Disaster management



  • The Bulgarian Red Cross works to increase the preparedness of the population for disaster response and together with the civil protection bodies prepares and provides first aid units.
  • The Bulgarian Red Cross provides assistance at home and abroad to victims of armed conflicts and natural disasters. (Art. 4 para. 3 and para. 4 of the Bulgarian Red Cross Act).
  • In order to achieve its goals, the BRC works to increase the capacity of the organization and improve coordination in situations of disasters, accidents and catastrophes (crises).
  • BRC is included in the National Plan for Protection of the Population;
  • The organization assists the state in humanitarian activities to protect and strengthen the health of the population in the event of disasters, accidents and catastrophes. The Bulgarian Red Cross provides humanitarian aid in case of natural disasters, technological disasters, accidents, catastrophes / crises.

Disaster management includes the organization and management of resources and responsibilities to deal with all humanitarian aspects of emergencies, in particular preparedness, response and recovery, in order to reduce the negative impact of the disaster.


HUMAN RESOURCES

Staff of the organization
In the event of a disaster / crisis, the BRC employees implement work plans in the event of a BAC, which are prepared at the national and regional level . The plans are coordinated with the state institutions working in the conditions of crisis / disaster, updated annually and if necessary.
The Bulgarian Red Cross is included in the National Disaster Protection Plan and performs certain activities .

To organize rescue operations and support the needy population are created:
1. National Operational Headquarters (NOS) with action teams. (National Rescue Team for BAC - NSERBAK and National Flood Action Team - NEDN)
2. Regional Operational Staffs (OSH) with action teams.
The national and regional operational headquarters are permanent bodies in the system of the Bulgarian Red Cross, in case of occurrence of BAC. They are an integral part of the BAC Action Plans.

National Rescue Team for Work at the Bulgarian Red Cross (NSAC) of the Bulgarian Red Cross
The National Rescue Team for Disasters, Accidents and Catastrophes of the Bulgarian Red Cross (NSERBAC) is a voluntary rescue team that supports the activities of the Bulgarian Red Cross to limit and eliminate the consequences of disasters, accidents and catastrophes (crises).
NSERBAC operates in strict compliance with the legal framework of the Republic of Bulgaria in case of disasters, the Law on the Bulgarian Red Cross, the Statute of the Bulgarian Red Cross, the Plan of the Bulgarian Red Cross for actions at the Bulgarian Red Cross and others. and in accordance with the principles of the International Red Cross Movement: humanism, impartiality, independence, neutrality, voluntariness, unity, universality.
The main goal of NSERBAK is to support the activities of the National Society at BAC and to assist in the protection of human life and health in cases of disasters, accidents and catastrophes. The work of the team is organized and carried out according to pre-prepared regulations for its activities.

Voluntary teams for work at BAC (DERBAK)
The voluntary teams for work in case of disasters, accidents and catastrophes (DERBAK) are formed at the Secretariat of the respective Regional Council of the Bulgarian Red Cross (BRC General Assembly).
DERBAC supports the activities of the Bulgarian Red Cross to limit and eliminate the consequences of disasters, accidents and catastrophes (crises).
Voluntary disaster response teams at the Bulgarian Red Cross operate in strict compliance with the legal framework for disaster response in Bulgaria and the principles of the International Red Cross Movement: humanism, impartiality, independence, neutrality, volunteerism, unity, universality and in accordance with the BAC Action Plans. of the General Assembly of the Bulgarian Red Cross.
The main goals of DERBAK are to support the activities of the Bulgarian Red Cross at the Bulgarian Red Cross and to assist in the protection of human life and health in the event of disasters, accidents and catastrophes.
To achieve its main goal, DERBAC performs its tasks before, during and after the disaster.

Members of the Regional Disaster Action Team
A Regional Disaster Action Team (REDD) has been established within the "Europe Zone" of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies - Budapest. The team aims to assist national companies in the Region in assessing the situation and various sector-specific disaster activities. The team consists of staff members and volunteers from national companies in the region trained by the IFRC / PE.
The BRC has trained current members of the REDB, who annually refresh their knowledge related to field work. Some of the specialized trainings that individual team members have undergone are: logistics; preparation of appeals and field reports; water purification and operations manager course.

Organized and "spontaneous" volunteers
During disasters or crises, there are two types of volunteers who can take part in mitigation - trained volunteer teams to work in disasters and spontaneous volunteers.


