Risk & Emergency Management Experts Reunite in Honduras

Regional Experts from Civil Protection Agencies and Emergency Management Agencies of the Central American, Caribbean and South America (Argentinian Blue Helmets), came together in Honduras, to exchange experiences, good practices and lessons learned in the efforts to increase resiliency, coordination and cooperation efforts.

As part of the visit, the Honduran Emergency Management Agency COPECO, gave a tour of the modern installations that COPECO now has, to the Regional Experts. COPECO has, these past 3 years, been under the Direction of Minister Lisandro Rosales, and his efforts in advocating for funds, in the international community has proven great results in increasing capacity, capabilities and competencies. Because of the transparent and effective execution of international financial aid, Honduras, in the Emergency Management and Risk Management area, has become a Regional Model of Institutional Strengthening. 

 

 

EXPERTOS EN GESTION DE RIESGO DE CENTROAMERICA VISITAN COPECO | Comisión Permanente de Contingencias – COPECO – República de Honduras.

Advertisement

Cyber Security or CyberCARE?

The Hot Topic is Cyber security, cyber warfare, cyber crime, cyber attacks or like Christopher Wallace calls it “Cyber Intrusion” in which I totally agree. First of all, we should first focus on taking the word “war” out of the picture. By continuously using “war”, WE (as a society) assume that Departments/Ministries of Defense (Government), are responsible for dealing with intrusions to the Public and Private Sector. 

Should Government be liable for attacks coming from a foreign “ally” country to the private sector (Critical Infrastructure)?

Yesterday a very diverse and smart group of Graduate Classmates (myself included) had a great discussion about cyber security and how it mixes with DHS and Private Sector. At the end, I began to fear that “Cyber…..” may be headed towards the same path as #HealthCARE. It seems that cyber security is creating great “business” for a particular group. Why control the firewalls, when people need “someone” to protect their identity or safety, online? Is the population ready for another expense in their lives or businesses?

I would like to know what are the next steps to Cyber Intrusion securities in the U.S. and throughout the world? Will the internet be as dangerous as the “back alley” in the worst place you can imagine? Should there be a detraction strategy, regarding the limits of technology in combination with critical infrastructure and key resources?

Thanks for your opinion and comments.  

Honduras is Ready to Receive & Coordinate Humanitarian Aid From the World!!!

I am frequently amazed on how the (COPECO) Honduran Emergency Management Agency is getting better prepared. Today in Honduras, COPECO and the Foreign Relations Ministry, have duly presented, to the national authorities, as well as the International Cooperating Community and the Diplomatic Service in Honduras, the Manual for the Humanitarian Office of Foreign Aid Assistance and Coordination (Centro de Coordinación de Asistencia Humanitaria Internacional CCAHI).

These types of formalities are needed in order, for the cooperating agencies, NGOs, countries and others willing to help, to better ask for and receive the incoming aid. “Cooperation With Dignity” is the Central American Slogan for Humanitarian Assistance, and with this CCAHI manual, cooperation is definitely expected to be better handled and ultimately distributed.

How can we (as Emergency Management Agencies) better coordinate humanitarian assistance support? How often should we put the Manual to Practice (exercises, Table tops, functional, full-scale), and how flexible is the Manual in order to adapt to scalable situations/incidents that have already surpassed the capability of response? How often is the country overwhelmed with response and humanitarian capabilities?

Below (PHOTO) of Minister Lisandro Rosales from COPECO presenting the Manual to the International Diplomatic Community and Cooperating Agencies

Image