Regional Office for the Middle East and North Africa (ROMENA)

Fast Facts

OCHA’s Regional Office for the Middle East and North Africa (ROMENA) covers more than 20 countries and territories. They have a combined population of 381 million people. The region spans two continents and is home to countries at markedly different stages of development, ranging from Israel, which ranked 15 out of 187 countries on the 2011 Human Development Index, to Yemen, which ranked a low 154. The region has suffered from endemic political and social tensions, and is home to about 8 million IDPs and refugees. Arab uprisings in 2011 across numerous countries led to increased humanitarian interventions to deliver aid and protect civilians in restrictive or highly insecure environments.

ROMENA’s focus in 2012 is to strengthen the international humanitarian system’s capacity to respond effectively to emergencies. While some countries are making progress in prioritizing disaster risk reduction, other countries struggle with a lack of resources or government capacity.  ROMENA will enhance collaboration with regional inter-governmental organizations, such as the League of Arab States (LAS) and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), to strengthen preparedness, particularly in countries with limited national disaster management capacities.
 

http://www.unocha.org/romena

* The boundaries and names shown and the designations used on all maps do not imply official endorsement or acceptance by the United Nations.