DRTF - Disaster Relief Task Force

The Disaster Relief Task Force (DRTF), Fund and website of ICOM were first created by ICOM President to provide assistance to museums damaged by the 2004 tsunami. ICOM has then extended the task force missions to worldwide activities, including manmade disasters such as war. DRTF assists ICOM in reacting more swiftly to crisis, once recovery needs of cultural and natural heritage institutions have been addressed. Since 2005, ICOM Secretariat and DRTF have monitored 28 natural disasters, 3 wars and 7 conflicts (in total:38). ICOM operates also in disaster relief through the International Committee of the Blue Shield (ICBS).

The objectives of the Disaster Relief Task Force are as follows:

• Collect information on museums affected by major natural and human made disasters;
• Promote and co-ordinate disaster relief, if a disaster exceeds national response capacities;
• Convert the solidarity and offers of assistance of the international museum community into bilateral activities;
• Administrate the Disaster Relief for Museums Fund to provide assistance to theses institutions;
• Broadcast public awareness campaigns in the media;
• Elaborate long term capacity building of expert knowledge, practice and regional networks.