What is SEARHEF Response Stream? 

Floods, landslides, cyclones, earthquakes, and droughts affect countries in the WHO South-East Asia Region (SEAR) every year. As a result, hundreds of human lives are lost, people injured, property damaged, and livelihoods disrupted. In addition, complex humanitarian emergencies and outbreaks of infectious diseases often affect the Region. Moreover, country health systems in the Region face challenging financial circumstances even during regular times to run basic operations. Therefore, the ability to mobilize resources swiftly in the aftermath of disasters and crises is critical in minimizing deaths and suffering. Nevertheless, much-needed assistance often reaches ground zero of the disaster or emergency when the opportunity to save lives and reduce suffering has almost passed.  

The Member States of SEAR have devised an innovative strategy to bridge the gap between emergency needs and the arrival of formal disaster relief funding within health systems by launching the South-East Asia Regional Health Emergency Fund (SEARHEF).  

SEARHEF activities are organized under two streams: Response and Preparedness which are now merged. The SEARHEF Response Stream is expected to meet the immediate financial needs and fills critical gaps in an emergency. While complementing larger relief, long-term recovery, reconstruction, or rehabilitation work, SEARHEF has been a pioneer in the health emergency response in the Region.  

Some activities supported by the SEARHEF Response Stream include:  

Who can obtain SEARHEF response funding?  

Member States of the Region can obtain SEARHEF funds within 24 hours under any one of the following conditions:

• Declaration of a state of health emergency/disaster at national or sub-national level;
• Official request for external assistance by the national government;
• Response to a Public Health Emergency of International Concern or Pandemic;
• Scale-up operational readiness for imminent threats (geo-climatic, or others) by Member State authorities and WHO;
• Initiate critical activities to strengthen preparedness based on recommendations including but not limited Joint External Evaluations, Simulation exercises or Intra/ After Action Reviews; or National Action Plan for Health Security;
• Documented impending stock-outs of emergency lifesaving medical supplies

The requesting Member State is empowered to identify the best ways and means of spending the SEARHEF funding to suit the local response needs of the emergency.