Disaster Risk Reduction Meeting

UNESCO, FLACSO, ICSU ROLAC, and representatives from various countries of the LAC region met in Costa Rica, on 14th – 15th November, 2017 at FLACSO’s facilities. The objective of the meeting was to analyze and agree on actions in relation to the Reduction of Risks and Disasters in Latin America and the Caribbean.

The had meeting had in attendance the following participants: Zermina Mai, UNESCO; Jonathan Baker, UNESCO; Alonso Brennes, FLACSO; Manuel Limonta, ICSU ROLAC; REDULAC representative and representatives from Guatemala, Mexico, and Costa Rica.

One of the highlights of this meeting was the discussion about the increase, in frequency and intensity, of events such as hurricanes, and earthquakes in the region. It was agreed that it is imperative to have an analysis on the matter in order to carry out joint efforts and actions to face these adverse events. Another highlight was the discussion introducing the FORIN (Forensic Investigation after disasters) in countries of the region.

Some of the agreements reached were:

• Launch of the FORIN book in San Salvador, El Salvador in January 22nd- 23rd with the participation of Allan Lavell, Oliver Smith, and Alonso Brennes, being the first two mentioned individuals, authors and editors of the book.
• Agree to evaluate the launch of the book in Guatemala.
• Agree to work in the organization of a meeting of the Working Group in Havana, in May 2018, and launch the FORIN.
• Agree to work in different actions that favor the understanding of the current state of these events (disasters) in order to favor the taking of preventive decisions to avoid and loss of human lives in the different countries of the region.