The Unit for Coordination
of the Emergency Response
The Unit for Coordination of the
Emergency Response in Swaziland, administered by
the UNDP, was established under the Office of the
UN Resident Representative in May 2003. The purpose
of the unit is to assist in coordination of information
around the evolving food and health crisis in the
country. The partners include organisations within
the UN system; UNDP; UNICEF; WHO; WFP; FAO; UNAIDS
and UNFPA, as well as other international organisations,
NGOs and the Swaziland government. The Unit’s ambition
is to strengthen the links and the communication
between the parties involved and to correlate information
about the situation so as to make available an updated,
factual picture to the outside world. This information
will be shared through the Swazirelief website.
Working from the UNDP offices in Mbabane, the Unit
is in the process of gathering information about
how the emergency situation is developing and the
efforts that are being made to combat it. With the
background information available, it will be easier
not only to improve cooperation and joint efforts,
but also to use that background for forward planning.
Some partners will look for information that will
help them improve their efforts and programs already
being implemented in the field. Others will look
for information that can serve as tools for long-term
analysis and the basis for budgeting. The complete
package of information will be of interest to potential
donors, as a window on to how joint effort from
a variety of parties can improve the situation and
demonstrate how financial means as well as human
resources are well spent.
Finally, the information will serve as a reservoir
for potential future needs. Being able to illustrate
what the impact of the crisis has been, it will
be possible to create strategies to avoid similar
situations from developing in the future. It may
also assist in defining what structures need improvement
once a stable, normal situation has been regained.
These are the aims. The process of establishing
this set of tools through the Swaziland SAHIMS website
has only just begun. It is in the process of development
married to use and implementation, that the Unit,
with assistance and input from its partners, and
the Swazirelief website, will prove their worth.
The Disaster Unit Programme
The objective of the Disaster Unit Programme
is to provide emergency relief to the most vulnerable
communities and to strengthen the coordination of
disaster prevention and mitigation with the aim
of promoting recovery from the humanitarian crisis
and disaster risk reduction. This will be achieved
through advocacy for policy development and implementation,
capacity replenishment and the integration of sectoral
programmes, which will be supported by a strategic
coordinating mechanism.
Contact: Lolo Mkhabela
UNDP Emergency Disaster Coordinator
Humanitarian Coordination Unit
Office of the UN Resident Coordinator
Swaziland
Tel: (09268) 405 0651
Fax: (09268) 404 5341
Email: lolo.mkhabela@undp.org
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