Mandate
The UN Disaster Management Team (DMT) is a mechanism for emergency preparedness and response coordination. It is responsible for preparing for, and facilitating prompt, effective and well-coordinated relief response by its member organizations to a new disaster in Armenia. The DMT mechanism helps coordinate the disaster-related activities, technical advice and material assistance provided by the participating organizations, including the avoidance of inefficiencies and duplication of efforts.
The DMT recognizes, and in no way supersedes, the mandates and specific functions of the member organizations.
The DMT focuses mainly on international assistance that may involve locally available resources as well as those brought from outside.
Objective
The primary purpose of the DMT in Armenia is to ensure a prompt, effective and coordinated country-level response by the UN system, other international organisations and donor country missions in the event of a disaster. This is achieved through building disaster preparedness and response capacities by:
• Organizing regular inter-agency contingency planning processes;
• Regular updating of disaster preparedness and response plans and arrangements;
• Training and skills development of member agencies;
• Organizational arrangements as a basis for smooth functioning of the DMT;
• Facilitating national capacity development efforts in the area of disaster management.
Composition
Cooperation with the Government of Armenia
In all matters pertaining to disaster management, the DMT recognizes the primary role of the Government of Armenia (GoA) in preparing for and responding to disaster and emergency events. National counterpart of the DMT is Armenian State Rescue Service (ARS). The cooperation agreement between the UN DMT and the ARS was signed on 10 October 2007, and covers collaboration arrangements in both preparedness and emergency response phases. Parties agree to cooperate in two main areas:
• Information exchange on issues related to disaster management, including preparedness phase;
• Collaboration arrangements in the event of an emergency.
The DMT also facilitates capacity-building support to the Government of Armenia and other relevant in-country entities to strengthen the country's disaster preparedness and response capabilities.
Key Events
• Contingency Planning workshop, November 2006;
• DMT meeting and testing of inter-agency contingency plan (simulation exercise), April 2007;
• Signing ceremony of UN DMT and State Rescue Service cooperation agreement on the World Disaster Reduction Day - 10 October 2007 and a Press conference (link with last year info and press release, photo)
• Information Management workshop for the DMT member organizations, November 2007
• Workshop on new IASC (Inter-agency Standing Committee) contingency planning guidelines - April 2008
Press Releases
Cooperation on disaster management activities between the Armenian Rescue Service and UN Armenia Office (10 October 2007)
International Day for Disaster Reduction was marked in Ararat region (8 October 2008)
Useful links:
Contacts:
DMT Secretariat
UN House, 14, Petros Adamyan st.
Yerevan, Armenia
Tel: +37410 566073
Fax: +37410 543811
e-mail: nino.antadze@undp.org
or anoush.avanesyan@undp.org
