After two years an EU funded project called Professional Dialogue Exercise Jordan Israel and Palestine “PDEX JIP” is finished. Within this project an analysis of the civil protection situation was done, guiding principles for emergency response operations between Jordan, Israel and Palestine were developed and tested in a Table Top Exercise as well as a Full Scale Exercise.
The Full Scale Exercise took place in Jordan (Queen Alia International Airport), Israel (Tel Aviv airport, Ramallah and the region south of Jericho) as well as in Palestine (mainly in Jericho and Nablus).
The Consortium consisted of University of Cyprus/ CERIDES (as lead), Cyprus Civil Defense and Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Johanniter-Unfall-Hilfe e.V. /Germany, Prepared International/Germany, Resilience Solutions International/Austria and DMAT Consulting KG/Austria.
The project was a full success as we were able to achieve all expectations and deducted at the end a Full Scale exercise in the region as a good preparation for possible future emergencies.
to read the whole Report please click on the link below:
Project number: P101048587 Project name: Professional Dialogue Exercises – Jordan Israel Palestine Project acronym: PDEX-JIP Call: UCPM-2021-EX Topic: UCPM-2021-INT Type of action: UCPM Project Grants Granting authority: European Commission-EU Project Duration: 01/01/2022- 30/06/2023
Project Lead
European University Cyprus (EUC)
Project Partners
D.M.A.T. Consulting KG (DMAT)
Prepared International (PPI)
Resilience Solutions International (RSI)
Johanniter-Unfall-Hilfe e.V. (JUH)
Ministry of Interior Cyprus (CCD)
Ministry of Foreign Affairs Cyprus (MFA)
Abstract
The overall aim of PDEX-JIP is to improve Civil Protection (CP) preparedness and response inside and outside the Member States of the Union Civil Protection Mechanism (UCPM) by providing a testing environment and a learning opportunity for all actors involved in CP interventions. The sub-region of Jordan, Israel and Palestine is a unique training environment of outermost interest for the UPCM.
PDEX-JIP Project will:
produce an assessment of the CP situation,
draft joint Standing Operating Procedures (SOPs) on parties’ request,
hold joint planning conferences,
implement a Table-Top Exercise (TTX) training Host Nation Support (HNS) in a specific environment,
perform a Joint Full-Scale Exercise (FSX),
provide an Evaluation that includes a Lessons Learned (LL) process and recommendations for the Way ahead,
provide the sub-region with HNS-guidelines considering the specific response environment.
The project is designed to achieve overall strengthening of disaster preparedness in the JIP region while increasing interoperability and HNS measures for international and regional disaster response.
Goals/Objectives
Analyse the CP situation in the JIP region,
Conduct joint planning with JIP partners
Develop a joint SOP for international disaster response,
Prepare and conduct one HNS TTX
Prepare and conduct one joint FSX,
Conduct an evaluation of the current state of affairs in the region
Conclude with a LL procedure and recommend a way ahead for the JIP region.
Expected Results
Enable the response to a large-scale disaster in the region by creating interoperability between all involved actors
Enable support to vulnerable groups, Common SOP
Prepare and conduct one joint FSX,
Adaptation of disaster response plans,
Develop specific HNS guidelines
Kick Off Meeting 01.02.2022
The kick off meeting took place on Tuesday the 1st of February 2022, in Brussels, Belgium. Mr. Evangelos Katsaros, of the coordinating team, CERIDES and as the Research Associate, and Manager of the project, physically attended the meeting and presented the planned activities to the DG-ECHO Officers. Representatives from all consortium partners attended the meeting in virtual mode.
Hybrid Meeting 29-30.05.2022
A hybrid meeting took place in Tel Aviv and Ramallah between 29 and 30 May 2022. The 3 countries in their delegations included representatives from their Civil Protection National Authorities and various other services that will be instrumental for the Full Scale Exercise. The meeting took place in a really positive atmosphere and various details were discussed about the TTX Table Top Exercise that will take place in November and in particular about the SOP Standard Operating Procedures during the exercise.
