Emergency Response Unit (IFRC)
An Emergency Response Unit ( ERU short ) of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement is an international unit available for disaster relief.
History
End of 1994, was born of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC ), the idea of establishing internationally standardized and self-sufficient units to coordinate international assistance in disaster situations as quickly as possible with the national societies.
ERU - Definition
ERUs are international, both in terms of equipment and training, standardized auxiliary units of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. The equipment ERU is stored ready for transport around the clock, so that a commitment can be made by no later than 48 hours. The equipment included is always fuel and food for the relief team for at least four weeks. Within a week, ERUs can be used all over the world to assist in the disaster area, the national organization. Such use is usually for four months, but can be extended up to six months. During this period, national helpers are enrolled to ensure when the spray job a continuation of the auxiliary power and to strengthen the self-help capacity of the country.
Units
The ERUs are classified according to their task. Worldwide total of the following units are available:
- Logistics ( handling and storage of extra goods)
- IT and Telecom ( construction of data networks and communications)
- Water and Sanitation ( drinking water treatment and hygiene)
- Basic Health Care ( primary care )
- Referral Hospital ( field hospital )
- Rapid Deployment Hospital ( schnellverfügabre urgent medical care)
- Relief (Organization of relief supplies distribution)
- Base Camp (accommodation for Red Cross / Red Crescent staff)
The units are held by several national organizations worldwide. In German-speaking ERUs are stationed as follows:
- Basic Health Care
- Referral Hospital
- Rapid Deployment Hospital
- Water and Sanitaion
- Water and Sanitation
- IT & Telecom
- Logistics
In addition entertained the National Societies of the following countries ERUs: Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Great Britain, Italy, Japan, Canada, Luxembourg, New Zealand, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, and the United States. Other national societies (eg, Australia, Croatia, Hong Kong, Iceland ) have staff that is trained for the equipment.
ERU use
Expiration
After a disaster or an event that exceeds the local and national response capacity, there is provided a request for help to the IFRC by the association of the local Red Cross organization in consultation with the Government of the State. The important thing is that the affected area is not in a war zone, otherwise the International Committee of the Red Cross is responsible.
After this, and some have already been right after the catastrophe, if it is assumed that an auxiliary request is made, raise the national organizations of their operational capability. It is checked that staff ( it involves Volunteers, which are, however, employed for the duration of a posting in their Red Cross Society ) is available and how the financial viability of the insert can be guaranteed.
At the same seconded by the IFRC Field Assessment Coordination Team ( FACT), which act as scouts and get an overview of the situation. These teams decide which material is required on site and report to the IFRC. They can be used anywhere in the world within 24 hours for a period of two to four weeks.
In the meantime, share with National Societies IFRC whether a use is possible. The IFRC will decide which units from which countries alarmed. After this alarm, the commitment is made within 48 hours and flown the team and all equipment with one or more cargo aircraft in the crisis area.
An ERU team is usually about five weeks in use, with each overlaps a half weeks with the predecessor and the successor team. For use with a duration of four months ie five teams are needed. During the deployment of national workers are enrolled in order to act in a recurring disaster right away. For this reason and due to the high transport costs which would be incurred, the equipment at the end of the ERU is passed insert to the national society.
Use statistics
During the period 1996-2012 a total of 215 ERUs were deployed. This equipment and / or staff were partly provided by several national companies available per application. During the period, the units of the German Red Cross, 37 times, 19 times the Austrian Red Cross and the Swiss Red Cross were deployed eight times. Most missions were held in 2010 instead of ( inter alia due to the earthquake in Haiti and the floods in Pakistan).