Mediterranean: Preventing and responding to disasters

Since the beginning of the year, the Mediterranean region has experienced a number of “natural” disasters: storms in Greece and Libya, forest fires in Algeria, Greece and Italy, and earthquakes in Turkey, Syria and Morocco.

According to the recent IPCC reports, depending on the geographical areas, global warming may lead to an increase in the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events.

These events make certain regions unsuitable for human settlement, although they are still home to entire communities. Urban and periurban areas, which often already lack infrastructure (for example, in terms of housing capacities, transport and healthcare), are particularly concerned.

Expertise France assists its partner countries by implementing projects that aim to reduce the likelihood and impact of natural and man-made disasters, mitigate the impact of disasters on people, infrastructure and the environment, and increase the resilience of communities, activities and institutions.

Prevent, reduce and adapt to risks

In the context of disaster risk reduction, Expertise France conducts various activities in conjunction with the risk prevention and preparation phases. Many risk preparation activities focus on capacity development for the emergency response services (such as civil protection services and firefighters) that will intervene in the event of a disaster to ensure the public’s safety.

For example, Expertise France, in partnership with the Directorate for Security and Defence Cooperation (DCSD), has helped strengthen Tunisia’s Civil Protection Services through a reformed and modernised training system. This project now focuses on consolidating the training system and supporting the UN/WHO certification of a medical intervention module that can be deployed in both Tunisia and abroad. The most noteworthy development in recent months has been the support for the international classification according to UN standards of a Tunisian emergency response team deployed in Turkey and Syria after the earthquake in February 2023.

In Jordan, Expertise France has implemented a project, whose overall objective was to strengthen the operational capability and nationwide coverage of the civil protection services delivered by Jordan Civil Defence (JCD), for people residing mainly in Mafraq Governorate. The project has contributed to the creation of the Civil Protection Office and Risk Assessment Office. The objective is to improve knowledge of risks in the country by developing risk mapping and preparing contingency plans. This improved knowledge of risks, combined with training for civil protection services in certain risks (white water, rescue and clearing, solar panel fires), provides the backbone of a comprehensive and appropriate operational response to incidents by the emergency services.

In the Middle East, the European HIP FEWS project has strengthened the flood early warning system at regional level in Jordan, Israel and Palestine. The objective was to improve disaster risk forecasting and provide a decision-making tool in the event of crisis.

The project has equipped Jordan and Palestine with rain and water-level monitoring materials and enabled data transmission both at national and regional levels. It has also set up collaborations with existing regional tools and platforms. The equipment will not only allow measures in real-time, but will also provide these countries with useful information for modelling flood patterns and improving flood forecasting.

Responding to natural and man-made disasters

As part of its aid in response to the Beirut Port explosion in Lebanon on 4 August 2020, France took swift action and gathered a multidisciplinary team of experts, some from the main French ports (Marseille, Le Havre). Their work involves identifying the reconstruction needs for the port, and proposing solutions to improve its operation and ensure that it complies with international norms and standards. Expertise France is coordinating these expert missions which mainly focus on the development and governance of the port, port safety and security, as well as Customs capacity building. More specifically, since June 2023, Expertise France has been focusing on the launch of an assessment of port security. This is a necessary first step in bringing the Port of Beirut into compliance with the International Ship and Port Facility Security Code (ISPS Code).

Crises often trigger migratory movements. According to the World Bank, environmental migration will increase then accelerate as of 2050 due to the impact of climate change.

This migration is mainly internal, but it can also lead to the crossing of international borders, without these people benefiting from a status ensuring their protection and appropriate for their situation. In addition, climate change will increase the weaknesses inherent to unstable institutions and affect certain drivers of conflict, without being a direct cause of them. It is a “threat multiplier”.

In AFD Group, Expertise France ensures that these migration issues are a constant concern, especially in ever-changing situations where political issues intersect with international cooperation mechanisms.

With AFD funds, Expertise France is assisting Morocco with the regionalisation of its migration policy in the Oriental and Souss-Massa regions. The project aims to harmonise the Government’s migration policy at central level and at regional level, while ensuring that it is effectively coordinated with sectoral policies for economic and human development.

Morocco and Tunisia are also involved in the “Regional Cooperation Project on Migration Policies” which aims to support the dialogue of African public institutions and civil society organisations on the governance of migration policies.

Protecting the planet and oceans

The prevention of climate crises requires safeguarding the planet and its oceans. In line with the objectives of the Presidential Council for Development, Expertise France is working to tackle climate change, with the objective of promoting the development of a blue economy and protecting forests. 

An international technical expert has been deployed to the United Nations Environment Programme/Mediterranean Action Plan (UNEP/MAP) to assist partner countries of this programme with their international commitments, national policies, and strategic documents related to marine and coastal areas. The aim of this expertise is to ensure the implementation of the four components of the Plan of Action for a Model Mediterranean Sea (PAMEx), devoted to the protection of marine and coastal biodiversity, sustainable fishing, combating pollution, and reducing the impact of maritime transport on the environment.

Finally, in Tunisia, and with European funds, Expertise France has assisted civil society organisations with the implementation of awareness-raising activities on marine issues. The objective is to give a better understanding of the impact that pollution has on health and the economy in the Gulf of Gabès, and promote the implementation of environmental activities.

For further information, consult the project sheet