SCDF has deployed three of its officers to support Philippines in the emergency planning and preparation for the Tropical Storm Bopha. The three officers left Singapore this morning (3rd December 2012) at 0935hrs and arrived in Philippines at about 1300hrs.

The three officers are deployed under the auspices of United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs or UNOCHA. One of the officers will be deployed as part of the United Nations Disaster Assessment and Coordination (UNDAC) team to carry out an assessment of the situation, the resulting humanitarian needs and to assist to put in place an information management mechanism to ensure information flow between the affected area, the capital of the affected country, and to the international organisations involved in the relief efforts. Two other officers, who are communications specialists, will be deployed under the Asia-Pacific Humanitarian Partnership (APHP) team to provide communications support for the UNDAC teams.

SCDF, as a member of the international civil defence fraternity, has actively taken part in various overseas humanitarian missions/exercises and meetings conducted under the UNOCHA. SCDF has officers on 24/7 stand-by for deployment to overseas disaster sites to carry out rapid assessment of priority needs, and support the United Nations Resident Coordinator to coordinate international on-site relief efforts. The three officers are expected to be in the Philippines for about two weeks.