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Responsive and Focused
Disaster management
In 2001, the secretariat continued to pursue its integrated approach to disaster management, from risk mapping to prevention, preparedness, relief and rehabilitation. This universal approach allows for a more rational allocation of resources, and better linkages between preparedness and response programming. | |
A Red Cross worker outside the Norwegian
and Finnish Red Cross field hospital in Bhuj, India. |
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Disaster Relief Emergency Fund
When disasters strike, humanitarian actors need immediate access
to resources in order to respond. Over the years, the Federation
has developed its Disaster
Relief Emergency Fund (DREF) so that in the event of a disaster,
resources are readily available while emergency appeals are
launched. In 2001, DREF allocated over 4 million Swiss francs
in initial response to disasters.
Field Assessment
and Coordination Team
Field Assessment and
Coordination Teams (FACT) comprise up to ten experienced
disaster managers deployed within 24 hours to the scene of a
disaster. They support National Societies responding to disasters
by assessing the most pressing needs such as shelter, food,
water, sanitation and basic health care, and by coordinating
the international Red Cross and Red Crescent response in cooperation
with the host National Society.
In 2001, at the request of eight National Societies, FACT responded to both rapid onset disasters and slow and forgotten disasters in Algeria, Bosnia
and Herzegovina, El Salvador, India, Malawi, Mozambique, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.
There is now a roster of 200 FACT disaster managers from 40 National Societies, the Federation secretariat and the ICRC, located around the world to ensure timely and cost-effective deployment. In 2001, four 12-day FACT training workshops were conducted, including one regional workshop in Asia. In 2002 more workshops are planned for Africa, Americas and Europe, ensuring that global coverage is maintained.
Disaster Management Information System
In 2001, the Federation developed and launched its Disaster
Management Information System (DMIS) web site to help improve
the level of disaster preparedness and response capacity. The
DMIS site is intended for use by National Societies, the Federation
secretariat and the ICRC.
The web site is an interactive support tool in planning and decision-making. Since the launch in November, National Societies have instant access to multiple information sources, including working documents for programme formulation, and the possibility to share information online on disaster trends in the field. Real-time operational information is available during disasters, as are country situation reports provided by regional field delegates.
Emergency Response Unit
Emergency Response Units
(ERU) are self-contained teams of specialist professionals and
standardized equipment, sponsored, maintained and deployed by
individual National Societies. ERUs are ready for deployment
to disaster sites within 48 hours and provide essential relief
for up to four months. In 2001, ERUs were deployed eight times,
in response to disasters in India, Mozambique and Algeria, improving
the speed and efficiency of Federation relief efforts. In each
instance, the Federation secretariat took the lead in coordination
and deployment.
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National Societies with ERUs on standby in 2001
- Telecom: Austria, Spain
- Water treatment and supply lines: Austria, Germany, Sweden
- Water distribution and trucking: Austria, Germany
- Specialized water and sanitation: Austria, Germany, Spain
- Mass sanitation: Germany
- Field hospital: Finland, Germany, Norway
- Basic health care: Finland, Germany, Japan, Norway, Spain
- Logistics: Belgium, Denmark, United Kingdom
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The secretariat continued to support National Societies develop ERU capacity by providing technical expertise in training, and by overseeing the standardization of procedures. The Federation assisted National Societies in developing ERUs, including the Red Cross Societies of Australia, Belgium, Canada, France and Singapore.
Disaster preparedness
In 2001, the Federation continued to strengthen National Society preparedness, build more disaster response mechanisms, identify best practices, and review disaster mitigation strategies.
Guidelines were drafted to determine what constitutes a well-prepared National Society, and will be used in 2002 by two regional delegations as a checklist for assessing, implementing and monitoring preparedness programmes. An e-mail network was created to facilitate knowledge sharing between disaster preparedness delegates and some National Societies. |
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Pan-American Disaster Response Unit
The Federation supports the development of regional disaster management groups such as Pan-American Disaster Response Unit (PADRU), South-East Asia Regional Disaster Management, and similar regional operations in Harare and Nairobi.
PADRU plays an essential coordinating role in disaster management in Latin America, contributing to regional National Society capacity to prepare for and respond to
disasters. Based in Panama, it is staffed
by delegates and local staff experienced, among other things, in disaster coordination,
water and sanitation, logistics and
telecommunications.
In 2001, PADRU responded to many disasters that beset Latin America, including the earthquakes in El Salvador and Peru. It was on standby to respond to hurricanes Iris and Michelle, in the event that Central American National Societies requested assistance, and it continued its work in monitoring seasonal disasters.
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National Society vulnerability and capacity assessments were expanded in 2001. These assessments are an important tool in programming for National Societies, in particular in community-based initiatives. Following successful assessments, the Syrian Red Crescent, with no previous community preparedness programming, implemented an integrated disaster preparedness and health project. The Cambodian Red Cross emerged as a model National Society with 37 community-based preparedness initiatives, including flood mitigation activities in four new target provinces.
The secretariat continued to develop knowledge on predictable or seasonal disasters. Flood reviews were carried out in the Mekong Delta and in Mozambique, capturing important lessons learnt from the response operations. This will improve future preparedness and response initiatives, in particular, National Society capacity to cope with recurring disasters.
Findings from a review on housing construction as a form of disaster mitigation helped in developing disaster preparedness appeals for 2002 and 2003.
The secretariat provided technical support to the Netherlands Red Cross in the development of its Climate Change and Disaster Preparedness Centre, which will link Movement activities with those of scientists and academics in the field of climate change.
The secretariat worked with the ICRC to harmonize approaches aimed at improving National Society capacity to prepare for conflict situations. National Societies in countries facing a greater threat of conflict will receive additional support in 2002.
Global delegates workshops were held in February and December focusing on National Society capacity, cooperation with other organizations, community-based preparedness, vulnerability and capacity assessments, performance indicators, and preparedness for disaster response.
Joint initiatives continued with the UN's International Strategy for Disaster Reduction, including disaster mitigation submissions from Federation regional and country delegations in the Caribbean, Viet Nam and Bangladesh. The Federation continued to work with the World Bank's ProVention Consortium, to strive for a global disaster prevention culture.
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The Gambian Red Cross continues to help refugees fleeing conflict in the Casamance region of Senegal.
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Security
A vital objective of the Federation is to ensure the safety and security of Red Cross and Red Crescent beneficiaries, and staff and volunteers working for Federation operations around the world. |
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In 2001, over 160 delegates
were briefed before a mission or debriefed afterwards, and close
security cooperation was sustained with National Societies,
the ICRC and the UN. Security assessment missions were conducted
in 11 countries and guidelines for field delegates were updated,
including a checklist for office security, new vehicle security
measures and standardized relocation procedures.
More on the Federation's disaster preparedness
activities
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