Ash plume from the second explosive eruption of La Soufrière volcano on St Vincent, April 9, 2021, seen at sunset from nearby Bequia island. Photo: Ailsa Burn-Murdoch / Alamy Stock Photo. CRF Support to At 8:41 a.m. on April 9, 2021, the La Soufriere volcano located on mainland Saint Vincent erupted explosively, propelling ash Saint Vincent and and gas high into the air over Saint Vincent and the Grenadines the Grenadines and neighboring islands such as Barbados, Grenada, and Saint Lucia. The explosive eruption has required the evacuation of 20,000 people from the high-risk zones around the volcano, both to other parts of Saint Vincent and surrounding countries. Explosions are continuing, and the falling ash is causing air quality concerns and interruptions in electricity and water supply. This disaster has struck at a time when the Government of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines had been trying to navigate the effects of drought, the COVID-19 pandemic and an outbreak of dengue fever. The situation is compounded by the danger of the upcoming hurricane season which starts in June. Funded by the Government of Canada April 2021 Left: The village of Chateaubelair, St. Vincent and the Grenadines with La Soufriere volcano in background, Photo: Michael DeFreitas Caribbean / Alamy Stock Photo. Right: April 9, 2021 eruption. Photo: Dmitri V Tonkopi / Shutterstock.com. CRF Response Objective national capacity in these fields for future emergencies. To support the Government of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines’ The communication and knowledge management expert contracted response to the crisis, the Canada Caribbean Resilience Facility by CRF initiated the development of a communication strategy for (CRF)1 has rapidly mobilized technical assistance to prepare for a all hazards, as well as the development of a communication strate- potential evacuation due to the eruption of La Soufriere. In addi- gy specific to the La Soufriere volcano eruption. In addition to this, tion to this, the CRF support is aimed at handling future crises and activities are focusing on the production and dissemination of com- has been focused on improving emergency communications and munication products such as press releases, videos2, and social me- shelter management. dia content3 for this emergency, elaborating communication train- ing modules to build national capacity on crises communications, all while ensuring these are inclusive, relevant and applicable to CRF Activities vulnerable communities. A graphic designer and video production The CRF is providing technical support, strategic guidance and di- firm have also been engaged to support the production of the com- rect assistance to the National Emergency Management Organisa- munication materials. tion (NEMO) of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines through select The shelter management specialist is supporting the update of the activities: strengthening communications on the La Soufriere vol- national shelter management policy, strategy, and implementation. cano emergency; enhancing the emergency/crisis communication The steps taken include the review of existing shelter management strategy; updating the shelter management policy, guidelines and policy, plans, strategy, and guidelines to identify opportunities for plans to include gender and disability considerations and COVID-19 the integration of gender, disability, COVID-19 considerations, and protocols; and building national capacity in shelter management related monitoring metrics. To further build national capacity for and emergency communications. shelter management during emergencies in SVG, the specialist start- ed working on a shelter management training program and manual. Progress As the Government of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines grapples Immediate response by CRF consisted of contracting two special- with these challenges, the Canada-Caribbean Resilience Facility is ists to assist NEMO with immediate needs related to communica- supporting their efforts at response and recovery and stands ready tions and shelter management. This is also expected to help build to provide further support. 1 The Canada Caribbean Resilience Facility was established to achieve more effective and coordinated gender-informed climate-resilient preparedness, recovery, and public financial management practices in nine Caribbean countries. The Facility supports countries by deploying technical experts in the region to provide close partnership, collaboration, and just-in-time support to accelerate the implementation of recovery projects and overall resilience-building efforts across the Caribbean. The CRF works in Antigua and Barbuda, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, and Suriname. 2 A video PSA with local calypsonian, Skinny Fabulous. (shared by NEMO on twitter here: https://twitter.com/NEMOSVG/status/1392201180638597123?s=20 and FB here: https://fb.watch/5t6w_ mZ0U0/). 3 New social media cards on food, water and driver safety For more information please contact Ronette Gwendolyn Jordan rjordan1@worldbank.org Disaster Risk Management Specialist www.gfdrr.org/en/crf Funded by the Government of Canada