Main Planning Conference, Cyprus 2-3.11.2022
A historical meeting for the JIP region took place in Cyprus, in November 2022 with all the consortium participating but also JIP Delegations Attending; specifically Jordanian Delegation – National Center for Security and Crisis Management (NCSCM), Jordanian Civil Defense (JCD); Israeli Delegation – National Emergency Management Authority (NEMA), Coordination of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT), and Military Liaison Office; Palestinian Delegation – Palestinian Civil Defense (PCD), Civil Affairs, Metrology, MOFA, and Military Liaison Office. From the United Nations: UNOCHA Jordan (regional JIP Professional Dialogue Project Coordinator, as well as conference facilitator), UNOCHA oPt, UNOCHA Emergency Response Section from Geneva.
Achievements of the Main Planning Conference (1/3)
As the JIP has worked successfully on the technical elements of a Flood Early Warning System there could also be in the future joint work on an Earthquake Early Warning Systems (EEWS). The Palestinian Civil Defence (hereinafter, PCD) conveyed the need to enhance their capabilities, access equipment, and develop search and rescue teams to ensure response success. PCD specified that they do not have the trucks, equipment, and warehousing to respond to natural disasters. As such, preparedness at the regional level is required in order to respond to all types of natural disasters and risks, in addition to receiving humanitarian assistance from international donors. Specific request also to develop the internal capacities of the PCD both in term of equipment and training.Jordan’s Civil Defence (hereinafter, JCD) and the National Center for Security and Crisis Management (hereinafter, NCSCM) agreed that common understanding and proper terminology must be established to unify response efforts moving forward. JCD suggested that JIP could evolve to include new technical spheres, some work on which has been done bilaterally between Jordan and Israel already, as well as combating varying risks collectively by means of joint field work, risk assessments, and continued coordination.
Achievements of the Main Planning Conference (2/3)
JIP delegations discussed key stakeholders’ services and infrastructure to be engaged in FSX, including the Current Status Exercise Logistics and Host Nation Support, incoming teams, EXCON, EUCPT, observers and VIP programme INSARAG cooperation.
Regarding the TTX Structure of the scenario, NEMA informed that their training audience will try to include 20 different organizations and ministries in Israel depending on the finalization of the scenario, and Jordan will have at least 36; the Palestinian Delegation likewise confirmed serious inter-ministerial commitment. OCHA added that there are seven (7) INSARAG teams an hour flight away in the case of international assistance.
The coordinator, European University of Cyprus (CERIDES) introduced the evaluation of FSX Exercise and the awareness campaign that serve the purpose of facilitating improvement, including test response procedures, and providing practice for participants.
Achievements of the Main Planning Conference (3/3)
JIP delegations commenced with the revised trilateral understanding draft to establish the operationalization framework for collective response. NEMA indicated that the trilateral understanding is a milestone, and commended PCD for their pen-holding role in drafting the trilaterally agreed guiding principles elements.
JIP delegations will review the document language ensuring full coherence of language with INSARAG guidelines to ensure full clarity.
The JIP delegations and Consortium discussed the objectives of the TTX. Its aim is to conduct a discussion-based exercise, in which the planned FSX scenario will be simulated and discussed, in addition to all relevant existing plans, documents, maps, guidelines etc. can be used and elaborated on, as well as possible problems and connected solutions identified for an efficient and simulated FSX.
Table Top Exercise parallel in Jordan, Israel and Palestine 08-09.01.2023
The aim of the TTX was to conduct a discussion-based exercise, in which the planned FSX scenario was simulated and discussed. All relevant existing plans, documents, maps, guidelines etc. were used and elaborated on, possible problems and connected solutions were identified and at the end the ground for an efficient simulated FSX was set. Consortium experts facilitated the TTX in all three areas (Amman, Ramallah, Tel Aviv) familiarizing all beneficiaries with International Assistance Procedures.
Table Top Exercise Jordan
Jordan has not been severely affected by the earthquake and simulated efforts to fully support Israel and Palestinian Authority cope with disaster impacts. Jordan will facilitate international assistance reach areas in need. Actual testing will take place during Full Scale Exercise.
Table Top Exercise Israel
Israel simulated both earthquake management within its territory, as well as the procedures for requesting, receiving and distributing international assistance in hit areas. The process of finding solutions under pressure for optimizing cooperation with Jordan and Palestine Authority in case of a big earthquake has been tested.
