OCHA Disaster Response Preparedness Toolkit

OCHA Web Links

II. When a disaster occurs:

a) Within the first 48 hours of the response phase

Special procedures for response to major earthquakes in urban areas

• In order to be effective, international search and rescue (SAR) teams will deploy within hours of a major tremor. By UN GA Resolution 57/150 of 16 Dec 2002 on 'Strengthening the coordination and effectiveness of international urban search and rescue assistance' it is mandatory on the United Nations Disaster Assessment and Coordination (UNDAC) team to establish an on Site Operations Coordination Centre (OSOCC) in order to provide local/national authorities a means to coordinate and best utilise their technical capacities. The UN system in country must facilitate the UNDAC team in this role.

Immediately inform OCHA (CRD and FCSS)

• You will need to provide information as soon as possible on the extent to which urban areas have been affected, what type of construction materials are used in buildings in these areas, whether there are highrise buildings, the human toll and other impact.

  SAR teams may be needed when:

• a large urban area is affected;
• when hospitals and other buildings of more than two storeys have collapsed;
• when these buildings are constructed of reinforced concrete or other materials which would leave voids, where trapped victims could survive for several hours (as opposed to adobe or mudbricks).
• While urban SAR teams are normally deployed on a bilateral basis between Governments, the UN in its situation reports should inform on whether or not international SAR assistance is required.
• Ensure that the affected country takes into account the Guidelines of the International Search and Rescue Advisory Group, as determined in GA Resolution 57/150 of 16 December 2002 on Strengthening the Effectiveness and Coordination of International Urban Search and Rescue Assistance.

Evaluation :

• Verify the status of international and national staff. Activate contingency and security plans as necessary.
• Participate in initial assessment visits of affected zones.

Information :

• Prepare an initial field situation report and submit it to OCHANewYork and BCPR/UNDP-New York (fax 1-212 906 5379). Send further situation reports as the situation evolves.
• If the affected country declares a state of emergency and/or appeals for international assistance, forward this information immediately to OCHA-Geneva and its RDRA.
• If you learn of mobilization of international search and rescue teams, immediately inform OCHA and its RDRA.
• Make all necessary arrangements to launch a well-recognized Web site, for the purpose of disseminating verified humanitarian information, gathered from different sources and updated every 24-48 hours.

Coordination :

• Contact national authorities in charge of emergency management, to gather information about the type and magnitude of the disaster and offer United Nations support and response tools. Confirm the necessary arrangements to maintain continuous collaboration and linkages. Note: if the RC or host country require the assistance of the United Nations Disaster Assessment and Coordination Team (UNDAC), a mobilization request should be forwarded to OCHA immediately.
• Activate the Emergency Operations Centre and call an initial information and evaluation meeting of the United Nations Disaster Management Team (UNDP, PAHO/WHO, WFP, FAO, UNFPA, UNICEF, UNHCR, etc.). Define roles and responsibilities and periodicity of meetings.
• As required, form a team of UN technical staff to support the UNDMT in performing its disaster-related functions. These include disaster management, procurement, information management, logistics and secretarial support.
• This team should also support the UNDAC team in compiling information and assessing priority relief needs.
• If possible, establish UN field operations teams, in order to support on-site response actions and provide disaster status information.
• Contact ambassadors of major donor countries to inform them about UN coordination mechanisms and exchange information about actions undertaken. Contacts may also be made with such institutions as the Red Cross/Red Crescent, ECHO (European Community), international humanitarian NGOs (e.g. MSF,OXFAM, CARITAS, ADRA, World Vision, CRS, etc.), and other actors, as required.

b) After the first 48 hours, until the recovery phase

Evaluation :

• Support damage assessment efforts and the determination of priority needs for humanitarian assistance. If necessary, request the provision of emergency funds and/or supplies to OCHA and UNDP.
• Advocate socio-economic impact assessment of the disaster and identify unmet needs to ensure a smooth transition from the relief to rehabilitation phases.
• Support the organization of a detailed sectoral impact assessment.

Information :

• As needed, ask UNDP’s Bureau for Crisis Prevention and Recovery (BCPR) to mobilize its Regional Disaster Reduction Advisor and provide temporary support of a public information officer to assure good communication with the local media, the affected population and international stakeholders.
• Keep information on the disaster situation continually up to date through the Web site.
• Maintain contact with OCHA, and continue to issue field situation reports every 24-72 hours or as required.

Coordination :

• Consider the need to develop a consensus-based program for relief and rehabilitation assistance and a UN inter-agency appeal, with the purpose to assure a smooth transition from the relief to rehabilitation phases.
• If emergency funds are being channelled through OCHA, prepare a cost plan for using such funds.
• Assist in overseeing humanitarian aid operations and providing operational support as required.
• Support the government in defining a strategy for mobilizing international assistance for the reconstruction phase.
• Arrange for reception and support for visiting missions.

III. The Rehabilitation and Reconstruction phase

Evaluation :

• Request the support of UNDP’s Transition Recovery Teams to ensure a smooth interface between the rehabilitation and reconstruction phases and the design of integrated recovery frameworks.
• Promote study and monitoring of natural hazards and strengthening of early warning systems.

Coordination :

• Encourage and support the incorporation of the 'risk variable' in plans for reconstruction and, in general, in new development projects.
• Supporting in-country capacity building, UN-system coordination, resource mobilisation and partnerships.
• Support prompt rehabilitation of basic services and production activities that will enable affected communities to recover socially and economically.
• Promote improvement of land use policies, building codes and standards, to reduce vulnerability to future natural hazards for affected population groups.
• Maximize the use of local resources in reconstruction activities to support prompt recovery for affected communities.