PIRAC
French Red Cross Caribbean Regional Response Platform
The Caribbean region is one of the most disaster-prone regions in the world. It is mainly composed of states fragmented into isolated island archipelagos, which makes the delivery of humanitarian goods costly and more restricted. In this context, disaster risk preparedness and awareness are essential to increase the resilience of local populations. Indeed, in the face of global warming, the populations of the region must be prepared for the multiplication and intensification of hazards.
The French Red Cross operates in the Caribbean through the Regional Intervention Platform of the Americas-Caribbean (PIRAC), which allows us to concentrate our skills and means of response as close as possible to vulnerable populations. This increases the responsiveness and capacity to respond in the event of a disaster and allows for rapid action. PIRAC has been supporting the Red Cross in the region in the implementation of various actions since 2000.
Our latest news
Reducing the environmental impact of humanitarian emergency operations: PIRAC unveils two inspiring studies at CDM13
The 13th Caribbean Conference on Comprehensive Disaster Management (CDM13), organized by CDEMA, was held from December 6 to 12 in Saint Kitts and Nevis under the theme "Road to Resilience - Checkpoint 2024: Upgrading for a Dynamic Future". This biennial event, a must...
COP29: PIRAC committed to climate resilience in the Caribbean
COP29 was held in Baku from November 11 to 22. In collaboration with the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), PIRAC's voice was carried by its partners to highlight the climate...
Disaster risk reduction: a daily commitment at PIRAC
Each year, the United Nations' International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction provides an opportunity to highlight PIRAC's efforts to strengthen disaster prevention and resilience in the Caribbean. Through initiatives such as the Paré pa Paré, Fok Nou Paré program and...
Hurricane Beryl: three months after the disaster
On July 1, Hurricane Beryl ravaged the south-east Caribbean, sweeping away everything in its path with maximum force. With houses razed to the ground, infrastructure destroyed and no electricity or water supply, Beryl hit the islands of Grenada and Saint-Vincent and...
Construction of the regional humanitarian warehouse in pictures
Against a backdrop of intensifying and multiplying hazards and crises, since December 2023 PIRAC has been building and equipping a regional humanitarian warehouse in Guadeloupe to strengthen preparedness and response capacities in the Caribbean region. The warehouse...
Hurricane Beryl: the French Red Cross mobilizes to help vulnerable populations in the Caribbean
Three days ago, the southern Caribbean felt the impact of the first hurricane of the season, exceptionally early and powerful. Rated category 5 on the night of July 2, it is considered "potentially catastrophic" by the US National Hurricane Center (NHC), with winds of...
Hurricane season 2024: forecasts predict high activity
Meteorologists* are unanimous: this year's hurricane activity, which runs from June 1 to November 30, will be well above average in the Caribbean.. Against this backdrop, PIRAC is actively monitoring the region to anticipate cyclonic risks until November. In advance...
Pre-hurricane season: how can we be best prepared? Let’s take a look back at the “Pre-Hurricane Conference 2024”
The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) brings together every year the National Societies of the Americas and various technical and scientific organizations such as PIRAC to take part in the “Pre-Hurricane Conference” (PHC). With...
2023 key moments
Whether in schools, with the general public, or with actors involved in disaster preparedness, PIRAC carried out various activities in 2023 alongside its financial and operational partners. In 2024, PIRAC will be stepping up its activities at various levels in the...
READY 360°: review of phase 1 and launch of phase 2|For a greener, more risk-resilient Caribbean
On November 7, PIRAC organized a workshop for its partners to take stock of phase 1 of the READY 360° project and share the objectives of phase 2 of the READY 360/3 Oceans program. This new direction is in line with the continuity of the first phase: to strengthen...