USAID, FEMA, EMERCON to Cooperate on International Disaster Response
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| Acting FEMA Administrator Nancy Ward and Yuri Brazhnikov of EMERCOM sign the 2009-2010 work plan for the U.S.-Russia Committee on Cooperation in Emergency Management. |
The U.S.-Russia Committee on Cooperation in Emergency Management met in New York City on March 24-25, 2009 to develop a work plan for 2009-2010. Officials from USAID/Russia, FEMA, and the Iowa National Guard held productive discussions on potential areas for cooperation with the delegation from the Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations (EMERCOM).
International disaster response, region-to-region cooperation in emergency management, and food security were identified as areas in which the U.S. and Russia might organize exchanges, joint exercises, and the sharing of best practices. USAID/Russia will follow up with EMERCOM officials in Moscow to agree on specific options for implementing the proposed work plan.
EMERCOM has been undertaking increased humanitarian assistance and food aid operations in recent years and aims to obtain UN certification for its international disaster response team at a qualification exercise 2011. Current EMERCOM international operations include the supply and delivery of 18,000 metric tons of food aid to Afghanistan and 96.5 tons of food and non-food humanitarian supplies to Tajikistan.
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