VI Special Envoy Mr E. Benito Wheatley and UNDRR Chief for Americas & Caribbean Mr. Nahuel Arenas Garcia. Photo: Government of the Virgin Islands

The Virgin Islands’ call for all Small Island Developing States (SIDS) in the Caribbean region, to receive assistance to become more resilient to natural disasters driven by climate change received both regional and international support. Photo: Internet Source

The United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR), Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA), and Ministers from Latin America and the Caribbean officially endorsed the VI’s plea following the intervention of the VI Special Envoy and UN Representative Mr E. Benito Wheatley at the Sixth High-Level Meeting on the Implementation of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030 that took place in Basseterre, Saint Kitts and Nevis.

The meeting was chaired by the Prime Minister of St. Kitts and Nevis Hon Terrance Drew on December 5, 2024, in the margins of the 13th Caribbean Conference on Comprehensive Disaster Management.

According to information in a press release, Mr. Wheatley highlighted the economic impact of extreme weather on the VI and other SIDS underscoring the high financial cost of disaster risk reduction and other measures necessary to achieve climate resilience.

Meeting outcome document reflects concerns

Mr Wheatley also emphasised the continued injustice toward several highly vulnerable SIDS classified as middle- and high-income that remain ineligible for development and climate finance that would give them access to concessional financing and grants needed to build climate resilience, respond to disasters, and drive sustainable development.

Participants reflected these concerns in the meeting outcome document.

“The Ministers and Authorities recognized the high and increasing cost of reducing risk to improve human security outcomes and promote climate resilience. In particular, they highlighted the challenge for SIDS, including those classified as middle- and high-income countries as well as the associate members of the United Nations regional commissions that are deemed vulnerable yet not eligible for international development assistance. Underscoring the priority of securing just financing for all SIDS, they called for increased investment in adaptation, access to concessional financing at scale, the scaling-up of climate smart investments, and the integration of multidimensional vulnerabilities into disaster risk reduction strategies. Financial support for SIDS is critical to building their social and economic resilience and reducing disaster-related losses,” the document stated.

Meanwhile, early warning systems were strongly encouraged across Latin America and the Caribbean as well.