To facilitate effective and timely response to humanitarian emergencies, OCHA maintains several “surge capacity” and rapid response mechanisms. These include, inter alia:
24-hour duty officer’s system for sudden major emergencies
The first line of defence in case of an emergency is OCHA’s field and regional offices. It is therefore advisable for Resident Coordinators to first contact personnel at the Almaty office (+7 727 258 2643). If however, in case of a major sudden onset emergency, personnel at the Almaty office cannot be reached, the RC may contact OCHA’s 24-hour duty officer to galvanise the needed support in a timely manner. The emergency number is (+41 22 917 2010).
UN Disaster Assessment and Coordination (UNDAC)
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. Composed of qualified and specially trained national emergency management experts, as well as of OCHA staff, who are on permanent stand-by, the UNDAC Team works under the authority of the UN RC/HC (http://undac.org/default.aspx)
International Search and Rescue Advisory Group (INSARAG)
INSARAG is a global network of more than 80 countries and disaster response organizations, operating under the United Nations umbrella. Established in 1991, INSARAG has standardized guidelines and procedures for coordination in earthquake response (http://ochaonline.un.org/?TabId=1436).
Click here to access the INSARAG guidelines in Russian
International Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) / On-Site Operations Coordination Centre (OSOCC)
USAR teams can be deployed by member states in the event of an emergency involving collapsed structures. OCHA provides the technical expertise required to assist the local authorities coordinate international urban search and rescue operations, in the form of a UNDAC team specialising in USAR to establish an On-Site Operations Coordination Centre (OSOCC). The OSOCC is established during the first relief phase of an emergency, and assist affected countries in coordinating the international relief community in a disaster/emergency. A virtual OSOCC is also made available to enable 24-hour global communication (http://ocha.unog.ch/virtualosocc),
Military and Civil Defence Unit (MCDU)
Mobilization and coordination of deployments of Military, Civil Protection and Civil Defence Assets from countries and multinational organizations. A Military and Civil Defence Unit (MCDU) is established within OCHA as a focal point for the use of these resources (http://ochaonline.un.org/cmcs).
OCHA/United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)
Assistance in case of environmental emergencies through the joint OCHA/United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Environment Unit that serves as the integrated United Nations emergency response mechanism to activate and provide international assistance to countries facing environmental emergencies (http://ochaonline.un.org/ochaunep).
Stockpiles
Maintenance of a permanent (renewable) stock of donated disaster relief items, at the UN Humanitarian Response Depot in Brindisi, Italy. OCHA can organize transport of basic survival items (Non-Food items, such as tents, blankets, generators, tools) immediately to disaster–affected areas, subject to the donor(s) agreement and the items being available in stock. Goods and transport are offered to the disaster-affected country free of charge (http://www.unhrd.org/).
