Disasters and Cross-Border Displacement in Central America: Emerging Needs, New Responses

1. Disasters and Cross-Border Displacement in Central America: Emerging Needs, New Responses San José, Costa Rica 2-4 December, 2013

2. Disasters and Cross-Border Displacement in Central America: Emerging Needs, New Responses San José, Costa Rica 2-4 December, 2013 • Participants: • More than 100 delegates • Central American Countries, Mexico, Colombia, Haiti and the Dominican Republic. • Representants of the Nansen Initiative • Regional and International Organizations • Civil Society • Research Institutions • Importance for the region of the Nansen Initiative in building consensus on a protection agenda, for the cross-border displacement of persons in the context of natural disasters, as well as the effects of climate change.

3. Disasters and Cross-Border Displacement in Central America: Emerging Needs, New Responses San José, Costa Rica 2-4 December, 2013 • The region is vulnerable to natural hazards and disasters:- hurricanes, - earthquakes, - floodings, - volcanic eruptions, among others. • Hurricane Mitch (1998) • Earthquake in Haiti (2010) • Effect of Climate Change in the region: - coastal erosion,- salinization of fresh water sources, - see level rise, among • others. • As a consequence of these natural disasters, millions of people have been forced to flee not only internally, but also acrross borders within the region.

4. Disasters and Cross-Border Displacement in Central America: Emerging Needs, New Responses San José, Costa Rica 2-4 December, 2013 • Acknowledgement of national and regional disaster risk management policies and mechanisms within the region. • Importance of the role of comprehensive disaster risk management measures to: prevent, mitigate and respond to cross-border displacement. • Effective Regional Coordination Response : • SICA (Central American Integration System) • CEPREDENAC (Coordination Centre for the Prevention of Natural Disasters in Central America) • PCGIR (Central American Policy on Comprehensive Disaster Risk Management)

5. Disasters and Cross-Border Displacement in Central America: Emerging Needs, New Responses San José, Costa Rica 2-4 December, 2013 • Examples of the regional fora identified to address and continue to strengthen the dialogue on the protection needs of the people affected by disasters, and the adverse impact of climate change. • OCAM (Central American Commission of Migration Directors) • RCM (Regional Conference on Migration) • Cartagena +30 • The participants recognized that national laws and international agreements provide certain protection for the displaced, for example: granting temporary protection status, often as an ad hoc response. • Nonetheless, it was expressed, that there are certain legal gaps for the protection of those displaced across borders, that need to be addressed.

6. Disasters and Cross-Border Displacement in Central America: Emerging Needs, New Responses San José, Costa Rica 2-4 December, 2013 • Participants were concerned about the risks: • Human trafficking • Gender Based Violence • Vulnerable persons, women and children • Organized crime • Challenges: • Mixed migration flows and the identification of the disaster displaced persons • Sustainable return to the country of origin • Integrated durable solutions, respecting the Human Rights of the affected people • Protecting property and livelihoods • Needs of the indigenous population and ethnic minorities

7. Disasters and Cross-Border Displacement in Central America: Emerging Needs, New Responses San José, Costa Rica 2-4 December, 2013 • Participants agreed that preparedness and response have to be coordinated at community, national, regional and international levels. • The key areas that were identified in the Regional Consultation to put into action are: • Disaster Risk Management: Prevention and Preparedness for Displacement. • Migration and Border Management in Disaster Contexts. • Protection during Cross-Border Displacement in Disaster Contexts. • Durable Solutions for Cross-Border Displacement in Disaster Contexts. • International Coordination and Cooperation for Cross-Border Displacement in Disaster Contexts.

8. Disasters and Cross-Border Displacement in Central America: Emerging Needs, New Responses San José, Costa Rica 2-4 December, 2013 1. Disaster Risk Management: Prevention and Preparedness for Displacement • Incorporate internal and cross-border disaster-induced displacement scenarios • within instruments like: • National Disaster Risk Management Policies • National Systems for Civil Protection • The Central American Policy on Comprehensive Disaster Risk Management (PCGIR) • The Central American Regional Mechanism for Mutual Assistance and • Coordination (MecReg) • The International Humanitarian Assistance Mechanisms (MIAH) • The revision of the Hyogo Framework for Action • Strengthening the resilience of communities at risk of displacement in plans and actions • against various risks, particularly in the context of climate change, to protect water • catchment areas and to recover hydrographic basins, and vulnerable coastal areas.

