EMERGENCY RESPONSE UNITS (ERU) - CONCEPT

1. EMERGENCY RESPONSE UNITS (ERU) - CONCEPT

2. What are ERUs? • Rapid response tool for disaster response • Standardised modules of equipment • Pre-trained teams of personnel • Ready to be deployed at short notice • Self-sufficient for 1 month • Deployed for up to 4 months • Sponsored by National Societies

3. Why ERUs? • Provides support function / direct services to beneficiaries • Bridges a gap in services when local facilities have been overwhelmed by needs, or destroyed – natural disasters • Rapid set-up where services are not available – refugee camps

4. ERU Overview • 12 ERU National Societies • Austrian RC, British RC, Belgian/Fl RC, Danish RC, French RC, Finnish RC, German RC, Japan RC, Norwegian RC, Spanish RC, Swedish RC, AmericanRC • 45 deployments since 1996 • Contexts • Natural disasters – floods, earthquakes • Population movements – refugee camps (non-conflict) • ICRC • Watsan (Sudan), logistics (Afghanistan)

5. Types of ERU: Support / Service Function • Logistics • Telecommunications & InformationTechnology • Water – sanitation modules: • Treatment & Supply Line • Distribution & Trucking • Mass Sanitation • Specialised Water • Basic Health Care • Referral Hospital • Relief (distribution support)

6. Logistics ERU • Reception, storage & on-forwarding of relief goods • Preparation for other incoming ERUs – customs clearance, transport to site • Logistics analysis in field – local capacity, liaison with local authorities • Implementation of Federation standards • Integrate logistics functions with Federationand host National Society

7. Relief ERU • Support to host National Society • Identification of relief needs • Rapid relief distribution training for RC volunteers • Targeted beneficiary selection & registration • Distribution of goods to Federation standards • Tracking of distributions / reporting • Monitoring & Evaluation • Works closely with logistics who mobilise required relief items

8. Telecommunications & IT • Establishes communications set-up in field • Establishes communications link from field to GVA • Support to other ERUs and field: • Needs assessment • Telecom coordination with local authorities • Set-up satellite link and email connection • Set-up radio network – HF/VHF – ERU frequencies • Support & troubleshooting for communication & computer systems • Variety of technology ** may be subject to local legal restrictions (Tampere Declaration)

9. Treatment & Supply Line Module • Treatment & storage of raw water to Sphere / WHO standards • Can supply up to 600, 000 litres / day for 40,000 beneficiaries • 1 or 2 supply lines • Depends on local availability of water • Does not provide desalination • Weight: 13 MT • Volume: 50 CbM

10. Distribution & Trucking Module • Transport, storage & distribution system of treated water • Can provide up to 75,000 litres/day • 3 Identical storage & distribution systems at 3 different locations using bladder tanks + tapstands at distribution points • Note – does not treat raw water • Weight: 5 MT • Volume: 12 CbM

11. Mass Sanitation Module • Basic sanitation & environmental health interventions for up to 40,000 beneficiaries • Latrine construction • Solid waste disposal • Burial of corpses • Vector control – spraying in malarial areas • Weight: 4.7 MT • Volume: 23 CbM

12. Specialised Water Module • Provides treated water and basic sanitation for health facilities and up to 15,000 beneficiaries • Treatment and distribution of 120,000 litres /day to Sphere / WHO standards • Storage capacity of maximum 200,000 litres / day • May be deployed to support basic health care and referral hospital ERUs • Weight: 15 MT • Volume: 70 CbM

13. Basic Health Care • Provides immediate basic essential curative, preventive & community health care for up to 30,000 beneficiaries • Outpatients Clinic • Mother & Child Preventive Health • Community Health – Primary healthcare & education (HIT) • Nutritional surveillance • Vaccination programs (EPI) • Has 20 overnight beds for observation • NOT a hospital – requires referral facility for serious cases • Weight: 20 MT Volume: 80 CbM

14. Referral Hospital • District-level hospital provides surgical & medical care for up to 250,000 beneficiaries • Surgery / limited trauma cases • Internal medicine • Obstetrics & gynaecology • Paediatrics • Outpatients department • Support services – X-ray, laboratory, pharmacy • No high-tech services (ventilators, incubators, blood-bank) • Weight: 30-60 MT Volume: 120 – 160 CbM

15. ERU deployment depends on: • Magnitude & Evolution of disaster • Needs of affected population (Assessment) • Capacity of host National Society to respond • Capacity of local authorities & other organisations • Available Federation / NS resources (includes ERUs) • No duplication of services • Funding • Access to country / area of disaster

16. ERU Deployment: Check List • Agreement of host National Society • Agreement of authorities ** Ministry of health / local water board, import of telecom equipment, medicaments, chemicals is OK • No duplication of activities by other NGOs / UN agencies • Access to suitable site + water source • Access by road + nearby airport • Available transport + local labour • Security

17. ERU Responsibilities • Deploying National Society: • Overall development of the ERU • Recruitment & staffing • Training to specific technical ERU standard • Funding • Procurement of equipment to ERU standards • Mobilisation + deployment (staff, packing, cargo flights, running costs) • Refurbishment

18. ERU Responsibilities • Federation • Coordination by ERU Officer located in Geneva • Support to ERU NS training • ERU technical working groups – technical development & standardisation across NS • Field Team Leader Training • Standard Operating Procedures • Coordinates mobilisation & deployment • Information dissemination – donors, DMIS