София, 02.04.2009г.

1. ACCTIVITIES OF THE BULGARIAN RED CROSS IN CASE OF DISASTERS, EMERGENCIES AND CATASTROPHIES(DISASTER MANAGEMENT) София, 02.04.2009г.

2. MISSION: The Bulgarian Red Cross is a voluntary organization which is a part of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement and is guided by its Fundamental Principles: Humanity, Impartiality, Neutrality, Independence, Voluntary Service, Unity and Universality. Through it’s network of volunteers in the whole country, the BRC renders assistance to the vulnerable people in disasters and crisis situation. By means of training programs and activities for the benefit of the public, the National Red Cross Society contributes to alleviate and prevent the suffering in all its forms, protects health and life and ensures respect for the human being.

3. National legislation in the field of disasters:Law on Disaster Protection (Official Gazette N102/19.12.2006, amend. N.41/22.05.2007) - regulates the provision of protection of life and health of population, environment and property in case of disasters. / revision spring 2011/

4. Roleandplace of Bulgarian Red Cross in case of disasters Founded in 1878 Recognized by the IFRC in 1885 and became part of the International movement of RC/RC Law on the Bulgarian Red Cross "Art. 3. The Bulgarian Red Cross shall be an autonomous organisation, which shall assist the State in the humanitarian sphere, in the preparation for functioning under marshal law, during military conflicts and disasters, towards preservation and promoting of the health of the population, and towards its education in the spirit of high morals, compassion and charity, as well as in the course of receipt, safekeeping and distribution of aid, provided by foreign states, organizations and citizens for humanitarian, incl. environmental, cultural and educational purposes."

5. Roleandplace of Bulgarian Red Cross in case of disasters Statutes of the Bulgarian Red Cross "Art.6. The objectives of the Bulgarian Red Cross: ... 2. with state, municipal and non-governmental organizations performs training and assistance in disasters, emergencies and catastrophes (crises) in accordance with the tasks of the Bulgarian Red Cross, such as: ... 3. collect, receive, store and distribute humanitarian aid and donations from home and abroad; 4. maintains stocks for Red Cross humanitarian activities incl. disaster reserve;

6. Strategy of BRC 2020: Purpose: Preparedness of the BRC to fulfill it’s role as anauxiliary partner to the state for adequate response to disasters, emergencies and catastrophes at national and local level, and reduce the risks and consequences for conservation and preservation of life, operation and restoration of lifestyle of communities and most vulnerable populations. Tasks: 1. Building and improving the capacities of the National Society for timely and adequate response in case of disasters. (Legal framework, human resource development, improvement of facilities and communication system). • Formal partnerships and joint actions with state and local governments for application of the auxiliary role of the National Society in the event of disasters, and cooperation with the International Red Cross structures for coordinated actions with clear positions and responsibilities. • Reducing the risk of disasters at municipal level.

7. Participation of BRC in the National Disaster Response Plan - Establishes a voluntary teams to help the affected population in case of disasters; - Establishes and maintains a disaster reserve of relief items essential for the initial support of victims; - Maintains Central and inter-regional/ Branch/ warehouses in the country ; - Maintains radio - communication network of HF and VHF frequencies; - Cooperates and coordinates with governmental and non-governmental entities involved in rescue work the activities in case of disasters according it’s capacity; - Liaises and coordinates with IFRC / RC and other PartnerNational Societies, the mobilization, receipt and distribution of international assistance in country if needed; - Collects and distributes domestic and international aid for population in affected regions/ branches.

8. According to Resolution 2 / 30-th International Conference on RC/RC, the National Society has aauxiliary role to the Government Cooperation with partners: - Ministry of Interior;- Ministry of Defence;- Ministry of Education and Science; - Ministry of Health; - General Directorate for Fire safety and Protection of the Population; - Military Medical Academy; - State Agency for Refugees;- NGO’s, media and others.

9. Place and role of BRC in case of disaster relief /Structure/ • National headquarters 28 regional branches •  270 municipal structures 2763clubs14,699 volunteers

10. BRC Capacity – human resources -BRC Staff structures/ Branches and NHQ / who are trained to work in case of disasters, Disaster Management Directorate and Experts at Regional and National Level National level -1 Natonal Disaster Response Team (NDRT) - 20 persons, • - 1 National Water Life Saving Team – 10 persons; • Regional level - 18 Branch DRT’s – 480 persons / volunteers / • -117 Youth DRTs – 110-140 persons / volunteers / in Branches • Mountain Rescue Service works with 600 volunteer rescuers and 42 staff in 32 organized rescue teams; • Specialized group of MRSfor /SAR/in case of disasters- 31 persons with 12operational dogs; • 110 volunteers- professional psychologists/ PSP consultants/ in the Branches; • 7trained people to work with the installation of water purification/ WatSan/ • 7 people Regional Disaster Response Team members -– belonging to the IFRC/RC RDRT EZO If necessary, additional volunteers are mobilized to participate in the distribution of relief and assistance toaffected population. – more then 1200 volunteers in country

