By Hugo Cahueñas
In 2010, the Ecuadorian National Secretariat of Risk Management (SNGR) expressed interest in receiving support from the Ecuadorian Red Cross regarding the IDRL Guidelines. After a period of planning, in September of this year, the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies and the Ecuadorian Red Cross signed an agreement to undertake a project of technical assistance. The final objective of this project will be to provide specific recommendations to the Ecuadorian government in the light of the IDRL Guidelines, on areas of national legislation that could be strengthened in anticipation of the need for international assistance in case of disaster. Where and if needed, the study's recommendations will aim to contribute to drafting new national regulations on disaster prevention and management matters.
“The present IDRL project will provide legal prevention and response tools in the face of disasters. This project will reduce vulnerabilities and will strengthen response capabilities, thus contributing to the State's compliance with its constitutional duty of protecting people from the negative effects of natural disasters”, said Rosa Marta Lobo, Executive Director of the Ecuadorian Red Cross.