By Hugo Cahueñas
Over the last several years, Colombia has become increasingly engaged in strengthening its legal and procedural frameworks for regulating international disaster response (IDRL). Inspired by its experience, and recognizing the potential benefit to others, Colombia’s National Disaster Risk Management Unit (UNGRD) is currently working with the Colombian Red Cross (CRD) and the International Federation of the Red Cross and the Red Crescent Societies to become a “champion” for IDRL in the Americas region.
Building on the specific mandate set out in its revised disaster management act of 2012, Colombia has developed a Strategic Roadmap for the strengthening and implementation process of the IDRL guidelines, created an “IDRL Committee,” and prominently included IDRL issues in its biennial simulation exercise: the “Colombia-Ecuador Simulation Exercise on earthquake and tsunami,” organized on February 6 and 7, 2014.
This simulation had, as one of its primary objectives “to strengthen the performance of the National Disaster Risk Management System (SNGRD) and the international cooperation in the face of a national disaster situation, as well as the implementation of the IDRL Guidelines.” Within the simulation, the IDRL Technical Committee was activated. This Committee is in charge of various IDRL matters such as entry of vehicles, personnel and equipment as well as issuance of an international appeal. The exercise allowed for an assessment of the performance of the Committee and the instruments, procedures and protocols in place in every agency concerned with international disaster response, gathering important recommendations for the future.
Building on this experience, Colombia has been reflecting since July on means to share its findings with other countries in the region as a “regional champion” on IDRL. As one step in this process, a workshop to share experience related to IDRL is being scheduled for this year. Moreover, it is expected that delegates from governments and National Societies will be supported to draw on the Colombian experience through technical visits to the country. In addition, Colombia plans to share its experiences in a variety of international fora, such as the preliminary meetings for the International Conference of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement.