Press
Release
(98)65
27 May 1998
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NATO Secretary General to inaugurate the
Euro-Atlantic
Disaster Response Coordination Centre (EADRCC)
at 1700 on 3Rd June 1998
On 29th May 1998, Foreign Ministers from 44 NATO and Partner
Countries meeting in the Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council in
Luxembourg, will formally establish an enhanced disaster response
capability under the aegis of the EAPC.
Following this meeting, on 3rd June 1998, the NATO Secretary General,
Dr. Javier Solana, will inaugurate the Euro-Atlantic Disaster
Response Coordination Centre (EADRCC). The EADRCC, which is located
in the Manfred Wrner Building at NATO Headquarters, will be the
focal point for the coordination of disaster relief efforts among
EAPC member countries in the event of a major disaster. Attached is
a Fact Sheet describing the functioning of the EADRCC.
Programme of the Ceremony
1700 |
Ribbon Cutting by Secretary General of NATO, Dr. Javier
Solana (Manfred Wrner Building);
Full media coverage |
1705 |
Vin d'Honneur |
1720 |
Briefing by Mr. Herpert van Foreest, Assistant
Secretary General for Infrastructure, Logistics and Civil Emergency
Planning on the work of the EADRCC; |
1730 |
Brief tour of the EADRCC facilities. |
Fact Sheet
Enhanced practical cooperation in the field of
international disaster relief
The detailed report on "Enhanced Practical Cooperation in the Field
of International Disaster Relief", prepared by the SCEPC with
Cooperation Partners, builds upon an original proposal of the Russian
Federation for Enhanced Practical Cooperation in the Field of
International Disaster Relief as well as the current NATO Policy on
Co-operation for Disaster Assistance in Peacetime. The two basic
elements of this Euro-Atlantic Disaster Response Capability are the
establishment of a Euro-Atlantic Disaster Response Coordination
Centre (EADRCC) and a Euro-Atlantic Disaster Response Unit (EADRU).
A small Euro-Atlantic Disaster Response Coordination Centre will be
established at NATO Headquarters, headed by the Director CEP with
additional staff from a limited number of interested NATO and Partner
Countries. The EADRCC will also be open to representatives from the
United Nations and the NATO Military Authorities. The EADRCC will be
responsible for coordinating, in close consultation with the
UN-Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), the
response of EAPC Countries to a disaster occurring within the EAPC
geographical area.
The Euro-Atlantic Disaster Response Unit (EADRU) will be a
non-standing, multi-national mix of national civil and military
elements (qualified personnel of rescue, medical and other units;
equipment and materials; assets and transport) which have been
volunteered by EAPC countries. The EADRU can be deployed in case of a
major natural or technological disaster in an EAPC Country upon
request from the stricken country or in support of a relevant
international organization. The composition and the size of this
multinational EADRU will be determined by the requirements based on
an international assessment of each particular disaster.
National elements will remain under national control while deployed
in the stricken country as an asset of the Local Emergency Management
Agency. The area of deployment of the EADRU will be limited to the
EAPC member countries. In exceptional circumstances, should there be
a request for assistance for a stricken non-EAPC country, political
guidance will be obtained as a matter of urgency before initiating
any disaster response action via the EADRCC
To ensure the effective functioning of both the EADRCC and the EADRU
and in order to maximize Interoperability among national elements,
appropriate training and exercises will need to be conducted on a
regular basis. National action in this area will need to be
supplemented by measures of international activity in order to
exercise the various elements of the EADRU in working together. To
enhance cooperation and synergy, UN-developed programmes and projects
covering procedures on mission guidelines, regulations, training and
exercises, etc. should be taken into account.
The offices of the EADRCC will be opened on the 3rd June 1998.
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