11. BRC Capacity - Experience and internal regulations - Expertise in the areas of DM;Water rescue, Mountain rescue/SAR/, Tracing,Refugee migrants service; Youth RC; - Training system for staff and volunteers; - Rules of mobilization of humanitarian aid and assistance in case of disasters; - Rules for the receipt and distribution of humanitarian aid; - Procedures for immediate assistance to affected population; - System of financial reporting and auditing, internal control system; - BRC Fund for immediate emergency assistance;

12.          Capacity of BRC - Material resources Central Warehouse - Lozen - storage disaster reserve and humanitarian aid;Inter- Regional/ Branch Warehouses - Ruse, Dobrich and Burgas;Vehicles - trucks, operational and commercial cars, forklifts, field kitchen, Radio-communication network with Inter regional warehouses

13. Warehouses/ disaster stock • Central Warehouse – Lozen: disaster stock reserves for support of the affected population – goal 5000 people • Inter- Regional/ Branch Warehouses: • Ruse – goal 1000 people • Dobrich - goal 1000 people • Burgas - goal 1000 people items on stock: blankets; bed linen; clothes etc.

14. Place and role of BRC in case of disaster. Assistance in response to the Appeals of the IFRC/RC and other National Societies in case of disasters andconflicts - Earthquake in Turkey, 1999 - Kosovo refugee crisis, 1999 - Floods - Bosnia and Herzegovina, 2000- Macedonian refugee crisis, 2001 - Flood-Central and Eastern Europe, 2002. - Heavy snowfalls in Albania, 2002 - Earthquakes in Algeria, 2003 - Earthquake in Iran, 2003 - Hostage crisis in Beslan, 2004 - Tsunami in Southeast Asia, 2004 - Floods in Romania, 2005 and 2006 - Drought in Moldova, 2007 - Earthquake in Sichuan, China, 2008 - Conflict in South Ossetia, Georgia, 2008 - Conflict in Gaza, 2009 - Floods in Albania and Montenegro, 2010 - Earthquakes/ in Haiti, - Floods Poland, Moldova, Pakistan 2010 - EQ Japan 2011 - North Africa Civil unrest 2011

15. Humanitarian assistance provided to the population in Bulgaria Forest fires - 2000 in the Southern part of the country Floods 2005 Bulgaria -Assistance to more then 55 000 people Heat wave – 2007 Floods, fires and earthquakes 2000-2012 - more then 250 000 people supported directly as a result of disasters occurred in the country

16. With the support of the RD- IFRC/ EZO Budapest and ICRC, since year 2000 there is a strong network among the NS in the region. RDRT training and deployment • Training courses have been organized in • Bulgaria, Macedonia, Serbia, Montenegro, • Romania, BiH, Croatia and • other countries in the Region of CEE. • Deployments in almost all of the countries in • the region

17. Cooperation with Military / CIMIC • BRC teams participate in military and NATO exercises: • “Cooperative key” • “Cooperative partner” • “SEESIM” • “Breeze” • “SEVEN STARS” and all big exercises • In Bulgaria. Training of Armed Forces staff – CIMIC; IHL, Military Academy officers etc.

18. Resource Mobilization Mechanisms for Disaster Response • Public campaigns in Bulgaria; • Appeals in the country and abroad (through International Federation of RC/RC); •  Agreement on trans-border cooperation in case of disasters, signed by all National Societies of the RC/RC of the Balkan region; • Bilateral cooperation agreements with over 20 National Societies; • Cooperation with UN agencies, international organizations and government agencies in Bulgaria - UNHCR, IOM, USAID, ADA, Caritas, etc.; • Mobilizing resources from local business / corporate sector; • Working with communities and Bulgarian diplomatic servicesabroad –campaigns and information exchange;

19. Disaster ResponseMechanism of RC/RC Movement • Coordination Network and System at international level - Secretariat of the IFRC/RC in Geneva, Zonal office, Regional offices, Country Delegations; • Delegates at a disaster areas - the world's hot spots; • Electronic online system for exchange of information in case of disaster - DMIS /Disaster management information system/; • System for Disaster Response – Appeal Process; • DREF/Disaster Relief Emergency Fund/; • Availability of stored basichumanitarian relief items; •  Available additional personnel;

20. Thank you for your attention 76 “James Boucher" 1407 SOFIA BULGARIA dp@redcross.bg www.redcross.bg