United Nations Development Programme
Disaster Risk Reduction
The Bahamas
Stephanie Tolly
Forest Hills Eastern
Natural disasters inflict harm across the globe. Preventing the harm of the disaster itself, as well as dealing with the aftermath that inevitably occurs are two issues that require a resolution. Historically, islet nations have faced the gravest destruction. For example, between 1950 and 2012, natural disasters of the Pacific region affected an estimated 9.2 million people. Even with modern technology, such as open-ocean buoys, coastal tide gauges, reconnaissance aircrafts, and satellites, the prediction of tropical storms is not an exact science. The lack of preparedness and intensity of disasters led to the 9,811 reported deaths of Pacific citizens during this time period. Issues of preparedness and addressing the fallout in regards to natural disasters remain pivotal questions that the United Nations Development Programme must address. In order for citizens of the world to be protected from natural phenomena, the United Nations must clearly articulate standard provisions. Furthermore, the United Nations must determine the minimum restoration a nation must undergo in order to ensure that a supernatural event is not devastating to an area.
As a country that has recently been struck by Hurricane Dorian, The Bahamas understand how natural disasters can ravage residential, commercial, and industrial properties. According to our Prime Minister, Hubert Minnis, the island of Abaco, which was hit by Hurricane Dorian, “is decimated and no longer exists.” The northwest Bahamian islands were impacted for approximately sixty hours and “concrete structures were turned to dust.” As public debt in The Bahamas increased due to hurricane reconstruction and relief financing in 2017, the nation has consistently been faced economic challenges due to natural disasters. Following several years of continuous hurricane impact, The Bahamas founded the National Disaster Preparedness Baseline Assessment (NDPBA) in 1961 in order to collaborate with other nations in concern to disaster risk reduction initiatives. It is paramount to the general safety of many populations to establish a procedure in detecting, preparing for, and managing the aftermath of a natural disaster.
The Bahamas propose that the United Nations establish a standard protocol regarding the detecting and reporting of a natural disaster as well as providing relief afterward in order to eliminate the controversy surrounding the aid of the affected nations. As a country often affected by hurricanes and other tropical storms, The Bahamas knows firsthand the effects that social and economic instability can have on a country, and acknowledges that the harm inflicted by natural disasters can be reduced by increased preparedness. Standardizing response to natural disasters is the most effective way for the United Nations to promote the safety of global citizens. A resolution that advocates an efficient response to natural disasters including international aid to help reconstruct infrastructure, medical aid, and humanitarian assistance will help stabilize the economies of many nations of the world and save the lives of countless citizens of the world as well.
- Stephanie Tolly