Table Top Exercise Palestine
Palestine Authority simulated host of international assistance and support of local population the 1st critical hours of a devastating earthquake.
Final Planning Meeting, Tel Aviv, 6-7.02.2023
The Final Planning Meeting took place on 06th-07th of February 2023 in a hybrid way in Tel Aviv. Τhe objectives accomplished were:
Discussion of the outcomes and lessons from the TTX in their relevance for the FSX, inter alia the evaluation of the guidelines
Finalization of the planning for the FSX, including the scenario and injects, including the deployment of field hospital
Discussion of logistical details and field visit of exercise sites
Discussion of Observer and VIP program for the exercise
Familiarization with the Evaluation Process of the FSX
Full Scale Exercise Israel, Palestine, Jordan, 12-16.03.2023
The Full Scale Exercise took place between 12th – 16th of March 2023 with a great success. It involved approximately 120 participants from 18 countries — Albania, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia, Bulgaria, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Latvia, North Macedonia, Malta, Montenegro, Romania, Spain, Sweden, along with Israel — as well as the European Union Civil Protection Mechanism, DG ECHO representatives and the United Nations OCHA.
Between 2nd and 3rd November our consortium, consisting of European University of Cyprus, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Cyprus, Civil Defense of Cyprus, Johanniter/Germany, Prepared International/Germany, Resilience Solutions International/Austria and D.M.A.T. Consulting KG/Austria conducted the Main Planning Conference for the PDEX JIP exercise in 2023
The three authorities – Jordan, Israel and Palestine (JIP) – which are part of the Professional Dialogue of UN OCHA, which was created in 2012, agreed on drafted “Guiding Principles for Standard Procedures in Disaster Situations”. These specific and historically important guidelines will now be tested in a Table Top exercise in January 2023 as well as a Full Scale Exercise of the European Union in March 2023.
The overall aim is to strengthen disaster preparedness in the JIP region, increase interoperability, enable Host Nation Support (HNS) and cooperation for international disaster response. This will be achieved by supporting the JIP region in analysing their Civil Protection situation, prepare a specific regional, cross border Standard Operating Procedures(SOP) for closer, more operational cooperation in case of a complex emergency, train all parties in HNS, test respective measures during an FSX and evaluate and analyse future steps and recommendations for implementation of the results into their national disaster response plans.
It will be the first time that all three authorities will cooperate in such a disaster management operation to test their possible cooperation.
On 9th January 2023 a historical event happened – the conduct of a Table-Top Exercise (TTX) within an EU / Directorate General European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (DG ECHO) funded project (PDEX – JIP) in Jordan Israel and Palestine.
The strategy of the project is to develop strengths to prepare for earthquakes in the Professional Dialogue region and enable humanitarian support between the parties, to create a more resilient society. The TTX demonstrated how a cooperation between the three authorities can work but also showed some challenges which will be overcome during the next month so that in the Full-Scale Exercise / FSX the guiding principles can be fully tested with teams on the ground from Jordan, Israel and Palestine as well as the European Union Mechanism, UN OCHA and other UN agencies on site.
The consortium – consisting of *European University of Cyprus – Centre-of-Excellence in Risk and Decision Sciences(Cerides), *Cyprus Civil Defense(Ministry of Interior), *Ministry of External Affairs of Cyprus, *Johanniter-Unfall-Hilfe e.V. with its Competence Center EU Civil Protection and Disaster Assistance and *Prepared International UG(PPI) from Germany, *Resilience Solutions International(RSI) and *D.M.A.T. Consulting KG (DMAT) from Austria, prepared and conducted this TTX on the 9th of January 2023 as a preparation for the upcoming Full Scale Exercise (FSX) in March 2023 in the region.
In this TTX all three authorities were involved and simultaneously tested together these new procedures and their response in case of an earthquake.
The PDX-JIP project is based on the “Professional Dialogue for Jordan, Israel and Palestine which has been launched on 17th March 2013 by UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UN OCHA) in which PDEX-JIP project partner PPI and DMAT have contributed to this disaster diplomacy process.
Within the PDEX-JIP Professional Dialog Exercise – Jordan, Israel and Palestine (PDEX-JIP), for the first-time guiding principles for Standard Procedures in disaster situations in Jordan Israel and Palestine were developed together with UN OCHA, DG ECHO and the consortium.
