Black Immigrant Daily News

By Mario Lubetkin

There is no doubt that water is a fundamental resource for everyone. It is essential for health, energy, food production, the development of healthy ecosystems, climate adaptation, and the reduction of poverty and inequalities. Water is central to sustainable development.

Despite its obvious relevance, we are facing a global water crisis and an evident challenge in fulfilling the Sustainable Development Goals related to water.

Latin America and the Caribbean is no exception. The region has 36% of the water available worldwide for consumption. However, its distribution is heterogeneous and has a high seasonality, presenting areas with extreme water scarcity. Access to safely managed water supply services is still unavailable to 166 million people, and 24 million still do not have access to basic services.

With the impacts of climate change, several countries have been accumulating high rates of water stress and are suffering more frequent and intense prolonged droughts, as is the case of Mexico, Chile, and Peru, or the countries of the Central American dry corridor. In the Amazon, which has traditionally been very humid (receiving up to 5,000 mm of rainfall per year), some areas have become more arid, with dry periods having increasingly more significant impact. In the Caribbean, seven countries recorded severe droughts in 2020.

Another issue of concern is agricultural losses due to flooding. Its negative effects can mean loss of production and income for farmers; loss of arable land due to erosion and topsoil washout; loss of seeds and fertilizers, and loss of agricultural infrastructure and irrigation systems. All of these can significantly impact food security and farmers’ livelihoods.

What are we doing at FAO to address the water crisis? To make progress in water resources management, we know that joint work between governments, civil society, and local communities is fundamental.

We are working on improving and efficiently using water, implementing efficient irrigation technologies, sustainable agriculture, and ecosystem-based water use. In addition, we promote the protection of water resources through good agricultural practices and land and soil management.

We know that this is not enough. From the FAO Regional Office for Latin America and the Caribbean, we support the agreements of the Regional Action Agenda for Water, coordinated by ECLAC, in which the management of water resources is fundamental for food security.

We welcome the realization of the United Nations Conference on Water 2023. We will continue to work to achieve commitments from all sectors to develop innovative and transformative solutions that will enable us to respond comprehensively to efficient water management.

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Black Immigrant Daily News

The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and the Caribbean Shipping Association (CSA) agreed to collaborate to help decarbonize the shipping industry. The memorandum of understanding was signed by IDB Vice President for Countries Richard Mart?nez, CSA President Lindsay Marc Sampson and CSA General Manager Milaika Capella Ras during the IDB and IDB Invest’s Annual Meeting.

The agreement aims to expedite the decarbonization of the shipping industry, while simultaneously enhancing the economic and social development of the region. Additionally, the framework strives to improve the efficiency and efficacy of maritime transport activities and services, as well as optimize the operations of seaports, harbors and their associated hinterland activities.

Over the course of this three-year arrangement, both institutions will collaborate on different activities, including studies focused on decarbonizing maritime transport and improving the operations of seaports and harbors in the Caribbean. They will also work on technical and operational matters related to reducing the use of fossil fuels in seaport activities, such as operation and maintenance.

Additionally, the partners will conduct joint capacity-building activities to advance shipping and trade policies and regulations on decarbonization, the circular economy, labor affairs, gender inclusion, SMEs, and institutional strengthening.

Moreover, the IDB is collaborating with the CSA to develop an analytical framework for the key building blocks necessary for decarbonizing shipping and port services. The partnership will also include the creation of new alliances and the analysis of existing policies and regulations to support the shift towards decarbonization of shipping and port services in an enabling environment.

“This partnership is an essential step in our mission to support the region’s economic development. As we know, the Caribbean relies heavily on maritime transport for trade. This partnership will create opportunities to enhance trade, which is critical for economic growth,” said Vice President Richard Mart?nez during the meeting.

The President of the Caribbean Shipping Association, Lindsay Marc Sampson, said, “The enactment of our partnership today will help to bolster our efforts to protect the region’s environment and hasten our progress to adopting better technologies, procedures, and energy alternatives. This agreement is not only necessary for the environment but also for economic growth and international cooperation.”

