Regulation C/REG.16/12./11 Adopting the ECOWAS Humanitarian Response Mechanism

Jurisdiction
African Regional Bodies · Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS)
Date
17 February 2012
Language
English
Type
Legislation
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Economic Community of West African States

Regulation C/REG.16/12./11 Adopting the ECOWAS Humanitarian Response Mechanism

The Council of Ministers,MINDFUL of Articles 10, 11 and 12 of the ECOWAS Treaty as amended, establishing the Council of Ministers and defining its composition and functions;MINDFUL of Article 58 of the said Treaty which obliges Member States to work to safeguard and consolidate relations conducive to the maintenance of peace, stability and security;MINDFUL of Articles 40 and 41 of the Protocol relating to the Mechanism for Conflict Prevention, Management, Resolution, Peacekeeping and Security signed in Lome on 10 December 1999 which amongst other issues provides for regional intervention in disaster situations occasioned by natural phenomena or by conflict for the development of capacity to undertake humanitarian actions in such situations and cooperation with other Humanitarian agencies;AWARE that the region has experienced grave humanitarian consequences caused by conflicts and oftentimes natural disasters, all of which have worked untold hardship on our peoples and have given rise to the death and displacement of our peoples, increased refugee situation, destruction of property, in addition to having a deleterious effect on development, political and economic stability of our States;HAVING NOTED the development in 2006, of an ECOWAS emergency response team (EERT) mechanism by the ECOWAS Commission that is gradually building both regional and national capacity for responding to humanitarian crises within the region;MINDFUL of the Supplementary Act A/8/01/07 adopting the ECOWAS Policy on Disaster Risk Reduction;MINDFUL of the Regulation MSC/REG.2/01/08 that formally established the above mentioned ECOWAS Emergency Response Team mechanism calling for a full operationalisation of the EERT mechanism;MINDFUL also of Regulation MSC/REG. 1.01/08 on the Adoption of the ECOWAS Conflict Prevention framework (ECPF) particularly section VIII paragraphs 93 to 96 on Humanitarian Assistance;CONSIDERING that Humanitarian Assistance as a component and operational tool in the implementation of ECPF sets out to mitigate the impact of humanitarian disaster and emergencies and serves as a bridge between relief/emergency assistance, medium term rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts in post-conflict and disaster settings;CONSIDERING that the EERT mechanism formally established in January 2008 is a component of the Regional Humanitarian Response mechanism;NOTING that regional response to humanitarian crises in West Africa does not sufficiently meet key emergency needs in major crises such as conflicts, natural disasters, human made disasters and mixed migration;RECALLING the directive of the Council of Ministers for the elaboration of an ECOWAS Humanitarian Response Mechanism for the Region;AWARE that an ECOWAS Humanitarian Relief Fund should be another critical component of the ECOWAS Humanitarian Response MechanismAWARE that it is imperative to have in place a Regional Humanitarian response Mechanism which is predictable, timely and effective in humanitarian emergency situations;DESIROUS of establishing a Regional Humanitarian Response Mechanism;ON THE RECOMMENDATION of the 10th Meeting of the Administration and Finance Committee held from 23 - 26 November 2011.ENACTS

Article 1

1.The ECOWAS Humanitarian Response Mechanism (EHRM) is hereby adopted as attached in annex to this Regulation.
2.The ECOWAS Humanitarian Relief Fund (EHRF) referred to in the EHRM shall be an integral part of the ECOWAS Solidarity Fund and be located therein when the latter is established.
3.Within the framework of the management of the Solidarity Fund, the ECOWAS Commission shall establish a mechanism that allows for a quick disbursement of the EHRF when required.
4.In the interim, disbursement of the EHRF shall be undertaken in compliance with the modalities defined within the Humanitarian Response Mechanism.

Article 2

1.The ECOWAS Commission shall undertake all necessary measures to ensure full application of the Humanitarian Response Mechanism.
2.The Commission shall ensure that ECOWAS national units are fully involved in all Humanitarian fields assessment missions undertaken to determine resource requirement for emergency response.
3.The President of the Commission shall also seek the assistance of other relevant humanitarian agencies in the process of applying the mechanism and shall establish the appropriate legal frameworks thereon.

Article 3

This Regulation shall be published by the ECOWAS Commission in the Official Journal of the Community of West African States within thirty (30) days of its signature by the Chairman of the Council of Ministers. It shall also be published by each Member State in its National Gazette within thirty (30) days after notification by the Commission.
Done at Abuja, this 21st day of November 2011H.E. Olugbenga AshiruChairman for Council
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