The PPRD Med team extends its heartfelt condolences and solidarity to the families affected by the devastating Dana (Depresión Aislada en Niveles Altos) extreme weather event. We are deeply saddened by the loss of lives and the hardships faced by communities impacted by this severe weather. Our thoughts are with those grieving and those working tirelessly in response and recovery efforts.
PPRD Med remains committed to supporting resilience-building efforts across the region to better prepare for such tragic events in the future.
PPRD South III
​​
Building a Euro-Mediterranean system to address natural and man-made disasters in the Mediterranean.
​
Earthquakes, floods, fires… The Mediterranean region is particularly exposed to disaster risks. The natural or man-made disasters facing Mediterranean countries pose a threat to the environment, people, resources and infrastructure. Civil protection services have a key role to play in addressing these risks. The third phase of the Programme for Prevention, Preparedness and Response to Natural and Man-made Disasters in Southern Mediterranean Countries (PPRD South III) is helping eight partner countries address these common threats.
​
Prevent, prepare, respond
The European PPRD South III project was based on the principle of cooperation to address risks. It worked to strengthen civil protection actions in Southern Mediterranean countries. The objective: support cooperation opportunities between partner countries for the development and implementation of an effective disaster risk prevention and management system.
The French, Spanish and Italian General Directorates of Civil Protection participated in this programme coordinated by Expertise France, in partnership with Civipol Conseil and FIIAPP.
​
In late 2018 and early 2019, the project team conducted fact-finding missions to make an inventory of the priorities identified by the authorities in the partner countries. 2019 was devoted to the implementation of the first activities.
​
Peer-to-peer exchanges
The sharing of good practices was central to the project. The project team helped the beneficiary countries identify their priorities and propose subregional and regional cooperation activities. Three areas of activity were identified:
-
Capacities for disaster risk assessment and prevention;
-
Operational assistance and response capacities;
-
Volunteering and calling on the public in the case of emergency procedures.
​
A Euro-Mediterranean partnership under construction
PPRD South III also promoted the creation of a regional cooperation mechanism that can be called on when a disaster strikes one or several countries. This contributed to gradually bringing Mediterranean countries closer to the European Union Civil Protection Mechanism (UCPM). This mechanism was set up in 2001 and allows a European Union Member State to request assistance if it is affected by a disaster. It also facilitates coordination between countries able to provide assistance.
​
To this end, PPRD South III supported cooperation opportunities between partners at national, cross-border and regional levels, in alignment with the UCPM.