24 Months
(in case of COVID-19 related delays – 36 Months)
the Project Coordinator:
the European University of Cyprus (EUC/CYP)
the Project Partners:
Norwegian Directorate of Civil Protection (DSB/NOR),
Resilience Solutions International (RSI/AUT),
Prepared International UG (PPI/GER)
D.M.A.T. Consulting KG (DMAT/AUT).
The Project tasks:
The task of the consortium is to implement a UCPM (EU Civil Protection Mechanism) support module in a planned large-scale exercise for disaster management.
In this project, a 3-day (24/7) plug-in exercise (PIX) is designed, planned, implemented and evaluated outside of Europe in a country with different emergency management structures (e.g. other structures, response mechanisms, culture and climate conditions).
Based on the European Commission’s final decision, the PIX will take place either in South Asia/Nepal involving Asian Disaster Preparedness Center/ADPC, or West Africa/Ghana or Cabo Verde involving Economic Community of West African States / ECOWAS, or East Africa /Djibouti involving Intergovernmental Authority on Development / IGAD.
The background of the plug-in exercise:
The UCPM is often activated for dealing with emergencies outside the European Union. Most of the UCPM exercises conducted to reflect this often use fictitious scenarios and artificial countries to simulate the response environment. Although these exercises are needed, they do not necessarily provide the true nature of real deployments. At the same time, disaster management exercises outside Europe take place worldwide every year. This could allow for opportunities to join, i.e. plug-in to, planned large-scale exercises involving a multi-organisation response by providing an EUCPT, modules and/or other response capacities.
The overall objective of the Mechanism is to strengthen the cooperation among Member States in the field of civil protection for preventing, preparing for and responding to natural and man-made disasters. Any country in the world overwhelmed by a disaster can call on the Mechanism for support. By pooling the civil protection capabilities of the Member States, the Mechanism can ensure better protection primarily of people, but also of the natural and cultural environment and of property.
The Emergency Response Coordination Centre (ERCC) is the operational heart of the Mechanism. It is operated by DG ECHO and is operational 24 hours a day and 7 days a week.
The project objectives:
test and improve the coordination of the UCPM response assistance, and ultimately to establish a common understanding in major emergencies.
improve interoperability, coordination, communication, reporting and logistical arrangements in civil protection assistance with the different response capacities, national authorities, local emergency management authorities, humanitarian actors and other agencies with a role in emergency response.
improve the field cooperation between EUCPT and UNDAC.
enhance the cooperation with the EU Delegation(s), DG ECHO Field Office and EU Member States embassies in the region or country affected.
develop and implement a safety and security plan for an emergency response outside EU.
strengthen the understanding of Host Nation Support and introduce the EU HNS guidelines
Professional Dialogue Exercises – Jordan Israel Palestine
Project start:
15.11.2021
Project duration:
18 months
Coordinator:
European University Cyprus (EUC)
Project’s Partners
D.M.A.T. Consulting KG (DMAT)
Prepared International (PPI)
Resilience Solutions International (RSI)
Johanniter-Unfall-Hilfe e.V. (JUH)
Ministry of Interior Cyprus (CCD)
Ministry of Foreign Affairs Cyprus (MFA)
Project’s background
The project team for this exercise was requested by the three parties: Jordan, Israel, and Palestine (JIP). Parts of the team have a long-standing background with the Professional Dialogue project.
Mr. Beck was the founder and long-term project manager and mediator of the Professional Dialogue and, currently acting as a reference person for the countries. Mr. Hirschmugl & Mr. Beck were also involved in the UNDAC Disaster Response Preparedness mission to Palestine in 2014. This exercise project has been prepared from the JIP meeting 2019 in Austria onwards where DMAT Consulting KG (DMAT) and Prepared International (PPI) presented the lessons from all previous exercises that have taken place in the region.
The Jordanian, Israeli, and Palestinian emergency management frameworks provide a unique environment for disaster preparedness work. The range of risks and vulnerabilities coupled with the existing framework for response have the potential to cause the entire region to suffer severe impacts in case of a major disaster, such as a strong earthquake.
