Emergency Response Units, Rapid Response

Emergency Response Units (ERUs) are standardised, self-sufficient teams of specialists for international deployments. Rapid Response (RR) can be deployed as a team or as individual experts. They support the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement or other international relief operations in disaster-stricken regions. ERUs work with standardised equipment that is stored and ready for transport to the field. ERUs can also be assembled in a modular way (personnel and/or material) and tailored by a deployed IFRC WASH RRS WASH Coordinator to meet assessed needs in the field. National Society (NS) staff and volunteers are trained according to IFRC standards. ERUs are designed to deploy within 48 hours of being alerted. A mission lasts up to four months, with teams rotating every four to five weeks. Integration of national and/or regional WASH experts from regional NSs is a highest priority. The handover of the ERU to the Host National Society (HNS) or another partner should be planned from the beginning, carried out gradually from beginning of the deployment and completed at the latest at the end of the ERU deployment. Within the Austrian Red Cross (AutRC), four different ERUs, 3 x Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) and Information Technology and Telecommunications (ITT), are ready for deployment. The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent (IFCR) Coordination and Planning (CAP) and/or Regional Disaster Response Teams (RDRT) will be used for assessment and coordination.

Trainings by the AutRC

The initial selection of staff is made by the Regional Branches or National Societies, who then nominate their staff for the training. The final selection of participants is made by AutRC Headquarters according to the following criteria:

• Professional and personal qualifications
• Relevant training already completed
• Physical and psychological suitability for international deployments
• General and international Red Cross experience
• Balance of participants (in terms of regional associations/gender)

Integration of participants from Partner National Societies (PNSs) and AutRC programs is of highest priority.

Trainings within the RC Movement

The selection of participants for RC trainings abroad is made by the AutRC Headquarters, International Disaster and Crisis Department. The regional branches register participants with AutRC Headquarters, which then sends a ranking list to the IFRC. The IFRC selects from the registrations of all National Societies. Selected delegates are contacted individually for specific training and exercises.

Training by the EU, UN or other organisations

The Austrian Federal Ministry of the Interior (BMI) acts as a focal point for EU and UN training opportunities. Open registrations are communicated to the Regional Branches by the AutRC Headquarters, Department for EU Civil Protection Mechanism. In certain cases, suitable professionals from modules or experts may be contacted directly. The regional branches register the applicants willing to be deployed within the framework of the UCPM with the AutRC Headquarters, Department for EU Civil Protection Mechanism (direct registration is not accepted by the BMI), which makes a selection, establishes a ranking and forwards it to the BMI. The BMI selects the registrations of all Austrian organisations. For further information on the EU Civil Protection Mechanism please contact: eucp@roteskreuz.at

International Delegate Training Career

For structural questions about international training, please contact the AutRC International Disaster and Crisis Department by e-mail: surge_training@roteskreuz.at