By Belize Live News Staff: The Government of Belize, in partnership with Taiwan’s International Cooperation and Development Fund (TaiwanICDF), on Monday handed over emergency response equipment to the village of Santa Familia to enhance disaster preparedness in the flood-prone community.
The equipment, including emergency response kits, communication tools, and disaster relief supplies, will be utilized by Santa Familia’s Community Disaster Response Team (CDRT) to strengthen local resilience against natural disasters such as hurricanes, floods, and droughts, which are increasing in frequency and severity due to climate change.
This donation is part of the “Flood Warning Capacity Improvement for the Belize River Basin Project,” a joint initiative between the governments of Belize and Taiwan aimed at bolstering disaster mitigation efforts. The equipment handover follows a series of workshops held earlier this year, where community members received training on disaster preparedness, response strategies, and recovery planning.
Orlando Habet, Belize’s Minister of Sustainable Development and Climate Change, said the initiative reflects the government’s commitment to building resilience at the community level. “This project strengthens the ability of our people to face the growing threats posed by climate change,” Habet said.
Her Excellency Lily Li-Wen Hsu, Ambassador of Taiwan to Belize, emphasized the importance of continued cooperation between Belize and Taiwan in tackling climate-related challenges. “Through projects like this, we are committed to supporting Belize’s sustainable development and ensuring communities are prepared for future challenges,” Hsu said.
Both governments reaffirmed their commitment to working together on climate adaptation and disaster resilience as part of their broader sustainable development goals.
