The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) says its country offices in the Caribbean have joined forces and allocated resources to immediately implement a recovery strategy for the islands impacted by Hurricane Irma.

“This regional recovery Strategy, including debris and waste removal, short-term employment and rehabilitation of community infrastructure, will be developed and implemented in support to national authorities and other partners,” UNDP said in a news release yesterday.

The strategy will be led by UNDP’s resident representatives stationed in Jamaica, Guyana, Trinidad and Tobago, Belize and Barbados.

According to Bruno Pouezat, UNDP resident representative assigned to Jamaica, Turks and Caicos, The Bahamas, and the Cayman Islands “the strategy’s main objective is the swift recovery, of affected communities; by debris/waste removal and reactivation of local economies through livelihood opportunities”.

The agency said it has established a menu of recovery activities which, subject to specific need, includes:

• Debris management of damaged houses and community infrastructure (removal, reuse and recycling);

• Waste management of palm trees or other waste left by the strong winds;

• Cash for work: short-term employment opportunities for families affected. This will inject cash in the communities, tools, equipment, training and technical capacity of professionals such as engineers and architects.

• Rehabilitation of community infrastructure including provision of required materials and basic services;

• Support to micro and small enterprises to resume their economic activities;

• Support to core government functions and coordination, depending on the needs and the official requests.

“Recovery activities will immediately kick off in most affected areas, with initiatives showing quick, tangible results that can be easily replicated in other areas as needed,” UNDP said.