Yesterday the President of the Republic, Michel Martelly visited the National Emergency Operation Center (COUN), a structure set up by the Directorate of Civil Protection (DPC) through funding from the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID).

Through this visit, the Head of State wished to personally inquire of the mechanisms established by the actors of the national system of risk management and disaster at the beginning of the hurricane season.

In a press conference held on this occasion, the President of the Republic, who was accompanied by the head of the Directorate of Civil Protection, Mrs. Alta Jean-Baptiste, of the coordinator of the Project of emergency of management of the risks and disasters, Dr Yolène Surena, of Director of CNM, Ronald Semelfort, of coordinator of the Permanent Secretariat for Risk Management and Disaster (SPGRD), Mr. Abel Nazaire and the Deputy Representative of the Secretary General of the UN for humanitarian action, Mr. Nigel Fisher, has called on local and regional authorities and actors of civil society to join efforts to ensure that people comply with the safety guidelines in force. "My presence here today reflects the importance that I attach to this issue", he said.

The Head of State took the opportunity to announce the forthcoming establishment of twenty municipal operations centers across the country. "I suggest that a special fund be established for the benefit of the Emergency Operations Center", has advised the President Martelly.

More about the COUN

The COUN is an Operations Directorate to respond to emergencies in the event of natural disasters. Operating on the basis of an integrated approach, it gathers the representatives from the Ministries of Interior, Public health, Environment, Planning, Justice, Social Affairs, Foreign Affairs, National education and other agencies like the Haitian Red Cross, the National Meteorological Center (CNM), the Maritime and Navigation Service of Haiti (SEMANAH), the Police Nationale d'Haiti (PNH), the Disaster Management Alliance and Business Continuity (AGERCA), the World Bank, the civil protection, etc...

TB/ HaïtiLibre