Swedish Rescue Services Agency
In the most extreme field conditions, where an operation has to be established in an environment where almost all infrastructural support would need to be brought in from the outside, the Swedish Rescue Services Agency (SRSA) is on standby for deployment to provide a comprehensive range of staff support. SRSA can be deployed, with 72-hours notice, with equipment and a team of staff to establish office and housing facilities, sanitation, water, electricity, telecommunications, transport and nursing services, for UNHCR staff. On the basis of deployment experience, SRSA has repackaged its staff support services in order to be able to meet needs under different climatic conditions, as well as when only a part of its services are required.
It has been agreed that the involvement of the SRSA should be limited to a period of four to six weeks, which should provide UNHCR sufficient time to establish longer-term support facilities. Should it be necessary, a base-camp manager can be deployed to maintain the facilities established by the SRSA until such time as local arrangements can be found for the longer term. The decision to deploy the SRSA support team should only be made after a field assessment which might include a SRSA representative. While this standby facility has been provided to UNHCR free of charge, the actual cost of deployment will be charged to the relevant programme.
Where the UNHCR Staff and Office Accommodation package is used, the SRSA is able to provide a base camp manager familiar with the package to manage the facility during the initial stages of its use.
How to request
The deployment of the SRSA for staff support is normally a part of a comprehensive emergency response package and has to be approved by the HQ Task Force established to mount the emergency operation. On the basis of detailed information about the emergency situation and conditions in the field provided by the Desk, EPRS will formulate an official request to the Swedish Government in order to obtain Cabinet clearance for the deployment of the SRSA.
The Desk should ensure that budgetary provisions have been made and a project agreement between UNHCR and the SRSA should be prepared immediately after the budget has been submitted by the SRSA and agreed by UNHCR. Since deployment may occur prior to the finalization of the agreement, a letter of intent, prepared by the Desk, may be required in the first instance.
Arrangement with Specialist Agency ― Centers for Disease Control (USA)
UNHCR maintains a Memorandum of Understanding with the U.S. Public Health Service (PHS) which establishes specific areas of collaboration with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The specific areas covered under the terms of the MOU are: rapid health and nutrition assessment, improvement of epidemic preparedness and response, prevention and control of communicable diseases, training of local and international health staff, co-ordination of health care delivery services and nutrition programmes in emergencies, maternal and child health activities, sanitation, water supply and environmental health activities.
Within the standby arrangement CDC has identified a core group of experts who would be available at short notice to respond to technical assistance requests made by UNHCR for rapid health and nutrition assessments in emergency situations. Deployment of CDC staff would normally vary from four to eight weeks but could be extended to three months upon request.
Staff seconded by CDC are deployed as members of the UNHCR team and report to the UNHCR designated officer in charge of the operation. They will, however, be funded by CDC and compensated in accordance with PHS policy.
How to request
Once it has been agreed that CDC specialists are required in an emergency operation, HCDS will be the focal point for contacts and deployment requests to CDC. HCDS will inform CDC (and other relevant UNHCR sections) of the terms of reference as well as all other details relating to the mission.
