Joint Environment Unit of the UN Environment and the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

The Joint Environment Unit of the UN Environment and the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (JEU) responds to environmental emergencies by coordinating international efforts and mobilizing partners to assist affected countries requesting assistance.

By pairing the environmental expertise of the UN Environment (UNEP) and the humanitarian response network coordinated by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), the JEU ensures an integrated approach in responding to environmental emergencies. More

The Secretariat collaborates with the JEU to provide emergency assistance in case of incidents occurring during a transboundary movement of hazardous wastes and other wastes and their disposal, including illegal traffic in those wastes, under the scope of the Basel Convention. For more information consult the Interim Guidelines for the implementation of decision V/32 on Enlargement of the scope of the technical cooperation trust fund.

In October 2016, the Secretariat extended the scope of its cooperation with the JEU by concluding a new letter of agreement to cover assistance in case of an emergency occurring in the framework of one or more of the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm conventions. The agreement covers cooperation to develop the capacity of Parties to prevent and respond to emergencies under the conventions, as part of the technical assistance programme of the Secretariat and according to the Interim Guidelines on emergency assistance under the Basel Convention.

To request Emergency Assistance:

In extremely urgent cases, the Duty System of the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs can be contacted 24 hours a day, 365 days a year:

Joint UNEP/OCHA Environment Unit
Emergency Services Branch
Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs
Palais des Nations - bureau D-119
CH 1211 Geneva 10
Switzerland
Tel: +41 22 917 2010 (OCHA Duty Officer, available 24/7)
Fax: +41 22 917 0023
E-Mail: ochaunep@un.org
Website: www.unocha.org/unep or www.eecentre.org

and / or

Secretariat of the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions
15, chemin des Anémones
1219 Châtelaine (Geneva), Switzerland
Tel: +41 22 917 82 12
Fax: +41 22 797 34 54
E-Mail: brs-mail@brsmeas.org
Website: www.basel.int
www.brsmeas.org