To respond effectively to disasters, National Societies (NS) in the south-west Indian Ocean can rely on their network of trained volunteers to assist the population. There are two types of volunteers, depending on their geographical scope:
- NDRT: National Disaster Response Team
- BDRT: Branch Disaster Response Team
In order to be able to intervene as close as possible to the populations affected by crises and disasters, the NS have strengthened their training activities for local staff (BDRT) and have been able to develop response capacities within several of their branches. This is an objective of the Local Logistics Preparedness in the Indian Ocean project implemented by the NS and PIROI in the branches of Melaky and Atsinanana (Madagascar), Rodrigues (Mauritius), Anjouan and Mohéli (Union of Comoros).
Since September 2021, four trainings for local disaster response team members have been organised in Atsinanana, Melaky, Mohéli and Anjouan. In total, more than 70 team members have completed theoretical and practical training modules on disaster risk management (DRM): disaster risk management cycle, needs assessment, first aid, operational logistics, community engagement, organisation of distributions of essential items, awareness raising activities in the health or WASH sectors. As soon as the health situation allows, a training of BDRT members will also be organised in Rodrigues.
These training sessions were carried out with the financial support of the European Union’s Humanitarian Aid.
