Leaders and disaster response specialists from across Latin America and the Caribbean have assembled in the Dominican capital of Santo Domingo for the 2026 International Seminar on Strategic Disaster Preparedness in Airports, Ports and Communities. The core mission of this high-level gathering is to strengthen cross-sector emergency response capacities and build long-term resilience for the region’s most critical transportation and community infrastructure.
Organized by the CIFAL Miami Centre, a regional training arm of the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR), the two-day event has secured collaborative support from a range of key stakeholders, including Aerodom, Vinci Airports, FedEx, the Airports Council International – Latin America and the Caribbean (ACI-LAC), and the global CIFAL network. The seminar brings together cross-disciplinary experts spanning commercial aviation, maritime port operations, national civil protection agencies, and local emergency management bodies to align strategies and share actionable insights.
Over the course of the event, participants have engaged in dynamic knowledge-sharing through a structured program of expert keynote addresses, real-world case study analyses, and hands-on practical preparedness exercises. Core discussion topics cover a full spectrum of disaster management priorities: from advanced hurricane preparedness planning and critical infrastructure operational continuity to streamlined humanitarian logistics coordination, improved interagency collaboration, and faster post-disaster recovery frameworks.
Attendance at the seminar includes official representatives from dozens of national and international bodies, among them the Dominican Republic’s Civil Aviation Board (JAC), Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Technology (Mescyt), national Emergency Operations Center (COE), Civil Defense Directorate, Dominican Institute of Civil Aviation (IDAC), Dominican Institute of Meteorology (Indomet), Dominican Red Cross, commercial airline operators, national airport and port authorities, and leading global disaster response organizations.
In his opening remarks to attendees, Carlos Rodolí, Northern Cluster Director for Aerodom, underscored the irreplaceable role that modern airports play during natural hazard events. Rodolí noted that airports are primary hubs that enable large-scale rescue operations, rapid deployment of life-saving humanitarian aid, and coordinated post-disaster recovery work across affected regions. He closed by reaffirming that proactive cross-sector preparedness and sustained collaborative partnerships are non-negotiable to protecting civilian lives and keeping critical support services operational when disaster strikes.