Introduction
The need for improved standardization and harmonization of emergency relief and medical items provided by donors and major operational players has been expressed over the years. The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies and the International Committee of the Red Cross supported by National Societies have coordinated their joint efforts towards this objective.
The catalogue is intended to facilitate the selection and acquisition of the suitable items notably during emergency operations. Standardisation is intended to facilitate field operations and logistics support, improve quality insurance, communication and reporting, and also to avoid inappropriate donations. The catalogue provides generic technical specifications for essential items.
The catalogue provides guidance and assistance to:
- Operation requesters, operational users and decision makers and also donors and national authorities concerned with planning, budgeting and execution of assistance programmes in emergency situations.
- Purchasers and suppliers involved with the supply of emergency items.
This is the third edition of the catalogue. It includes 3 volumes. It replaces the 2004 edition.
- To order hard copies or CD of this catalogue, contact IFRC or ICRC Logistics
- The catalogue is on line at http://www.
- Send your comments and feedback to: see contact on the on line catalogue
Acknowledgements
Red Cross and Red Crescent Emergency Item Catalogue is the compilation of a large number of experiences, involving Red Cross and Red Crescent National Societies, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent National Societies, the International Committee of the Red Cross, and many other organisations and individuals.
We are grateful to all Red Cross and Red Crescent staff members for their invaluable advice in preparing the specifications, and their diligent review of the drafts, often under time pressure.
We are especially grateful to PSO/UNDP, UNICEF, UNHCR, MSF, OXFAM, and WHO, for their invaluable contribution to the standardisation work and the authorisation to use their respective catalogues and brochures in the setting up of the present document.
We are also grateful to Butyl Ltd, PumpSets Ltd, Pumping Systems Ltd, Medicon eG.,
Stratec eG., SGS Laboratoire Crepin, Wolff Agrilab, IFTH, and many others, for their invaluable input to this catalogue.