Towards stronger and more accountable EU-wide disaster risk management
Around the world, the 192 National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies are key players in working to prevent, lessen the impacts of and respond to all kinds of crises and disasters. Such a presence does not come about overnight and requires preparedness, organisation, funding and — first and foremost — commitment and enthusiasm to help. Mette Petersen is Director of the Red Cross EU Office, a membership office for the 27 National Societies in the EU, the Icelandic Red Cross, the Norwegian Red Cross and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC). For the last 20 years, she has worked continuously for the IFRC and National Red Cross Societies in different contexts in Asia, the Middle East and Turkey. Below she explains that accountability for its actions, not only towards donors but also towards people affected by disasters, is one of the cornerstones on which the Red Cross thrives. Greater accountability requires investment in many areas, including cooperation, coordination, local capacities and continuous community involvement. When it comes to disaster risk management, these aspects are also critical to creating a more resilient society in the EU, aided by the Union Civil Protection Mechanism.
Article by Mette Petersen, Red Cross EU Office, published in the European Court of Auditors journal.