SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic (Jan. 8, 2010) - The annual exercise Fuerzas Aliadas Humanitarias (Allied Humanitarian Forces) kicks off next week in the Dominican Republic. Fuerzas Aliadas Humanitarias, a disaster response planning and coordination exercise which includes civilian officials, military forces and police officers from Central American and Caribbean Nations and the United States, as well as representatives of regional and international organizations, will take place Jan. 11-15 in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.
Fuerzas Aliadas Humanitarias is designed to promote partnerships in humanitarian assistance and improve regional cooperation and coordination among military organizations, governments, and non-governmental agencies. As the partnered organizations become familiar with each others' policies and procedures, they will be better prepared to react to natural and man-made disasters with more effective rescue, recovery, relief and restoration efforts. This particular exercise concentrates on potential disaster threats in the region from earthquakes and volcanoes, and associated effects such as tsunamis.
More than 300 participants will learn more about these regional threats and exchange information on measures to mitigate and alleviate the suffering caused by them. Participating and observing countries include Dominican Republic, Barbados and Panama.
Several important governmental, non-governmental and international organizations will also participate, including the Pan American Health Organization, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, the Caribbean Disaster response unit, the Center of Coordination for the Prevention of Natural Disaster in Central America, the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency, the Conference of American Armies Humanitarian Rescue Unit and USAID Office of Foreign Disaster Agency .
The Central American nation of Dominican Republic is hosting Fuerzas Aliadas Humanitarias 10 in its capital, in cooperation with U.S. Army South, U.S. Southern Command's executive agency for the exercise.
Social Sharing