Beautiful Virgin Islands

Tuesday, Jun 03, 2025

BVI builds damage assessment capacity with new UNDP deal

BVI builds damage assessment capacity with new UNDP deal

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has agreed to build upon an existing partnership with the government to develop ‘house and building damage assessments’ that will help to strengthen the territory’s ability to perform this critical function after a natural disaster.

The agreement was made during a meeting between the UNDP and the BVI government to discuss available UNDP assistance to the territory for post-disaster recovery.

The virtual meeting held on October 29, saw the UNDP presenting its Household and Building Damage Assessment (HBDA) toolkit that can be activated after a hurricane.

This kit is expected to help local government authorities to determine the extent of damage to the housing stock as well as economic losses to households.

The Director of the Town & Country Planning Department, Greg Adams said he welcomed the available assistance to the territory. He also highlighted his department’s official responsibility of assessing damage after a natural disaster has occurred.

Building capacity


The Permanent Secretary in the Premier’s Office Dr Carolyn O’Neal-Morton also expressed her gratitude to the UNDP for their commitment to assist the territory in the event of a natural disaster. She said the meeting was important to help build local damage assessment capacity that will support recovery for which the Premier’s Office holds responsibility.

“UNDP’s household and building damage assessment toolkit are highly effective and we are grateful that it is available to the Virgin Islands in the unfortunate event of a hurricane or earthquake. I am also very pleased that UNDP will be providing capacity-building support to the government in this area. Our partnership is going from strength to strength that is assisting our local efforts to build greater resilience,” O’Neal Morton said.

The BVI was devastated by hurricanes Irma and Maria back in 2017 and this led to significant damage to the housing and building infrastructure in the territory.

This displaced a lot of private and public individuals. Up to this day, the government is still providing assistance to those affected by the hurricanes under the Recovery and Development Agency (RDA).

The agency has assisted several residents with the rebuilding of their houses that were destroyed by the hurricanes. It has also helped in the rebuilding of public infrastructure in the territory.

Newsletter

Related Articles

Beautiful Virgin Islands
0:00
0:00
Close
Dutch government falls as far-right leader Wilders quits coalition
Harvard Urges US to Unfreeze Funds for Public Health Research
Businessman Mauled by Lion at Luxury Namibian Lodge
Researchers Consider New Destinations Beyond the U.S.
53-Year-Old Doctor Claims Biological Age of 23
Trump Struggles to Secure Trade Deals With China and Europe
Russia to Return 6,000 Corpses Under Ukraine Prisoner Swap Deal
Microsoft Lays Off Hundreds More Amid Restructuring
Harvey Weinstein’s Publicist Embraces Notoriety
Macron and Meloni Seek Unity Despite Tensions
Trump Administration Accused of Obstructing Deportation Cases
Newark Mayor Sues Over Arrest at Immigration Facility
Center-Left Candidate Projected to Win South Korean Presidency
Trump’s Tariffs Predicted to Stall Global Economic Growth
South Korea’s President-Elect Expected to Take Softer Line on Trump and North Korea
Trump’s China Strategy Remains a Geopolitical Puzzle
Ukraine Executes Long-Range Drone Strikes on Russian Airbases
Conservative Karol Nawrocki wins Poland’s presidential election
Study Identifies Potential Radicalization Risk Among Over One Million Muslims in Germany
Good news: Annalena Baerbock Elected President of the UN General Assembly
Apple Appeals EU Law Over User Data Sharing Requirements
South Africa: "First Black Bank" Collapses after Being Looted by Owners
Poland will now withdraw from the EU migration pact after pro-Trump nationalist wins Election
"That's Disgusting, Don’t Say It Again": The Trump Joke That Made the President Boil
Trump Cancels NASA Nominee Over Democratic Donations
Paris Saint-Germain's Greatest Triumph Is Football’s Lowest Point
OnlyFans for Sale: From Lockdown Lifeline to Eight-Billion-Dollar Empire
Mayor’s Security Officer Implicated | Shocking New Details Emerge in NYC Kidnapping Case
Hegseth Warns of Potential Chinese Military Action Against Taiwan
OPEC+ Agrees to Increase Oil Output for Third Consecutive Month
Jamie Dimon Warns U.S. Bond Market Faces Pressure from Rising Debt
Turkey Detains Istanbul Officials Amid Anti-Corruption Crackdown
Taylor Swift Gains Ownership of Her First Six Albums
Bangkok Ranked World's Top City for Remote Work in 2025
Satirical Sketch Sparks Political Spouse Feud in South Korea
Indonesia Quarry Collapse Leaves Multiple Dead and Missing
South Korean Election Video Pulled Amid Misogyny Outcry
Asian Economies Shift Away from US Dollar Amid Trade Tensions
Netflix Investigates Allegations of On-Set Mistreatment in K-Drama Production
US Defence Chief Reaffirms Strong Ties with Singapore Amid Regional Tensions
Vietnam Faces Strategic Dilemma Over China's Mekong River Projects
Malaysia's First AI Preacher Sparks Debate on Islamic Principles
White House Press Secretary Criticizes Harvard Funding, Advocates for Vocational Training
France to Implement Nationwide Smoking Ban in Outdoor Spaces Frequented by Children
Meta and Anduril Collaborate on AI-Driven Military Augmented Reality Systems
Russia's Fossil Fuel Revenues Approach €900 Billion Since Ukraine Invasion
U.S. Justice Department Reduces American Bar Association's Role in Judicial Nominations
U.S. Department of Energy Unveils 'Doudna' Supercomputer to Advance AI Research
U.S. SEC Dismisses Lawsuit Against Binance Amid Regulatory Shift
Alcohol Industry Faces Increased Scrutiny Amid Health Concerns
×