Canada has in inventory a disaster management team. Called DART it is defined as follows:
The Canadian Forces Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART) is a unique organization created to deploy to a crisis situation anywhere in the world - situations ranging from natural disasters to complex humanitarian emergencies.
The Canadian government has consistently demonstrated strong support for humanitarian assistance and disaster-relief operations throughout the world. Nationally and internationally, the Canadian Forces (CF) have deployed to disaster-struck regions to conduct humanitarian relief operations. International experiences include Rwanda, Haiti, Honduras and Turkey.
The DART, formed in June 1996, gives Canada additional capabilities for speedy response to requests for humanitarian assistance and disaster relief. This military team deploys quickly into a crisis area, bridging the gap until members of the international community arrive to provide long-term help.
"One of the DART's objectives is to stabilize the primary effects immediately following a natural disaster or emergency and to prevent the onset of secondary effects such as the spreading of diseases," says Lieutenant-Colonel Christian Juneau, current DART Commanding Officer. "Numerous international organizations are committed to providing relief and assistance to people in need. The DART complements rather than competes with these organizations," he adds.
The DART focuses on fulfilling four critical needs in any emergency situation:
primary medical care
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production of purified drinking water
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limited specialist engineer capability
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a command and control structure that allows for effective communications between the DART, the host nation, in-theatre international organizations, non-governmental organizations, United Nations aid agencies, and the Department of National Defence
What are we waiting for?
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