Environmental research

The Belize Red Cross Society, one of 186 members of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies with a history going back to 1863, has as its mission to improve the situation of the most vulnerable, without discrimination as to nationality, race, religious belief, class, gender or political opinion. We have long experience in activities related to disaster preparedness and response, including a current collaboration with the Norwegian Red Cross, funded by DIPECHO, to strengthen the capacity of communities in the South of Belize to prepare for and respond to the negative impacts of natural hazards. The proposed project aims to take components of our work in the south to the villages of Sarteneja, Copper Bank and Chunox in the district of Corozal. The perception of people in these villages is that changes that have happened over the last decades, including increasingly poor harvest and catch of fish, are due to climate change. The impact of Hurricane Dean fully demonstrated that they are vulnerable to extreme weather events, a vulnerability that is exasperated by climate change. Consequently, our goal for the project is to Reduce disaster risk and improve communities ability to prepare for and respond to the negative impacts of natural hazards. Through the project we expect to strengthen the Belize Red Cross volunteers who will be able to facilitate capacity building in the communities, as well as responding in times of disaster. Disaster response teams will be established in the three villages, making sure that there are trained people present who can contribute to better prepared communities with a stronger response capacity. Moreover, awareness campaigns will be conducive to people being more sensitized and with a greater understanding of their vulnerabilities. Finally, adaptation to Climate Change, including identification and installation of alternative safe water sources and a communication system, will improve the village s ability to cope with the negative effects of natural hazards, and give them a means of communication to ensure that they are able to communicate damages that have been suffered and the resulting needs. Our approach fits well in with the Country Programme Strategy of the GEF Small Grants Programme, in particular focussing on Community Empowerment. Moreover, also in line with this strategy, our interventions will support community initiatives for adaptation to climate change and engage community groups in developing and demonstrating tools for assessing and monitoring vulnerabilities and risks to climate change events .

Belize