Early in 2018, the Emergency Preparedness Working Group (EPWG) was formed to bring together important UN/I/NGOs involved in emergency preparedness and response planning. Following this, the Emergency Preparedness and Response Taskforce was created to minimise fatalities during the upcoming flood and cyclone season by taking all necessary precautions. The task force offers specialised, localised technical assistance and direction to further the Cox’s Bazar humanitarian community operations regarding readiness, preparedness, and risk reduction. It acts as a forum for technical debate and guidance on planning for readiness and response, including collaboration with the government. To consolidate and implement the strategy, the task force will continue to be active as needed.

The Working Group has made significant strides in emergency preparedness and response planning. They have developed a comprehensive plan encompassing various elements, such as early warning systems, immediate assessment and response, and emergency coordination structures. Moreover, the Group has established effective interaction and information-sharing channels with the military and forged agreements on sharing forecasting information for preparedness with the Global Collaborative Effort/BMD. Safety and security considerations have also been integrated into agencies’ Business Continuity Plans. Additionally, the Group has collaborated with the Government of Bangladesh to establish the Emergency Operations Centre at Cox’s Bazar and maintained ongoing communication with national authorities, agencies, and relevant working groups and task teams, such as emergency medical teams, to ensure effective coordination of emergency response and address any gaps in the sectors.

Recent Updates

2024

2023

Strategy Documents

Technical Guidance

Resources

Assessments

Members

All sector coordinators

Extended group – current members:

• Agency for Technical Cooperation and Development (ACTED)
• Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
• International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC)
• International Organization for Migration (IOM)
• Migrant Offshore Aid Station (MOAS)
• NGO Platform
• Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC)
• United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)
• United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF)
• United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
• United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UNWomen)
• World Food Programme (WFP)

Meetings

Meeting Minutes

Contacts

Marrie-Ann Merza
Emergency Preparedness and Response Officer
Email: [email protected]

Md. Tanjimul Alam Arif
Disaster Response Management Officer
Mobile: +88 01855 966 993
Email: [email protected]