Central American countries have strengthened their alliance to ensure that relief goods can cross border posts by using a common procedure for such shipments in emergency situations, according to SIECA.
«The Secretariat for Central American Economic Integration (SIECA) in coordination with the Coordination Center for the Prevention of Disasters in Central America and the Dominican Republic (CEPREDENAC), have provided support to the Central American countries for the implementation of the Central American Procedure for Facilitation of Land Transit of Relief Shipments"the statement said.
The aforementioned procedure "is applicable to the international land transit of relief shipments between Central American countries in emergency case, natural disasters, national emergency or public calamity, as well as to respond to requests from the affected country or recovery," he explained.
Additionally, the statement detailed the goods that can be transported as part of this procedure, namely: food, medicine, clothing, blankets, tents, prefabricated houses, items for purifying and storing water, or other essential items sent as aid for people affected by disasters.
He also highlighted that, in this context, SIECA participated in the II Regional Drill (MEG-REG/SICA) developed by CEPREDENAC on February 4 and 5, 2022, in coordination with the Customs Services of the region.
On that occasion, the SIECA provided technical assistance as administrator of the Central American Single Declaration Capture Computer Portal (DUCA) to generate and transmit the DUCA-T of relief shipments that must be used among the authorities of the countries that make up CEPREDENAC, who moved from their countries of origin to Guatemala.
Meanwhile, the SNational Civil Protection System of Panama generated a total of eight DUCA-T, four generated starting in Panama and destined for Guatemala and four starting in El Salvador and destined for Panama.
“The Regional Drill allowed us to measure the response, coordination and deployment capabilities of the region and its actions in response to emergencies in a manner that is integral to humanitarian assistance,” concluded SIECA.
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