STAGES OF WORKING WITH VOLUNTEER TEAMS IN SITUATIONS OF DISASTERS, ACCIDENTS AND DISASTERS / ACC /:

Before the disaster, which is expressed in :
  • Recruitment of volunteers, training, staffing (equipment), filing, insurance;
  • Clarification of the role and functions of the volunteer teams in the system for work of the Bulgarian Red Cross at the Bulgarian Red Cross, conducting training simulations.
During the disaster :
  • Introduction of the voluntary teams of the Bulgarian Red Cross in actions for limiting the consequences of the BAC, according to the plans at regional and national level, the information systems and the systems for the flow of information.
  • Supporting the activity of the specialized formations for work at the BAC, in accordance with the qualification and the place in the system of work at the BAC of the BRC.
After the disaster :
  • Participation of volunteer teams in the recovery phase - medium and long-term actions to support the population.


WORKING WITH SPONTANEOUS VOLUNTEERS IN CRISIS

During the disaster, spontaneous volunteers can be:

Affected themselves to provide :
  • Self-help and mutual aid;
  • Assistance in the distribution of food, water, clothing and materials for immediate assistance;
Volunteers from other unaffected regions - available if needed.


In case of need, additional teams of volunteers are involved to participate in the actions for raising aid and assistance to the affected population:
  • Specialized detachment of PSS for search of the buried
The Mountain Rescue Service team consists of mountain rescuers and trained dogs to find buried and missing people injured during the SAR. The detachment is subordinated to the Mountain Rescue Service Directorate - BRC and is included in the Plan of the Organization for Response at the Bulgarian Red Cross.
  • Flood action teams
There is a national and regional flood action team on the territory of the country. The members of these teams are trained to work in floods and fast-flowing conditions.
  • Voluntary youth emergency teams
On the territory of the country at the General Assembly of the Bulgarian Red Cross there are youth emergency teams (IAE). They are included in the Action Plan of the SAC and are activated if necessary.
  • Refugee and Migrant Service
Supports actions in case of mass influx of refugees on the territory of the country.
  • Teams and professionals for providing First Psychological Assistance (PSA) and Psychosocial Support (PSA)
The Bulgarian Red Cross is actively working to qualify its volunteers and professionals for the provision of PPP. Every year representatives of the Bulgarian Red Cross participate in international meetings and conferences on the problems of psychosocial support, exchange experiences with their colleagues from other national companies involved in EMF (European Network of Red Cross / Red Crescent Societies).


MATERIAL RESOURCES - WAREHOUSE

The Bulgarian Red Cross has one central and 3 inter-regional warehouses with property for immediate assistance to disaster victims.


PARTNERS

In order to carry out its disaster management activities, the BRC interacts, coordinates and cooperates with governmental and non-governmental structures and organizations involved in conducting rescue operations in the event of disasters, accidents and catastrophes with which it has signed agreements.


REGULATORY BASE AND GUIDANCE DOCUMENTS FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF DISASTER / CRISIS MANAGEMENT ACTIVITIES IN THE REPUBLIC OF BULGARIA

  • LAW on the Bulgarian Red Cross (promulgated, SG No. 87 of 29.09.1995, supplemented, SG No. 44 of 12.05.1999, amended, SG No. 54 of 31.05.2002, in force) from 1.12.2002, issue 108 from 29.12.2006, in force from 1.01.2007, supplemented, issue 41 from 22.05.2007, in force from 22.05.2007;
  • LAW on Disaster Protection (promulgated SG No. 102 / 19.12.2006, amended SG No. 41 / 22.05.2007).
  • LAW on the National Emergency Call System with a single European number 112 (promulgated SG No. 102 / 28.11.2008).
  • STATUTE of the Bulgarian Red Cross.
  • STRATEGY of the Bulgarian Red Cross until 2020;
  • National Disaster Protection Plan;
  • National Program for Disaster Protection (2009-2013) - decision. of the Council of Ministers of 28.05.2009;
  • Plan of the Bulgarian Red Cross for action at BAC - updated annually;
  • Forecast plan of the Bulgarian Red Cross for action in case of disasters;
  • Departmental orders, regulations, instructions;
  • Agreements for cooperation with state institutions, governmental, non-governmental and international organizations (partners) in the field of cooperation in disaster protection.
  • Guidance documents of the IFRC / PE.


For contact:

Yasen Slivenski
Director of the Disaster Management Directorate
phone: 02/81 64 773
e-mail: dp@redcross.bg