§ Angus RobertsonTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will introduce proposals to develop a national civilian roster for humanitarian assistance along the lines of the Danish International Humanitarian Service or the Norwegian NORDEM. [26671]
§ Clare Short[holding answer 11 January 2002]: A mechanism for international disaster response exists under the coordination of the United Nations. My Department's priority is to improve and strengthen this mechanism, which involves the affected nations, the United Nations and Red Cross systems, non-governmental organisations and donor Governments.
While our ultimate aim is to build a better international humanitarian system, there is a role for donor Governments such as the UK to fill gaps in rapid direct response. The UK already has a capacity to respond to humanitarian emergencies around the clock which is 6W as respected as the Danish and Norwegian services mentioned, under arrangements existing within my Department.
We are able to field well-equipped teams of experts with a broad range of skills and also maintain stockpiles of relief items. As and when we need to complement our own existing specialist staff for emergencies we can call upon other organisations under existing arrangements, such as RedR (Registered Engineers for Disaster Relief) and International Health Exchange. With DFID support, these agencies maintain databases of suitably qualified disaster specialists including engineers, logisticians, and qualified medical staff who have been selected and trained beforehand for work in this area. My Department also manages the UK contribution to the United Nations Disaster Assessment and Coordination Team (UNDAC) system under which qualified British experts are made available for overseas service.
In addition, DFID has established arrangements with other Government Departments to facilitate rapid disaster response. This includes the Foreign and Commonwealth Office who assist in global surveillance of disasters; the Home Office, with whom we have an arrangement for the deployment of UK Fire Service Search and Rescue personnel; and the Ministry of Defence from whom we can request the deployment of military assets, in support of emergency humanitarian operations.