Source: UNISDR Disaster Risk Reduction
Mission
In 2017, Hurricanes Irma and Maria devastated the island of Sint Maarten. The World Bank estimated the damages and losses caused by Hurricane Irma to Sint Maarten to be $2.73 billion. Ninety percent of all infrastructure was affected, with tourism-the country’s biggest industry taking a huge hit.
Due to Sint Maarten’s location and dependence on tourism, it is highly vulnerable to natural disasters, which may happen more frequently due to climate change. Sint Maarten needs to be prepared.
The Sint Maarten Reconstruction, Recovery and Resilience Trust Fund was launched in April 2018 as a tripartite partnership between the government of the Netherlands, government of Sint Maarten, and the World Bank to help the country rebuild stronger and more sustainably to support longer-term development priorities.
The current fund portfolio is US$519 million, with recipient-executed projects addressing the country’s most critical needs-strengthening institutions, building capacity, making infrastructure climate-resilient, and improving social and economic cohesion.