Through the signature of an updated administrative arrangement, the Commission’s ECHO department and UN-OCHA’s Response Support Branch further build their partnership, working together for a better emergency response system.
The European Commission and the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UN-OCHA) have signed a revised administrative arrangement to strengthen their collaboration in disaster preparedness and response.
The updated administrative arrangement was signed on 6 July in Geneva by Michael Koehler, Acting Director-General of the European Commission’s department for European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (ECHO), and Ramesh Rajasingham, UN Director, Coordination Division, UN-OCHA.
It will further build the partnership between ECHO and UN-OCHA’s Response Support Branch, working together for a better emergency response system.
Michael Koehler said: “Today’s signature of the Administrative Arrangement between ECHO and UN-OCHA ensures close cooperation when disasters strike and collaboration on training and exercises. It also moves forward certification of urban search and rescue teams per International Search and Rescue Advisory Group (INSARAG) standards.”
The revised administrative arrangement strengthens cooperation between EU Civil Protection (EUCP) and United Nations Disaster Assessment and Coordination (UNDAC) teams, working in partnership to preserve life and prevent and alleviate human suffering.
Some examples of ECHO – UN-OCHA cooperation: