In 2002, member states of the Andean Community (CAN) formed the Andean Committee for Disaster Prevention and Relief (CAPRADE) to foster closer regional cooperation in disaster management. From its inception, CAPRADE reached out to the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies and its member National Societies for advice and support.
“It is a great advantage for us to work together with the Red Cross,” said Ibeth Castro-Goméz, Secretary to the Director of CAPRADE Colombia. “We benefit from the capacity of the Federation and the National Societies.”
According to Giorgio Ferrario, the Federation’s Regional Representative for South America, the relationship also helps the Red Cross to cement its working partnerships with governments in the region.
“The Red Cross already had an excellent relationship with most of the national civil defence ministries.” Ferrario said, “but based on this relationship with CAPRADE, the Red Cross can work even more efficiently with the governments of the Andean region when a disaster strikes. We know the people, the systems, and the weaknesses.”
The Federation’s South American Regional Delegation has a permanent seat at CAPRADE meetings and has worked on a number of joint projects. These include the development of a regional strategic health plan and indicators for disaster risk reduction and preparedness, in partnership, respectively with the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) and the Disaster Preparedness branch of the European Union’s Humanitarian Aid Office (DIPECHO).
More recently, in the wake of some confusion as to procedures for cross-border disaster assistance to Peru after the August 2007 earthquake, the Federation began working with CAPRADE and PAHO to develop a new handbook for mutual disaster assistance between Andean governments. The handbook will address many of the same issues described in the IDRL Guidelines.
In light of the successful work thus far with CAPRADE, the Common Market of the South (MERCOSUR) has recently contacted DIPECHO and the Federation to collaborate with in the creation of its own regional disaster committee.