Signing of the Model Agreement on Customs Facilitation in Humanitarian Assistance

The UN has welcomed a decision by Bhutan to finalize the Model Customs Facilitation Agreement, a bilateral agreement allowing the expedition of aid to the country in the event of a disaster. The international humanitarian community considers this as a major step forward in strengthening preparedness and a pioneering initiative for others in the region.

Bhutan’s vulnerability to natural disasters led the Government to prioritize the rapid deployment of international aid in emergency situations by lowering customs barriers.

Following a mission of the UN Disaster Assessment and Coordination (UNDAC) Team in 2008 to assess the status of response preparedness in the country, the Department of Disaster Management (DDM) under the Ministry of Home and Cultural Affairs of the Royal Government of Bhutan has been implementing recommendations made by the Team. With the approval of the National Disaster Risk Management Framework of Bhutan in 2006, the DDM has embarked on a number of initiatives to strengthen disaster risk reduction capacity in the country, including drafting of a disaster management bill, strengthening preparedness, response and relief capacities of government stakeholders, enhancing community awareness and capacity in disaster risk management, promoting resilience through safe schools initiatives and strengthening search and rescue capacity.

Developed by the UN Office of the Coordination of Humanitarian Assistance (OCHA) and approved by the World Customs Organization, the Customs Agreement between the UN and member states includes recommended measures to expedite customs clearance procedures, including simplified documentation and inspection procedures, the temporary or permanent waiving of duties and taxes on imports, as well as clearance arrangements outside official working hours and locations.

The agreement being signed today will allow aid consignments, including search and rescue teams, search dog teams and mobile medical units, high technology emergency communication equipment and other emergency relief items a speedy entry and transit into the country in the event of a disaster requiring such external assistance.

Such agreements along with vital information shared by national authorities enable UN agencies, intergovernmental, governmental and non-governmental organizations as well as other humanitarian actors to quickly contact appropriate National Customs Authorities to bring in relief consignments for saving lives and reducing the suffering of the affected people.