The UNEP/OCHA Environmental Emergencies Section is a collaborative arrangement between the United Nations Environment Programme and the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. It serves as the integrated United Nations emergency response mechanism to activate and provide international assistance to countries facing environmental emergencies.
Activities
The Section is able to provide assistance in emergencies such as chemical and oil spills, industrial accidents, forest fires, and other sudden crises with the potential for significant damage to the environment and human health and welfare, including natural disasters such as earthquakes and floods. The UNEP/OCHA Environmental Emergencies Section has a number of key functions that it undertakes to ensure a timely and coordinated response to emergencies: monitoring, notification, brokerage, an information clearing house, mobilization of assistance, assessment and financial assistance.
Type of organisation:
Intergovernmental organizations
Established:
1992
Number of staff:
5
Head/Director:
Coordinator: Vladimir Sakharov
Cooperation
UN agencies and NGOs, including UNDP, OPCW, WFP, UNHCR, UNICEF, FAO, WHO, UNV and IAEA. At the World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg in August 2002, OCHA and UNEP launched a new global Partnership on Environmental Emergencies. This Partnership brings together governments, UN agencies, NGOs and industrial associations with the aim of improving prevention, preparedness for and response to environmental emergencies at different levels.
