Water Security in Barbados and 11 countries of the Eastern Caribbean 

Caribbean countries are highly vulnerable to natural disasters. Extreme weather events are common, the region experienced three Category 5 hurricanes between 2017 and 2019. When a hurricane hits, it can wipe out the entire annual GDP of a small island and it is often the poorest who suffer the most. Major hurricanes, including Irma and Maria, in 2017, and Dorian in 2019 were stark reminders of this reality. This vulnerability includes challenges to water security, including water scarcity, water stress and drought, pollution, watershed degradation, saline intrusion, and flooding. Climate change is worsening the severity of these challenges, and response capacities are often curtailed by a lack of financial resources, poor coordination between institutions and less than optimal governance structures and procedures.