Strengthening local capacities on disaster displacement in Izabal

On March 13 and 14, in Puerto Barrios (Izabal, Guatemala) IOM Guatemala and PDD co-hosted a capacity building workshop for local authorities on ‘Preparing for Disaster Displacement’. The two-day workshop brought together 20 representatives of local-level institutions working with Disaster Management, Civil Protection and Planning authorities in Guatemala’s Morales, Izabal y Panzós areas.

The event allowed local-level personnel to get acquainted with basic concept, information and methodologies on:

• Disaster risk reduction, disaster displacement and climate change;
• Risk identification;
• Decision making and warnings for disaster preparedness;
• Management of evacuations and evacuation sites;
• Inclusive responses to disaster displacement;
• Supporting reconstruction and durable solutions.

The workshop was carried out using a newly developed methodology and package of materials that draw on practices and tools available to local authorities in Guatemala. Following this event, the methodology and materials will be improved and the workshop will be replicated in other areas of the country and in support of other local authorities.