The project is designed to achieve overall strengthening of disaster preparedness in the JIP region while increasing interoperability and HNS measures for international and regional disaster response.
Aim of the Project
to improve civil protection (CP) preparedness and response inside and outside the Member States of the Mechanism by providing a testing environment and a learning opportunity for all actors involved in CP interventions.
The consortium will:
produce an assessment of the CP situation,
draft joint Standing Operating Procedures on parties’ request (SOPs),
hold joint planning conferences,
implement a Table-Top Exercise (TTX) training Host Nation Support (HNS) in a specific environment,
perform a Joint Full-Scale Exercise (FSX),
provide an Evaluation that includes a Lessons Learned (LL) process and recommendations for the Way ahead,
provide the sub-region with HNS-guidelines considering the specific response environment.
Project’s Objectives:
analyse the CP situation in the JIP region,
conduct joint planning with JIP partners,
develop a joint SOP for international disaster response,
prepare and conduct one HNS TTX,
prepare and conduct one joint FSX,
conduct an evaluation of the current situation in the region
conclude with a LL procedure and recommend a way ahead for the JIP region
The Project’s Exercises:
PDEX-JIP – Tabletop Exercise (TTX)
The aim of the TTX is to conduct a discussion-based exercise, in which the planned FSX scenario will be simulated and discussed. All relevant existing plans, documents, maps, guidelines etc. can be used and discussed, possible problems and connected solutions identified and at the end the ground for an efficient simulated FSX should be set.
Objectives of this exercise:
Discuss the possible FSX scenario – Earthquake and cascading effects, including outbreak of a pandemic and lock down during the exercise
Discuss the activation of the EUCPM (Alert, requesting and offering relief teams and relief goods)
Discuss EU HNS Guidelines – procedures of sending states, transiting states and hosting/receiving states – what changes in a pandemic environment – for the guidelines. Discuss and confirm the SOPs developed by the project.
Discuss cooperation with Local Emergency Management Agency/LEMA, EU Delegation on site, UN OCHA ERCC and EU ERCC, UN Resident Coordinator, UNDAC, etc.
Discuss involvement and cooperation of UNHAS/WFP,
Discuss activation and support by Copernicus and UNITAR/UNOSAT
Strategize on supporting most vulnerable groups
Identification of cascading effects and particularities in urban areas
Discuss involvement of modules, ECPP and RescEU in such a disaster
Discuss an exit strategy and hand over / Take over procedures for mission end
Discuss trilateral cooperation of JIP
Joint Full-Scale Exercise (FSX)
Aim of this exercise: to conduct an operations-based exercise with deployment and field response to JIP as the affected countries. The scenario is the further developed TTX scenario with all recommendations included. All existing procedures due to a real mission situation will be tested in the field with involvement of a variety of organisations and agencies which one will meet in the field. All real mission activities of UCP will be included in a 12 hrs -per day exercise (minimum 36 hours’ total time) under stressful conditions and time pressure.
Objectives of this exercise:
Exercise a possible FSX scenario – Earthquake and cascading effects, including outbreak of a pandemic and lock down in the field and test specific SOPs for support between JIP entities, specific focus on most vulnerable groups
Activate the EUCPM (Alert, requesting and offering relief teams and relief goods) and deploy an EUCPT on site
Deploy teams from the neighbourhood to support in the first hours after the event
Deploy an EUCPT, TAST, EU modules, teams from ECCP or RescEU (3-4 Skeleton teams or other capacities) to JIP
Test all relevant procedures like the EU HNS Guidelines – information sharing procedures, procedures for assessments and coordination, meetings, incoming relief goods etc.
Experience the cooperation with LEMA, EU Delegation on site, UN OCHA ERCC and EU ERCC, UN Resident Coordinator, UNDAC, etc. in real
Involve other relevant organisations like UNHAS/WFP,
Experience activation and support by Copernicus and UNITAR/UNOSAT
Prepare an exit strategy and hand over / Take over procedures for mission end
Based on a current platform called ASIGN, listed as one of United Nations Information Management tools for disasters, and in use by Oslo Police for security, B-SURE will develop user-driven functional capabilities and technical solutions for providing commercial services for target markets. The B-SURE project is supported by the UN, who will be acting as a developing partner, reference user and possible future client.
