BRUSSELS SEMINAR TO DISCUSS GROUND RULES ON MILITARY AND CIVIL COOPERATION IN FACE OF HUMANITARIAN CRISES, 18-19 MAY

Press Release
IHA/705

BRUSSELS SEMINAR TO DISCUSS GROUND RULES ON MILITARY AND CIVIL COOPERATION IN FACE OF HUMANITARIAN CRISES, 18-19 MAY

A seminar entitled “Agenda for the Oslo Guidelines”, on military and civil defence assets in response to natural disasters and complex emergencies, will be held in Brussels at the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) headquarters on 18 and 19 May.

The seminar will focus on how to make use of personnel and logistical support, airplanes and helicopters, food reserves and emergency stockpiles. The so-called “Oslo Guidelines” for the use of military and civilian defence assets, which were drawn up at a 1994 conference held in the Norwegian capital, will be reviewed in light of recent developments and exponential growth of the military contribution in crisis management.

It has been proven that military and civilians can work side by side in case of emergencies in order to deliver much-needed humanitarian assistance. Their respective relief capacities are enhanced and procedures become more expeditious.

Whether confronted with natural disasters or with conflict situations, military and civilian agencies have demonstrated in the past 20 years how valuable it can be to integrate and share assets and resources. “Food-dropping” is only one among many techniques employed with the help of military air forces to assist hungry populations.

Ross Mountain, Geneva Director of the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, will deliver a keynote address to the seminar, referring to some of his most recent experiences -- such as the recent floods in Mozambique where he served as Special Humanitarian Envoy of the Secretary- General. In Mozambique, Mr. Mountain recalls, some 57 military helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft were engaged in rescue and relief operations. In total, 14,000 people were rescued from the flood waters by helicopters. It was probably the largest helicopter rescue operation and a spectacular demonstration of the use of military and civil defence assets.

The seminar will be attended by practitioners in the field of humanitarian assistance, and will focus on all practical issues linked to the use of combined resources (military and civilian) in the response to natural disasters and in the context of complex emergencies.

The seminar will be opened by Major-General Gunther Greindl, Chairman, and by NATO Deputy Secretary-General Sergio Balanzino, who will deliver the opening address.

For further information, please contact: Phyllis Lee (New York, tel. (212) 963-4832) or Donato Kiniger-Passigli (Geneva, tel. 9172653).

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