9. Disasters and Cross-Border Displacement in Central America: Emerging Needs, New Responses San José, Costa Rica 2-4 December, 2013 2. Migration and Border Management in Disaster Contexts • Promote and harmonize the use of humanitarian visas for the admission of • persons displaced by disasters. • Protect the Human Rights of people moving across borders against return to their • countries of origin as long as their lives, personal integrity and health are at risk. • Recommend the development of guidelines that are applicable in the region within • the context of the Regional Conference on Migration (RCM).

10. Disasters and Cross-Border Displacement in Central America: Emerging Needs, New Responses San José, Costa Rica 2-4 December, 2013 3. Protection during Cross-Border Displacement in Disaster Contexts • Ensure in disaster situations, respect for the Human Rights of displaced persons • across borders, especially the right to personal integrity, family unity, food, health, • shelter or adequate housing, access to education. • Strengthen effective measures responding to disasters to protect women, boys • and girls against violence, including gender-based violence, as well as people with • specific needs and vulnerabilities during displacement. • Ensure that all migrants have access to humanitarian assistance and protection in • disaster situations, as well as consular services from their countries of origin. • Create bi-national mechanisms to ensure the protection of livelihoods and • property of persons displaced across borders.

11. Disasters and Cross-Border Displacement in Central America: Emerging Needs, New Responses San José, Costa Rica 2-4 December, 2013 4. Durable Solutions for Cross-Border Displacement in Disaster Contexts • Ensure a comprehensive approach to finding durable solutions: • Measures regarding adequate housing, reestablishment of livelihoods, • access to basic services and the need for affected populations to participate in • the planning and implementation of such measures. • Strengthen the country of origin`s efforts, with the commitment of development actors and sectors as a whole from the initial stages, with a focus on including comprehensive risk management and climate change adaptation in local, national and regional development plans. • Improving the coordination of inter-governmental mechanisms to implement integrated and durable solutions, especially for return, building upon the bi-national actions and practices that currently exist.

12. Disasters and Cross-Border Displacement in Central America: Emerging Needs, New Responses San José, Costa Rica 2-4 December, 2013 5. International Coordination and Cooperation for Cross-Border Displacement in Disaster Contexts • Incorporate the issue of cross-border displacement within the context of • comprehensive risk management, and in the guidelines and procedures of the • MecReg, including regional manuals and protocols for humanitarian assistance, • management and administration. • Efficient coordination between affected countries, humanitarian agencies, and • development agencies in planning and response efforts, based on the principles of the • UN Humanitarian Reform and the Transformative Agenda, such as leadership, • transparency, accountability and predictability. • Explore opportunities for accessing existing and new financial mechanisms at • regional and international levels for comprehensive disaster risk management, • cross-border displacement and finding integrated and lasting solutions.

13. Disasters and Cross-Border Displacement in Central America: Emerging Needs, New Responses San José, Costa Rica 2-4 December, 2013 5. International Coordination and Cooperation for Cross-Border Displacement in Disaster Contexts (cont.) • Promote that the Conclusions of the Nansen Initiative Regional Consultation are • raised within relevant regional and international processes, including in particular: • OCAM; CRM; Cartagena +30; GFMD • International Humanitarian Assistance Mechanism (MIAH) • Regional Risk Reduction Plan (PRRD) and the IV Meeting of the Regional • Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction in the Americas. • Regional Climate Change Policy and the Summit of the UN Framework • Convention on Climate Change (COP20). • Regional Communications Platform of CEPREDENAC. • Agenda for the sustainable development goals for people and planet.

14. Disasters and Cross-Border Displacement in Central America: Emerging Needs, New Responses San José, Costa Rica 2-4 December, 2013 Thank you