DRR IN
Bosnia and Herzegovina Save the Children’s Presence in Bosnia and Herzegovina and South East Europe Region Over the past 2 years in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), and South East Europe Region, Save the Children has implemented a DRR strategy and action plan with approximately EUR 90,000 funding. Save the Children is the only child focus organisation in Bosnia and Herzegovina active in DRR. In this respect we have reached an agreement with the Ministry of Security – the Protection and Rescue Sector to participate in a disaster risk assessment, and with our expertise to ensure that issues relevant to children are properly treated in this process. The Ministry asked Save the Children to help the Ministry in the next phase of developing the DRR Strategy and the DRR Action Plan, as well as developing the methodology for Children in Emergencies Operation Plans and realisation of preventive activities for and with children.
Key developments Save the Children in cooperation with partner organisations hosted two conferences aimed at initiation and development of a disaster risk assessment devoting attention to special needs and rights of children in 2010 and addressing emergency services from 6 countries in the region. The final version of the Risk Assessment is about to be adopted by the Council of Ministers of BiH in the first half of 2011. In addition rising awareness activities among children have been initiated in majority of primary schools in BiH. Looking forward, we plan to develop the methodology for Children in Emergency Operation Plans at national and local level (at least three municipalities exposed to different types of major risks for children) in 2011-2013. Base on positive results of cooperation in a previous period, a Memorandum of Cooperation and Support to Protection and Rescue System in Bosnia and Herzegovina with the Ministry of Security of BiH has been signed in 2011. Our activities will ensure that a child centred focus is adopted to protect children’s wellbeing in emergency situations.
savethechildren.net
As the only child focused organisation active in DRR in the region of South East Europe, in 2011 DRR activities have been scaled up to the regional level with additional funds. In cooperation with Balkans Institute for Risk assessment and Emergency Management and other donors an agreement has been reached to develop a Sub-regional platform for Disaster Risk Reduction that will cover 7 countries within the region (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia and Slovenia). Various donors have committed over EUR 820,000 for the intervention. Save the Children will have a consultative and advisory role on issues relevant for children in the process of developing the Sub-regional platform for Disaster Risk Reduction and 7 national forums aimed at DRR policy development in the above mentioned countries. One of the conference conclusions: “Participating countries EMSEEC 2010 recognize special vulnerability of children as a specific / risk group in emergency situations and, therefore, they express commitment to the process of risk assessment and planning responses to the same, both at national and regional level, paying special attention to children in accordance with international standards”, serve as a basis for forthcoming cooperation of development of the Sub-regional platform on Disaster Risk Reduction.