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The IFRC and the Ecuadorian Red Cross are currently reviewing Ecuadorian legislation relevant to international disaster response in light of the “Guidelines for domestic facilitation and regulation of international disaster relief and recovery assistance” (IDRL Guidelines).

In 2010, the Ecuadorian National Secretariat of Risk Management (SNGR) expressed interest in receiving support from the Ecuadorian Red Cross regarding the IDRL Guidelines.

New IDRL projects launched in Jamaica and the Dominican Republic

The IFRC’s Disaster Law Programme (DLP) and the Cuban Red Cross were invited to present at the second International Seminar on Health and Disasters organized by the Cuban Ministry of Public Health at the end of March.

Two events recently held in Colombia demonstrated once more the importance that the Colombian Red Cross places on its commitment to legal preparedness for disasters.

On April 24, 2012, President Juan Manuel Santos of Colombia signed Act 1523, establishing the “National System for Disaster Risk Management” and adopting a new national policy on disaster risk management.  The new act and policy make a number of advances toward promoting a holistic approach to disaster management in Colombia.

The Colombian Red Cross and the Colombian Directorate of Disaster Management, held their second national IDRL Workshop on April 15th, in Bogotá, Colombia.

On 20 January the Colombian Red Cross held a workshop in conjunction with the Colombian Government and IFRC to share experiences in international humanitarian assistance and reflect on innovative ways to facilitate the entry and exit of assistance in disaster response situations.

On November 15-17, an “International Earthquake Simulation” (SIMEX) exercise was carried out in Bogota, Colombia.

On the occasion of a major regional conference on disaster risk reduction, the Government of Colombia and the Colombian Red Cross signed a new cooperation agreement on IDRL, the first of its kind on the continent.