Dili, 3 June 2026 – The Cruz Vermelha de Timor-Leste (CVTL) successfully conducted a two-day Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) Workshop for Anticipatory Action and Emergency Response from 2–3 June 2026 at the CVTL National Headquarters in Formosa, Dili.
The workshop brought together 29 participants, including 13 branch coordinators and CVTL National Headquarters staff, comprising 12 women and 17 men. The event aimed to review and strengthen CVTL’s Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to enhance preparedness, anticipatory action, and emergency response at both national and municipal levels.
During the opening session, CVTL Secretary General Mr. Agapito Soares emphasized the importance of the workshop in improving operational readiness and coordination across the organization.
“Through learning sessions, technical discussions, and the sharing of experiences from our 13 branch coordinators and national-level staff, we are revising the SOP document to ensure that operational procedures can be effectively implemented at both national and municipal levels,” he said.
The opening ceremony was attended by Mr. Antonio Viegas, Chief of the Air Operations Unit as a representative of the Civil Protection Authority (APC), highlighting the importance of collaboration between humanitarian and government institutions in disaster preparedness and response.
The workshop was facilitated by Mr. Manish A. Tewani, Senior Response and Recovery Manager, Asia Pacific Division of the American Red Cross (AmCross), together with Mrs. Emidia Belo, CVTL Disaster Management Coordinator, Mr. Macario Lopes, Program Senior Officer from the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), and Mr. Agostinho dos Reis from the IFRC Climate Centre.
Participants engaged in technical discussions, practical learning sessions, and collaborative reviews of existing procedures to ensure that CVTL’s emergency response mechanisms remain effective, coordinated, and aligned with current humanitarian standards and climate-related risks.
The workshop was made possible through the support of the American Red Cross (AmCross) and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), reaffirming their commitment to strengthening disaster preparedness and response capacities in Timor-Leste.
