1. The government of the Republic of Korea will carry out the “2017 UN Disaster Assessment and Coordination (UNDAC) Refresher Course” at the National Fire Service Academy in Cheonan, Chungcheongnam-do, from August 21 to 25 in order to support the UN’s swift emergency relief operations.

o The course is hosted by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) and co-organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the National Fire Agency.

o The course will bring together 50 experts in international disaster relief from 31 countries and international organizations. They will participate in education programs that will help them to conduct relief operations in large-scale disaster situations, including field training for 48 hours, tabletop exercises, theory lessons and group discussions.

2. The Foreign Ministry and the National Fire Agency have worked to host the upcoming UNDAC Refresher Course in the ROK, as the expertise of the Korea Disaster Relief Team (KDRT) has been recognized in the international emergency relief area, with the KDRT having gained the highest grade (Heavy) in the UN’s classification test.

3. The course where the members of the KDRT will also participate is expected to help them actively work as UNDAC members by increasing their understanding of the UN’s system for disaster assessment and coordination of emergency relief operations.

o The ROK government, as a responsible member of the international community, will continue to take an active part in the international efforts to respond to disasters by improving the system for overseas emergency relief operations and building the KDRT’s capacity.


* unofficial translation