#IndiaAtUN: India committed to assist hurricane affected Caribbean nations

NewsBharati    22-Nov-2017
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New York, November 22: Appreciating the efforts of Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and the UNDP, Syed Akbaruddin on Tuesday said that India strongly dedicated to help in relief and reconstruction efforts in hurricane-affected countries in CARICOM. Attending the CARICOM-UN conference held in New York he further added that we are confident that the meeting will contribute to the ongoing efforts in providing relief to the affected communities.

 

India was the first country to offer an emergency help of US$ 200,000 to the worst affected countries. India also undertook emigration from Saint Maarten for nationals of 10 countries. During the India-UN Development Partnership Fund hosted at the UN Office for South-South Cooperation (UNOSSC), India has also provided a sum of US$ 2 million for rehabilitation projects in CARICOM, appropriate projects are being recognized by partner countries Antigua and Barbuda and Dominica.


Addressing the conference Akbaruddin said that we express our strong harmony is with the people in Anguilla, Bahamas, British Virgin Islands, Turks and Caicos Islands, Saint Maarten, Dominica and Antigua and Barbuda, whose lives have been distraught by these hurricanes. We feel your pain and we stand ready with you to aid in your efforts to reconstruct broken lives.

Talking about the projects to strengthening climate resilience, he said that due to the nature’s ferocity destruction on a large scale is continues across the world. India-UN Development Partnership Fund has been launched on the occasion of World Oceans Day on 8th June and our focus was decisively on strengthening climate resilience.

He further told about the partners involved into the project focusing on the first project under this Climate Early Warning Systems in Pacific Island Countries, he said that our partners for this project are the Cook Islands, the Republic of Kiribati, the Republic of Marshall Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of Nauru, the Solomon Islands and the Kingdom of Tonga. This project aims to increase resilience from natural disasters of these seven Pacific island countries and contribute toward the Sustainable Development Goal of Climate Action.

Over the next few years, India has decided to increase the contribution to the Fund amounting to US$ 100 million. India is willing to replicate such Climate Resilience projects under this Fund, in association with our partner countries and the UNOSSC. Building climate and disaster resilient infrastructure is an important aspect. The focus of this Conference is at building resilient infrastructure and helping the wider CARICOM Region to develop its capacities.

Established in 1973, with an objective of promoting the economic integration and assistance among its members, to ensure that the benefits of integration are equitably shared, and to coordinate foreign policy, fifteen Caribbean nations came together to form Caribbean Community (CARICOM) organization.