United Nations Disaster Assessment and Coordination (UNDAC)

The United Nations Disaster Assessment and Coordination (UNDAC) team is a stand-by team of disaster management professionals who are nominated and funded by member governments, OCHA, UNDP and operational humanitarian United Nations Agencies such as WFP, UNICEF and WHO. 

Upon request of a disaster-stricken country, the UNDAC team can be deployed within hours to carry out rapid assessment of priority needs and to support national Authorities and the United Nations Resident Coordinator to coordinate international relief on-site.

The UNDAC System consists of four components:

  1. Staff: experienced emergency managers made available for UNDAC missions by their respective governments or organizations, together with OCHA staff. UNDAC Team members are specially trained and equipped for their task
     
  2. Methodology: predefined methods for the collection and management of information, assessment as well as structures for coordination support during the first phase of a sudden-onset disaster or emergency
  3. Procedures: proven systems to mobilize and deploy an UNDAC team, so that it can arrive within 24 hours at any disaster or emergency site anywhere in the world.
     
  4. Equipment: adequate personal and mission equipment for UNDAC teams to be self-sufficient in the field when deployed for disasters/emergencies.
     

Reference guide for the use of members of the UNDAC team undertaking an emergency mission is available through the UNDAC Handbook.



Members of the UNDAC team are permanently on stand-by to deploy to relief missions following disasters and humanitarian emergencies anywhere in the world. 


The UNDAC team is responsible for providing first-hand information on the disaster situation and priority needs of the victims to the international community through OCHA. 


Particularly after earthquakes the UNDAC team has to be mobilized rapidly in order to effectively coordinate the search and rescue (SAR) operation of international SAR teams together with the national authorities of the affected country