B-Sure Logo
What is B-Sure
B-SURE is about creating urban resilience by providing novel situational awareness capabilities for faster and better response in in critical situations related to disaster management and security.
By fusing information from space spaced EO observations, Unmanned vehicles (drones) and geospatial images from the ground communicated from smartphones, via satellite communications if needed, B-SURE creates a portal providing unique common operational picture for United Nations and other professional disaster management organizations.
Objective
to reduce disaster management response time
B-SURE Services
The main B-SURE service is rapid collection and bandwidth efficient secure communication of operationally relevant field information. The baseline field platform is a smartphone, while information managers access data and interact with the field users via Web browsers online on secure servers. The field users cover professionals, civil population and small UAV operators.
The B-SURE service forms a unique basis for a rapidly updated visual situational awareness service with photos and video and associated data sources. While user needs are clearly present, a large commercial market can be challenging to acquire. Therefore, suitably flexible service and delivery models will be developed, supporting both partner and direct sales.
B-SURE will provide an innovative solution based of photos/images and video collected from the field to:
Improve visual situational awareness (e.g. damage and needs assessment after an Earthquake), via better collection and communication of relevant photos and video content from the field (i.e. non-essential data need not be sent).
Improve the relevance and effect of collected data, as the bandwidth savings also saves time to transfer data, making it much more efficient to interact with the field observers or drone pilots while data capture is done.
Improve training of professional in the field (this includes pilots of UAVs) about how to best acquire useful photo/videos in the field. This is usually done prior to a crisis
Support remote pilots of UAVs to be more effective to collect useful photos and videos. This is typically done real-time during the critical operations
Embed the useful data from Videos/Photos and Earth Observation in overlaying pictures/maps generated as well with the support of EO data
Finally, provide access to the visual situational awareness tool via a web-based service accessible to users via smartphones and PCs connected to Internet.
HOW does B-Sure work
Merging experience and expertise both from software developers and professional disaster managers, B-SURE utilizes a concept using interactive communication, where a smaller image or video storyboard is sent initially, allowing the receive side to pull the required details in full precision. The savings imply 1% of the cost and 100 times increase in speed. This capability is a unique core element for the B-SURE geo-spatial visual situational awareness that is combined with rapid mapping from latest satellite EO data. We apply Computer Vision and Machine Learning to complement and assist the analysts and decision makers.
The project has also developed mission critical video conferencing that can support users joining from the field with low bandwidth, even using mobile satellite communications. the video conferences combined with live drone video feeds, photo communications and live mapping.
SecureGas has started on June 2019, 30 Months of dedication and hard work is now coming to an end.
SecureGas is a Research Project in the EU Framework Program H2020 for Research and Innovation, aiming to strengthen the security and resilience of the European Gas Network, by taking into account physical and cyber threats.
SecureGas Project – H2020 FINAL VIDEO INTERVIEW is now online!
This Video summarizes the whole project in 10 minutes mentioning the challenges faced during these three years of the project and the important results achieved with a final reflection on the future.
Please click below for more information about SecureGas Project
European University Cyprus and CERIDES are excited to announce the implementation of the 1st online hackathon#HackHEUREKA, within the framework of the DG-ECHO – funded project HEUREKA.
Six (6) scholarships are available for the winners of #HackHEUREKA: The scholarships are kindly offered by European University Cyprus.
Full information about #HackHEUREKA is available at the following link:
On the 10th of December 2021, the virtual Symposium on Integrating Disaster Risk Management with Emergency Services and Defence to Reduce Avoidable Disaster Deaths will be held.
The Aim:
To focus on bringing together emergency services and defence in the Caribbean region (e.g., from the Army, Navy, Fire Services, etc.) and to cover the voices of the responders in reducing avoidable disaster deaths, and what lessons can be learned to improve practice.
D.M.A.T Consulting KG is one of the organizer Partners during this Symposium.
Prof Dr. Alois Hirschmugl from D.M.A.T Consulting KG is the Co-chair, lecturer, speaker and discussant.
Prof Dr. Alois Hirschmugl will talk about the Use of Military and Civil Defence Assets in disaster response operations
To know more about the (ADN) Symposium including the Timetable, Partners and the participation’s Link please visit the following websites:
