Disaster risk plan to define policy guidelines

Santo Domingo.– The new National Plan for Comprehensive Disaster Risk Management, approved by President Danilo Medina, will define policy guidelines and basic principles for public and private institutions and civil society organizations.

The plan focuses on the implementation of programs that reduce disaster risk, ensure the safety of citizens and protect the country’s economic, social, environmental and cultural heritage.

The National Dominican Emergency and the Civil Defense Commission prepared the plan, which fits within the country’s existing instruments that guide risk prevention and mitigation, response preparations and disaster rehabilitation and reconstruction.

Medina also announced recently the creation of a Center of Excellence for Integrated Risk Management and Humanitarian Assistance. This will be dedicated to strengthening institutional and academic capacities to cope with the impact of disasters.