Emergency Relief Tools and Services
OCHA develops and maintains an emergency response 'toolkit' - the expertise, systems and services that aim to improve humanitarian assistance in emergencies. OCHA'S Emergencies Services Branch, based in Geneva, is charged with developing, mobilizing and coordinating the deployment of international rapid response and management capacities, covering the entire range of disasters and emergencies:
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The United Nations Disaster Assessment and Coordination (UNDAC): 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 by 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.
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International Search and Rescue Advisory Group (INSARAG): an inter-governmental network under the United Nations umbrella, which deals with urban search and rescue (USAR) and related disaster response issues. Its purpose is to provide a platform for information exchange, to define standards for international USAR assistance and to develop methodology for international cooperation and coordination in earthquake response. INSARAG includes earthquake-prone countries as well as traditional providers of international assistance.
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Environmental Emergencies: the Joint UNEP/OCHA Environment Unit is a partnership between the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the OCHA that serves as the integrated United Nations emergency response mechanism to activate and provide international assistance to countries facing environmental emergencies.
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Military and Civil Defence: through the Military and Civil Defence Unit, OCHA provides timely, sufficient, and cost-effective support by military and/or civil defence assets (MCDA) to concerned humanitarian agencies as and when requested.
MCDU conducts the UN's Civil-Military Coordination (UN-CMCoord) courses, and coordinates UN agency participation in major exercises with humanitarian scenarios. The unit also maintains the UN's Central Register--a database of non-commercial governmental and other resources which may be available for humanitarian use. These resources include a wide range of equipment and supplies (food/shelter/water capabilities, transportation assets, medical care), expert teams and disaster response contacts.
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Logistics Support: through the Logistics Support Unit, OCHA manages stocks of basic relief items that can be dispatched immediately, in case of need, to disaster or emergency-stricken areas. Stored in the United Nations Humanitarian Response Depot (UNHRD) in Brindisi, Italy, this stockpile includes non-food, non-medical relief items (shelter, water purification and distribution, household items), donated by several governments. The Logistics Support Unit is also involved in other logistical challenges, such as setting up contingency plans for the rapid deployment of (mostly) air assets for emergency relief operations and to provide an interface on logistical matters with other humanitarian agencies including WFP, WHO, UNHCR, IFRC and ICRC.
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