Turkey’s disaster aid agency joins EU’s Civil Protection Mechanism

BRUSSELS

Turkey’s Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD) has joined the European Union Civil Protection Mechanism, in a move to bolster cooperation with the Brussels-based organization.

The membership treaty allowing Turkey to join the mechanism was signed at the European Civil Protection Forum 2015 in Brussels on May 6. The EU’s Civil Protection Mechanism was established in 2011 to promote cooperation between national civil protection authorities across the continent.

AFAD Chief Fuat Oktay and EU Commissioner Christos Stylanides signed the membership treaty, which made Turkey the 34th country to join the mechanism. As a member, Turkey will be able to contribute to future operations of the EU’s mechanism and will receive aid and assistance from the same organization in the event of a disaster in Turkey.

The membership will also allow Turkey to access the Common Emergency Communication and Information System (CECIS), in addition to receiving updates from the Mechanism’s early warning systems.

AFAD chief Oktay is also set to participate in a special session on the role of innovation in disaster risk management during the two-day European Civil Protection Forum.