The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, MoFAIC, has launched the third edition of the Humanitarian Emergency Response Manual, in cooperation with the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, UNOCHA.

The new edition complies with the latest developments in the humanitarian sector and the emergence of new factors, which include climate change, conflicts and global migration. It aims to provide guidelines, checklists and updated information about international humanitarian response procedures and the coordination of joint action.

Reem bint Ebrahim Al Hashimy, Minister of State for International Cooperation, said that cooperation with international humanitarian organisations, like UNOCHA, is taking place as part of the UAE’s ongoing commitment to improving crises and disaster response practices and the skills of humanitarian workers.

Mark Lowcock, Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, thanked the UAE for its commitment to humanitarian action and the ongoing cooperation between UNOCHA and MoFAIC in issuing the third edition of the manual, which reflects the UAE’s commitment.

"The UAE has acquired its deserved international humanitarian leadership while it continues to prove its commitment to humanitarian principles, by providing humanitarian aid and working through multinational systems, to coordinate and achieve the best outcomes," Lowcock said.

The third edition of the Humanitarian Emergency Response Manual is available in both English and Arabic and aims to provide an educational introduction to the international humanitarian response system, especially for workers in humanitarian emergency response organisations. It also seeks to strengthen the capacities of Emirati donor organisations and improve their knowledge of several areas of the emergency humanitarian response sector, especially in rapid rescue and emergency cases, such as earthquakes, major floods, medical services, water supplies and search and rescue operations.