Preparedness and disaster management
As the organization of specific interest for the state, established by the special Law and with the position of the auxiliary organization to the state in the humanitarian area, Montenegro Red Cross, within its affairs of public interest, is legally obliged to participate actively in conducting measures and tasks in relation to protection and rescue, as the integral part of disaster management system in emergency situation.
Law on Montenegro Red Cross, adopted in April 20th 2006, defined the responsibilities of Red Cross organization in the area of disaster preparedness and response, which are also integrated in the National Strategy for emergency situations, adopted by the Government of Montenegro. This Strategy preceded Law on rescue and protection, which is today a part of the valid legislation in our country.
According to these systematic Laws, which are the base for the functioning of the organization, Montenegro Red Cross performs the tracing service tasks, so as to gather and record data on evacuated citizens, refugees, internally displaced people and missing persons due to war, natural and other disasters and catastrophes in peace and war conditions and to trace the missing people; participates in the reception and accommodation of evacuated citizens, refugees and internally displaced people, provides support and takes measures that can contribute to caring for the affected population, refugees and internally displaced people; organizes collecting and distributes humanitarian assistance received from international organizations and other donors, National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies earmarked for humanitarian social needs on the territory of Montenegro, both in times of peace in war; initiates, organizes and implements or participates in regular and extraordinary solidarity campaigns in Montenegro to provide assistance to vulnerable people and victims of natural, ecological, and other disasters resulting in mass suffering, epidemics, armed conflict in the country and abroad, and keeps in stock certain quantities of material goods for such needs; organizes first aid trainings; trains disaster preparedness teams in the area of social welfare protection, hygiene-epidemiological protection; organizes water and mountain rescue, keeps records and issues certificates on the skills, organizes once a year a refresher course and check up of physical preparedness of life guards.
Owing to the ambitions of the organization, and based on the experience, as one of the important stakeholder in the protection and rescue field, Montenegro Red Cross established functional system for disaster management with the community stakeholders, which provides quick, efficient and coordinated mechanism for disaster response.
Montenegro Red Cross succeeded to develop its capacities and set up a network of teams within the organization in three levels: national, regional and local level. These teams are trained to respond to natural or man-made disasters, in efficient, well structured and coordinated manner, in order to reduce the number of victims and alleviate the consequences of a disaster. This was accomplished with the staff support and from the International Federation of Red Cross/Red Crescent Societies. Also, Austrian Red Cross, as strategic bilateral partner, provided significant support.
This organizational structure enabled functioning of disaster response teams in every part of organization (local, regional and national level), including mechanisms of activation and coordination (standard operational procedures), and increase standard of functioning in accordance to the international norms. It also strengthens capacities – improved equipment necessary for efficient disaster response.
In the complete process of creating the network of disaster response teams, we trained 30 members, volunteers and staff within National Disaster response team. Recently, we trained 45 volunteers for the regional teams, which will be activated according to the defined procedures for overcoming larger scale disasters, as a support to the neighboring municipalities in the specific region. We also trained 120 members of the local teams in every local branch in Montenegro.
Teams will be activated and deployed within the roles and responsibilities of Montenegro Red Cross in the protection and rescue system, as a reliable partner to the government at all levels. Teams are equipped and trained for providing quick and efficient disaster response.
Montenegro Red Cross, in cooperation with Austrian Red Cross, governmental institutions and relevant international organizations, recently organized Conference on climate change and humanitarian consequences, since we recognized the need for raising awareness regarding this issue.
We will continue to treat this issue in the future projects and to develop partnership relations with relevant stakeholders through regional and cross border cooperation.
Montenegro Red Ross showed its readiness and preparedness in the country and abroad, and proved as stabile and reliable partner in the region of Western Balkans.