It has subsequently played a pivotal role, at the request of the UN High Commission for Refugees, in ensuring that the United Nations, NATO military authorities and civilian agencies can work together effectively.

In November 1998, UN-OCHA - fully extended in Central America at the time, coping with the effects of Hurricane Mitch - requested that the EADRCC take the lead in carrying out the necessary international coordination in response to extensive floods in western Ukraine. Ten EAPC countries provided prompt assistance. Following the August 1999 earthquake in north eastern Turkey, the EADRCC was actively engaged in efforts to coordinate international support and, in September 1999, was similarly engaged when Greece was hit by an earthquake. Cooperation with Russia

In 1996, NATO and Russia signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on Cooperation in Civil Emergency Planning and Disaster Preparedness. Russia has actively participated in most CEP activities under PfP and has also organised and hosted a number of major exercises, seminars, workshops and meetings. In 1997, the Senior Civil Emergency Planning Committee met in Moscow - the first NATO committee to meet in Russia. Also in 1997, under the NATO-Russia Permanent Joint Council, a joint pilot project was launched on the use of satellite technology in disaster management.

Cooperation with Ukraine

In 1997, NATO and Ukraine signed a memorandum of understanding on Cooperation in CEP and Disaster Preparedness with emphasis on the Chernobyl Disaster. Under the auspices of the NATO-Ukraine Commission, the NATO-Ukraine Joint Group has also organised and conducted a number of CEP cooperation activities in the aviation, food and agriculture, and medical fields.

In 1996, ‘Trans-Carpathia 96’ took place in Lviv. This was a week-long programme consisting of a command post and field exercise followed by the annual seminar and meeting of NATO’s Civil Protection Committee. Support for Albania

As provided for in its Individual Partnership Plan, assistance is being given to Albania to develop legislation and implementation arrangements for civil emergency planning and disaster preparedness. Following the approval of the new Albanian constitution, and building upon a March 1999 PfP Workshop in Tirana devoted to civil emergency planning, a year-long implementation effort began, involving parliamentarians, appropriate ministries, the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) and selected non-governmental organisations. Euro-Atlantic Disaster Response Capability

Follow-on work includes identifying and committing the various civil and military elements and capabilities - from individual EAPC countries - that will comprise the Euro-Atlantic Disaster Response Unit (EADRU).