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Following their return from a fact-finding visit to Haiti, a group of senior United Nations officials and representatives of NGOs issued an urgent call on Saturday, for increased access and resources to reach people in desperate need.

The call comes amid reports that the situation in Haiti is deteriorating by the day, with citizens facing spiralling violence, human rights, and food emergencies, as well as a cholera epidemic.

The influence of armed gangs is growing exponentially in the capital, Port-au-Prince, and beyond, reaching the Department of Artibonite, the country’s breadbasket. Armed violence – including kidnappings and sexual violence against women and girls – is also surging.

The six senior officials, representing UN aid agencies and international NGOs, met with people who need humanitarian aid, as well as with local and international partners.

They also held talks with Prime Minister Ariel Henry and other senior Government officials, and met with community representatives from areas controlled by, or under the influence of, armed gangs.

“The humanitarian needs in Haiti are unprecedented,” said Sara Bordas Eddy, Chief of the Humanitarian Field Support Section of UNICEF, at the end of the two-day trip. “The suffering of a Haitian child today is not comparable to the suffering of a Haitian child a few years ago. As humanitarians, we are finding ways to reach those in need including in gang-controlled areas. For that to happen in a sustainable way, we also need the donor community to not give up on Haiti.”

Despite the difficulties, the UN and NGO officials noted that the humanitarian response continues to be scaled up, and committed even more support to aid workers on the ground.

“The population feels desperate, but I also saw the resilience and potential of the women and girls who want to help build a better future for their country, communities and families,” said Shoko Arakaki, Director of the Humanitarian Response Division of the UN Population Fund (UNFPA). “They need urgent health and psychosocial support, but also livelihood and economic empowerment for recovery.”

This year, the UN and its partners will need $715 million to help more than three million people in Haiti. This is more than double the sum appealed for last year, and the highest amount since the 2010 earthquake.

Also taking part in the visit were Tareq Talahma, the Acting Director of the Operations and Advocacy Division of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), Osnat Lubrani, the Acting Director and Head of the Humanitarian Section of UN Women’s Geneva Office, Dominic MacSorley, the Humanitarian Ambassador for Concern Worldwide, and Mark Smith, Vice President of Humanitarian and Emergency Affairs of World Vision.

“More than just humanitarian assistance, what the people of Haiti need is peace, security and protection,” said Mr. Talahma “We cannot let Haiti become a forgotten crisis.”

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The United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency says officers from its Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) have apprehended Caribbean nationals among 220 removable noncitizens during a nationwide enforcement effort.

On Friday, ICE said that nationals from Cuba and Trinidad and Tobago were arrested in the immigration sweep between March 4 and March 13.

“Officials identified the noncitizens as having been convicted of crimes such as domestic violence, sexual abuse, sexual exploitation, burglary, unlawful possession or use of a firearm, drug distribution or trafficking, or driving under the influence; or as those who were released from incarceration on parole or placed on community probation under supervision,” said ICE in a statement.

“Our officers continue to focus on smart, effective immigration enforcement that protects the homeland through the arrest and removal of those who undermine the safety of our communities and integrity of federal immigration law,” said ERO Executive Associate Director Corey A Price.

“Our teams weigh various factors during targeting and apprehension to ensure we are enforcing US immigration laws humanely, effectively, and with the utmost professionalism,” he added.

ICE said those arrested included a 20-year-old citizen of Cuba in Miami, convicted in July 2022 by the Eleventh Judicial Circuit Court of Florida in Miami of felony murder in the second degree/deadly weapon/aggravated battery attempt.

A 40-year-old citizen of Trinidad and Tobago, who lived in Teaneck, New Jersey, was also arrested.

The Trinidadian was convicted in November 2022 by the US District Court in the Southern District of New York of felony conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, felony narcotics-sell/distribute/dispense, ICE said.

In fiscal year 2022, ICE said ERO arrested 46,396 noncitizens with criminal histories.

ICE said this group had 198,498 associated charges and convictions, including 21,531 assault offences; 8,164 sex and sexual assault offences; 5,554 weapons offences; 1,501 homicide-related offences; and 1,114 kidnapping offences.

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