For the third consecutive year, Helsinki España, in collaboration with the Ministry of Defense and the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID), has organized the UN OCHA (United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs) civil-military cooperation course in the municipality of l’Alfàs del Pi. This course is designed to improve coordination between civilian and military actors during humanitarian emergencies, a crucial task to ensure an effective and unified response in crisis situations.
Over the span of a week, 22 professionals from the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), the Spanish Ministry of Defense, and AECID participated in an intensive training program addressing the key challenges of coordination in humanitarian operations. The course covered essential topics such as communication management during emergencies, planning and executing on-the-ground interventions, and the critical role of maintaining neutrality and independence in humanitarian assistance.
Held in l’Alfàs del Pi, the course received support from local authorities. The closing ceremony was attended by councilwoman Isabel Muñoz and Rocío Guijarro, representing the l’Alfàs del Pi municipality, as well as María Jaén, President of Helsinki España, and Ángela Suárez, Secretary General of the association. They emphasized the importance of these trainings in ensuring that both civilian and military actors can work together effectively during crises, optimizing the delivery of aid and protecting those affected.
Helsinki España would like to extend its heartfelt thanks to the City Council of l’Alfàs del Pi for their continued support and collaboration in making this course possible. Each year, this training provides valuable tools to professionals dedicated to humanitarian aid, strengthening their capacity to intervene in emergency situations and improving the international humanitarian response.