Bermuda Red Cross To Host Regional Meeting

September 18, 2014

Bermuda Red Cross is hosting a Regional Coordination meeting of Red Cross Disaster Risk Reduction Program Coordinators at Coco Reef Hotel from September 22-26, 2014.

Representatives from the Red Cross Branches in Anguilla, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Montserrat and Turks and Caicos will be joined by the Regional DRR Coordinator, Chintan Dabhi from BVI, Disaster Risk Adviser, Department for International Development [DfID], Steven Hillier, and the Programme Support Manager from British Red Cross, Kevin Studds.

The Disaster Risk Reduction program is an initiative of the British Red Cross for their Overseas Branches, which is partially funded by Department for International Development [DfID] to identify vulnerable communities, provide assistance and support to empower those communities to prepare for and respond in the event of natural or man-made disasters.

Bermuda Red Cross has been working in the Pembroke area, specifically Fentons Drive, for the past two years. The Fentons Drive residents have formed their own community group – FDCG – with the support of the Bermuda Red Cross and the Bermuda Coalition, in an effort to better prepare the community to handle unforeseen challenges. Fentons Drive Community Group is chaired by residents, Steve Lacey and Co-chaired by Julie Walker.

The Overseas Branch Coordinators meet periodically and with the Program Support Manager & the Regional DRR Coordinator to review progress, compare notes and focus on challenges and proposed solutions.

The Overseas Branches take turns in hosting these meetings. This will be the first opportunity Bermuda has had to act as host, highlight our Island and to engage the visitors in the Pembroke community.

The International Red Cross Red Crescent Movement plays an important role globally in providing resources to assist Governments in their response to disasters, which affect communities. This is an example of thinking globally whilst acting locally.

The Director of Bermuda Red Cross is Ann Spencer-Arscott and the Disaster Manager is Diane Gordon. Mrs. Gordon has attended all Coordination meetings in the Caribbean and is extremely excited about the upcoming visit and the opportunity to highlight the valuable work that the Bermuda branch has been doing in the Pembroke community.

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