SVG: Union Island to strengthen EOC operations

Aiming at bolstering emergency response and recovery operations, the National Emergency Management Organisation (NEMO) Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) based at Union Island, convened a critical stakeholder meeting on the 21st of August.

The meeting involved the major stakeholders from the affected region including the community leaders and representatives of emergency services aimed at optimization of the current support operations in the Southern Grenadines region.

One of the major topics of discussion was the handover of the meal services from the World Central Kitchen (WCK) to a newly formed Union Island Community Kitchen. Starting from 31st August, the Community Kitchen will be running at the Determination Bar and Restaurant in Clifton, Union Island.

This transition is quite a leap from what WCK has been doing regarding a temporary relief, to a more long-term and community-sourced solution. The decision for the operation of the Community Kitchen was made due to the practical necessity to maintain the regular provision of food for those who has recently experienced certain difficulties.

This has been facilitated to replace the temporary setup by WCK to help in the provision of some basic staple foods. This development is rather a holistic, longer-term, and sustainable plan as seen by the construction of a new and permanent community kitchen.

As NEMO has localized meal services, it therefore seeks to address the chronic vulnerability of food distribution networks and develop the sense of community togetherness in the island.

In the course of the meeting, diverse operational implications concerning the new course of action were discussed by the stakeholders. This was underlined with the previous discussion where the concern to achieve a continuity, was stressed in order not to interrupt the meal services.

Measures were discussed on how the authorities will be making sure that the Community Kitchen will be fully furnished before the end of the month to have a consistency in the quality of the food it serves.

The officials and the representatives of the community responded positively to the changes. They pointed out that the Community Kitchen will not only help people to get food in the midst of the catastrophic situation, but it will become the center of the community as well.

Thus, as plans for the Union Island Community Kitchen continue being made and as the service provider gets ready to open the service, more information will be availed to the public and the stakeholders in the provision of the new social service. The EOC stands ready to open and to engage in collaboration with the community in order not to lose sight of the essentials of the transition process.