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WASHINGTON, Feb 11 2016 – The World Bank Board of Directors today approved a US$30 million loan to help enhance Jamaica’s resilience to disaster and climate risk through the promotion of climate and disaster risk management.
Jamaica is one of the most at risk countries in the world, with high percentages of GDP and population at risk to two or more natural hazards. Damages and losses from hydro-meteorological disasters and earthquakes were estimated at over US$3 billion between 1988 and 2013. In addition according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the impact of sea level rise and intensified storm surges in Latin America and the Caribbean will be highest in Jamaica.
“The government is actively working to reduce the country’s vulnerability to disaster and climate risk through a number of initiatives. This project aims to improve the capacity of government agencies to generate and use hazard and risk information to shape local and national development; and make infrastructure more resilient,” said World Bank Country Manager for Jamaica, Galina Sotirova.
Among concrete results to be achieved by the Jamaica Disaster Vulnerability Reduction Project are:
- A National Risk Information Platform and Coastal Risk Atlas and strengthened seismic monitoring network established;
- Several multi-hazard risk assessments for coastal areas;
- About 450 government officials and constructors trained on the National Building Code and constructions practices;
- Over 8,000 meters of drains built and rehabilitated;
- Over 200 000 people benefit from new fire stations;
- More than 2km of coast line protected
The Jamaica Disaster Vulnerability Reduction Project is financed under a loan from the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) in the sum of US$30 million will mature in 30 years after a grace period of 7 years.
