SEA/RC60/R7
SOUTH-EAST ASIA REGIONAL HEALTH EMERGENCY FUND
The Regional Committee, Recalling World Health Assembly resolutions WHA58.1 and WHA59.22, and its own resolutions SEA/RC57/3 and SEA/RC58/3, all of which called for improved investments of resources, systems and expertise for emergency preparedness and response, Further recalling the recommendations made at the Regional Consultation for Emergency Preparedness and Response (June 2006), at which the Bali Declaration called for setting up a Regional Emergency Fund, and the Twenty-fourth Health Ministers’ Meeting, at which it was recommended that the Regional Office take steps to set up a Regional Emergency Fund, Confirming that emergencies are a priority in the Region, with 58% of the total number of people killed in natural disasters during the decade 1996–2005 from countries of the South-East Asia Region; that the Organization has prioritized emergency preparedness and response, and that a dedicated Strategic Objective has been developed and Health Action in Crises has become a full-fledged cluster in WHO headquarters, Noting that steps have been taken to create the Fund with a Working Group based in the Regional Office and a series of consultations conducted with WHO Representatives and representatives of Member countries, Acknowledging the establishment of the South-East Asia Regional Health Emergency Fund (SEARHEF) as contained in the “Thimphu Declaration International Health Security in the South-East Asia Region”, Appreciating the contribution of US$100 000 of the Royal Thai Government to the Fund, and Having considered the recommendations made by the Joint Meeting of Health Secretaries of countries of the WHO South-East Asia Region and the Consultative Committee for Programme Development and Management, held during 2-6 July 2007, 1. URGES Member States: (a) to contribute 1% of their WHO Regular budget allocation to the SEARHEF;
-2(b) to support proper use and management of the Fund to address immediate needs in any emergency, and (c) to actively participate in the management and utilization of SEARHEF through its Working Group, and 2. REQUESTS the Regional Director: (a) to lead in the efficient implementation of the Fund so that financial support is provided for immediate needs in countries affected by events; (b) to support further resource mobilization for the Fund; (c) to have a transparent mechanism for the distribution of the Fund; (d) to facilitate linking the SEARHEF with planning and activities for Strategic Objective 5, and (e) to report annually to Member States at the Regional Committee on the status of the Fund usage.