EECentre

Mission Report

UNDAC Mission Report – 1997 Indonesian Fires

This mission report details the activities of a United Nations Disaster Assessment Coordination (UNDAC) team deployed following wildfires in Indonesia.

An incendiary combination of illegal burning to clear forest lands, together with a rainy season delayed by El NiƱo caused widespread, devastating forest fires that threatened not only the unique biodiversity of Indonesia, but also the air quality of Indonesia and surrounding countries. In September, a United Nations Disaster Assessment and Coordination (UNDAC) mission was dispatched to Indonesia. The mission, composed of UNDAC and JEU staff and seconded experts, carried out independent field assessments in the areas most affected by the fires. Based on these assessments, the UNDAC team was able to assist the Indonesian government to prioritize emergency relief needs and organize international help. As a result, assistance was mobilized and coordinated from 19 countries, international organizations, as well as private companies and numerous NGOs.

Consult the mission report here.

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