NATIONAL OFFICE OF DISASTER SERVICES

7th December 2017- In aid of Barbuda crisis recovery efforts, the National Office of Disaster Services (NODS) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) will present a technical workshop on Friday, December 8th at Halcyon Cove.

The workshop is Entitled “Building Back Better: Lessons Learned and the Way Forward in the aftermath of Hurricane Irma”.

This capacity building event invites construction industry professionals to gain knowledge of comprehensive information gathered from the Building Damage Assessment (BDA) undertaken in Barbuda during November with support from numerous partners from the public and private sectors from both islands, and the importance of building to code during reconstruction.

‘Following the Building Damage Assessment that took place in Barbuda in November 2017 which surveyed 1,290 structures in Barbuda, crucial information was collected which shows the level of damage to each structure, how many can be restored or which should be demolished, and the number of roofs to be replaced,’ explains UNDP Recovery Advisor Ms Aurelie Boukobza. The BDA was preceded by a training of 50 industry volunteers on Friday, November 3rd at the Coolidge Air Force Base.

‘This important workshop will prepare construction industry professionals for the task ahead with new climate-resilient building technologies showcased during the workshop, demonstrating the way forward to restoring communities toward brighter futures’, says Boukobza.

The full day workshop from 8.30am to 5.30pm supports local and national authorities, along with the construction industry in Antigua and Barbuda, in the reconstruction effort to Build Back Better in the aftermath of Hurricane Irma.

Homeowners will benefit from a later workshop on Barbuda - dates to be advised to ensure they know what to look for during reconstruction.

For further information, email: aurelie.boukobza@undp.org or call (268) 785-4886.

Media relations: Midcie Francis (NODS PRO): +562-1554, 727-6048.