House of Commons - International Development

Select Committee on International Development Minutes of Evidence

SECOND SUPPLEMENTARY MEMORANDUM SUBMITTED BY THE UNITED NATIONS OFFICE FOR THE CO-ORDINATION OF HUMANITARIAN AFFAIRS (OCHA)

CO-ORDINATION CENTRE OF THE INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR DISASTER MANAGEMENT (INGC)

STRUCTURE

The Government of Mozambique has set up a co-ordination centre at the INGC, whose aim is to ensure co-ordination between the Government, the UN System, international organisations and NGOs. Six co-ordination desks have been set up at the INGC to facilitate this. A UN agency, an International organisation or NGO has kindly agreed to be assigned to each of these desks to support the responsible government department. One representative each of the national Government departments concerned and the sectoral lead agencies mentioned below are manning the sectoral desks every day. An UNDAC Team of five people is supporting the Government's INGC in this co-ordination role. The INGC is represented in every province and similar co-ordination structures can be set up on the provincial basis when necessary. The main focus of the relief operation is on the Limpopo and save River Basins and there is UNDAC representation at the INGC in Maputo (Limpopo) and Beira (Save) as of 3 March.

1. Food (WFP);

2. Health (WHO);

3. Shelter/accommodation centres/non food (IFRCS);

4. Water and sanitation/infrastructure (UNICEF);

5. Logistics and Customs (WFP);

6. Information (UNDP).

WFP has set up a logistics centre to manage air, road and water movement of relief items.

DAILY 1100 HOURS CO -ORDINATION BRIEFING

The daily co-ordination briefing at 1100 hours (duration 60 minutes) will outline strategy and report on progress. Each of the desks will hold their own sector co-ordination meetings as appropriate with all organisations involved in that sector. Dates and timing of sector meetings will be posted on the Co-ordination Centre notice board. Information provided to the Centre will be shared and made available to all concerned and will be integrated into the daily situation reports.

National Government departments invite the humanitarian community (UN, Red Cross, NGOs) as well as international co-operation partners to attend this meeting. The purpose will be to:

— Give an information update;

— Provide sector briefings on properties and latest developments.

DAILY AGENDA

1. Weather forecast;

2. Information update on:

— Limpopo River Basin;

— Save River Basin.

3. Update on national relief efforts (Mr Zamissa, Head of Co-ordination Centre, INGC);

4. Sector briefings;

5. Announcements of financial and/or in-kind donations.

FUNCTION OF THE SECTOR DESKS

It is important that both the government departments and designated international organisations are represented at the INGC co-ordination centre: