In spite of efforts to reduce risks of natural disasters and those caused by people; we may expect frequent variety of disasters all over the world, as well as in our country. In that sense, underdeveloped countries are exposed to larger sufferings.
Statistic data, classified by kind and frequency of natural and other disasters on our territory point out to large number of hurt and injured people, flooded and destroyed houses and buildings, destructed traffic roads and other objects of infra-structure which are seriously damaged, as well as great influx of refugees and internally displaced people.
On the basis of the Yugoslav Red Cross Jurisdiction law from 1997, Red Cross is authorized in as a leading organization in delivering training to general public first aid, care of injured and sick, in motivating citizens for voluntary blood donations and tracing service. Within its mandate, as auxiliary to Governmental services, it pays, in addition, special attention to the most vulnerable refugees and internally displaced as well as to a part of local population in strong social need for assistance.
In last five years we trained over 200 instructors and over 500 lecturers in first aid, around 100 home care instructors, 25 lecturers of tracing service, 60 trainers of dissemination of Red Cross Fundamental Principles and international humanitarian law, a lot of teams for psycho-social support, 106 voluntaries for mountain rescue and almost 350 water rescuers. We have also equipped 13 regional warehouses for acceptance and distribution of humanitarian aid.
In accordance with policy of International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, adopted on 12th General Assembly on October 26th 1999, readiness to anticipate disasters or if possible prevent them, in order to decrees their effect, to provide adequate response and soften its consequences at all levels, is the most important task of International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Society and our National Society.
Project of Disaster preparedness in our National Society is based on the Plan of action of Organizational Development Program of Serbia and Montenegro Red Cross Society. This document includes planning of employment of human resources and equipment of National Society in disaster response actions. The National Society could response to disaster independently or it could participate in actions of other governmental structures in charge of disaster response.
Generally, disasters could be classified as follows:
- Natural disasters (earthquakes, floods and torrents, storms, fires, landslides, heavy snowfalls etc.)
- Traffic accidents on large scale
- Technological accidents (breakdowns and explosions)
- War destructions and other conflict situations (in country, in neighboring countries, massive migrations)
For provision of adequate assistance to victims of disaster, it is necessary to have adequate assessment wich has to include all necessary elements on which engagement of optimal human and technical resources should be based in short time possible. Depending on character, scale and consequences of disaster, following operational levels are engaged in response:
First operative level (local – municipality level) should be able to act without assistance from the higher levels in first 4 – 6 hours after disaster. Its jurisdiction is limited to the territory of home municipality.
Second operational level (district – regional level) has mission to support and assist municipality level by engaging human resources and additional equipment in next 72 hours. Jurisdiction is limited on territory of district – region, and in case of need they might be engaged on territory of neighboring region.
Third operational level (Republican – Provincial) supports previous levels by human resources and additional equipment in a month, takes care on organization and functioning of national plan. Jurisdiction zone is the territory of Republic or Province and can be expanded depending on the needs in region.
Fourth operative level (Federal) intervenes with the most contemporary equipment and human resources. Top training, equipment and mobility of this level enable engagement on the whole territory of Serbia and Montenegro, and in case that it is needed, it could provide assistance to other National Societies as well.
The Disaster Preparedness Commission of Serbian Red Cross has mandate to provide realization of National Society Disaster Preparedness and Response Plan through its Operational team. Besides that, the Commission makes statements and gives suggestions in order to achieve the most optimal organization structure and the most adequate disaster response.
