|
|
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.
In 2009, two UNDAC teams were deployed to assist emergencies in El Salvador and Nicaragua, following a request by the Humanitarian Country teams. In addition, a UNDAC national disaster preparedness was carried out in Peru. This analysis led to a development of a strategic plan recently approved by the Humanitarian Country Team, co-facilitated by the ocal emrgency management authority (National Civil Defense Institute, INDECI). This has included a seismic rrisk study and the development of preparedness planning for high risk urban areas.
The OCHA Regional Office now has three Regional Disaster Response Advisors all based in Panama and six National Disaster Response Advisors in six countries (Peru, Bolivia, Mexico, Dominican Republic, Guatemala and Nicaragua). All of them are UNDAC trained and support UNDAC missions as needed.
|