Preparedness Baseline Assessment, created through collaboration between PDC and NCCR, offers a comprehensive evaluation of the country’s disaster management capacity. It identifies various hazards and vulnerabilities, providing recommendations aligned with international goals. Key components include the Risk and Vulnerability Assessment and Disaster Management Analysis, leading to a five-year action plan aimed at enhancing disaster resilience and preparedness efforts.
The Suriname National Disaster Preparedness Baseline Assessment (NDPBA) culminated from a collaboration between the Pacific Disaster Center (PDC) and the Nationaal Coördinatiecentrum voor Rampenbeheersing (NCCR), enhanced by local stakeholders. This assessment evaluates Suriname’s specific hazard profile, cultural context, geographical nuances, and historical events that can influence disaster management capabilities, leading to strategic recommendations that align with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction.
The assessment integrates two primary components: the Risk and Vulnerability Assessment (RVA) and the Disaster Management Analysis (DMA). The RVA analyzes multi-hazard exposure along with socio-economic vulnerabilities and coping capacities. Conversely, the DMA qualitatively assesses six critical subthemes including enabling environment, institutional arrangements, disaster governance mechanisms, capabilities and resources, capacity development, and communication and information management. Together, the DMA results provide context for the RVA findings, yielding a comprehensive view of Suriname’s disaster management landscape. In collaboration with NCCR, PDC has used these insights to create targeted recommendations and a five-year Disaster Risk Reduction Action Plan.
The RVA highlights Suriname’s exposure to numerous hazards such as extreme heat, flooding, mosquito-borne diseases, and earthquakes, which pose threats to people, infrastructure, and essential services. Recognizing these vulnerabilities underscores the necessity for strategies addressing preparedness, risk reduction, and climate adaptation. Areas for improvement within the country include education, economic factors, public health capacity, and access to energy and technology, which can collectively enhance resilience and disaster response efficacy.
Suriname has advanced in disaster management by aligning its initiatives with international standards and fostering strategic partnerships, exemplified in the Multi-Annual Development Plan 2022-2026, which seeks to minimize disaster impacts on at-risk populations. Furthermore, the Environmental Framework Act 2020 has strengthened this commitment by founding the National Environmental Authority to promote climate change adaptation and resilient infrastructure. However, the absence of an approved Disaster Management Law limits the NCCR’s efficacy in emergency preparedness and response efforts, highlighting a critical gap to be addressed.
The urgent need to devise a national climate and disaster risk financing strategy is underscored due to increasing climate change risks facing Suriname. The implementation of the provided recommendations will greatly enhance the nation’s disaster preparedness and management capabilities. The NDPBA project was funded by the U.S. Government with coordination from the U.S. Embassy in Suriname, establishing valuable partnerships throughout the data gathering process, which are detailed within the report’s appendices.
For further information and to access the analysis results, recommendations, and additional data, please refer to PDC’s DisasterAWARE Pro® application at the following link: https://disasteraware.pdc.org/.
The Suriname National Disaster Preparedness Baseline Assessment represents a critical step toward enhancing the country’s disaster management capabilities. By identifying vulnerabilities and providing strategic recommendations, the NDPBA aligns with international standards and establishes a roadmap for improved resilience against climate-related threats. Continued commitment to implementing these strategies is essential for safeguarding Suriname’s population and infrastructure against future disasters.
Original Source: reliefweb.int
