North American Countries Collaborate with Disaster Preparedness Efforts
(English * Español)
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Tim Callaghan, USAID/OFDA senior regional advisor
for Latin America and the Caribbean (left) and Ariel
Kestens, head of the Pan American Disaster Response
Unit in Panama, review the emergency supplies. |
July 2009
The United States, Canada, and Mexico are assisting with disaster response preparedness efforts in the hemisphere through a tripartite agreement with the Pan American Disaster Response Unit (PADRU) of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC).
Funded in equal parts by the three North American
countries, the $1 million agreement signed
in December 2008 provides funds to the IFRC
for the purchase and distribution of emergency
supplies in response to hurricanes, floods, and
other disasters in the region.
“The agreement is a wonderful example of collaboration
between three countries that are
committed to helping strengthen disaster preparedness
and response in the Americas. The
agreement is part of a broader effort among
these three nations to work collaboratively on
regional issues of mutual interest,” said Rob
Thayer, a Regional Coordinator with USAID’s
Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance
(USAID/OFDA), which funded the U.S. portion
of the tripartite agreement.
Labeled with the logos of USAID and the aid
agencies of Canada and Mexico, the relief
commodities purchased through the agreement
include 20,000 mosquito nets, 20,000 ten-liter
water containers, 10,000 kitchen utensil sets,
10,000 hygiene kits, and 5,000 blankets.
As of early July, more than 80 percent of the
supplies had been purchased and prepositioned
for deployment.
“In case of an emergency, charter planes are
available through this project to deliver the supplies
as fast as possible to affected
communities,” said Panama-based PADRU
Disaster Management Delegate Ghotai Ghazialam.
“This project increases PADRU’s capacity
to respond quickly and efficiently to disasters at
the regional and continental levels by allowing it
to deliver standard kits of emergency relief assistance.”
PADRU is one of the IFRC response mechanisms
in the Americas. Based in Panama, the
organization supports approximately 35 National
Red Cross Societies and 16 overseas
branches in the region to conduct assessments,
planning, monitoring, coordination, and support
tasks for the implementation of operations. During
times of disaster, PADRU coordinates and
facilitates the international response of the Red
Cross in the region.
USAID/OFDA is the lead U.S. federal agency
responsible for facilitating and coordinating U.S.
Government emergency assistance overseas.
USAID/OFDA provides humanitarian assistance
to save lives, alleviate human suffering, and reduce
the social and economic impact of
disasters worldwide. The USAID/OFDA Regional
Office for Latin America and the
Caribbean is located in San Jose, Costa Rica.
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