FOREWORD Dear friends! I am proud to say that the Azerbaijan Red Crescent Society has left behind the 96th year of its humanitarian mission with honor. Our National Society acted as a strong humanitarian organization at the international level assisting vulnerable people not only in its own country’s territory, but also in abroad. That was possible due to the support of our state and nation. The year 2016 was characterized as the year of humanitarian crisis caused by natural disasters and conflicts. As in the past, this year also the National Society within the frame of the Movement’s fundamental principles has endeavored to solve humanitarian challenges and eliminate difficulties caused by humanitarian crises by taking over part of social concerns in our country. An escalation of tension in April 2016 in occupied Nagorno Garabakh and neighboring districts has made it necessary to make appropriate changes to our activity direction. Thus, immediately after April accidents we made visits to the fields and evaluated damage to property of civilians resulted from the armed conflict and assessed the arisen local needs there. The Azerbaijan Red Crescent Society has worked closely with Azerbaijan Delegation of the International Committee of the Red Cross in providing assistance to the affected people and in meeting their basic needs. With financial and technical support of Delegation of the ICRC in Azerbaijan our professionals trained communities residing in villages near to a front-line on safe behavior rules in crossfire and first aid skills. Communities were also provided with first aid kits. This assistance and support provided by Delegation of the ICRC in Azerbaijan was highly appreciated by both the National Society and population. Here I would like to particularly mention support provided by the National Red Crescent Societies of Turkey and the Islamic Republic of Iran which are constant partners of the Azerbaijan Red Crescent Society. Thus, thanks to humanitarian assistance of these National Societies a central warehouse of the AzRC was provided with tents. During the reporting period by fully using its capacity the Azerbaijan Red Crescent Society provided humanitarian assistance to vulnerable groups of population, people affected by natural and man-made disasters, internally displaced persons, refugees, migrants who came to our country, in short, to sensitive groups of population. The Azerbaijan Red Crescent Society also provided free of charge medical-social and other necessary services to these people. The National Society has endeavored to further extend a scope of its activity in order to provide at all times humanitarian assistance, necessary care and attention to the needy people in the name of humanity. For this purpose, the Azerbaijan Red Crescent Society has further strengthened its current partnership relations within the International Movement, as well as with governmental and non-governmental organizations. The National Society has taken appropriate steps towards new cooperation perspectives. Just, thanks to this mutual cooperation we are making significant progress in our activity. We also made visits to foreign countries, and the representatives of the National Societies of foreign countries made visits to our republic. In 2016, we held appropriate meetings with a director of Secretary General Office of the IFRC Mr.Jagan Chapagain and newly appointed head of the IFRC Europe Zone Office Dr.Simon Missiri and discussed an issue of providing necessary support to further humanitarian activities. In general, activity direction of our National Society was diverse as always. As it was in previous years, this year also the Azerbaijan Red Crescent Society paid particular attention to the development of humanitarian sector in the republic and encouraging people to the international humanitarian law. Youth and volunteers which are a backbone and driving force of the National Society have been on our focus as well. Significant steps were taken towards further expanding Volunteer Policy, involving youth and volunteers in humanitarian activities, as well as towards their education and development. The year 2016 may be assessed as one of successful years in activity of the Azerbaijan Red Crescent Society. The highest indicator of this success is the fact that the Azerbaijan Red Crescent Society took its worthy place among the first 50 National Societies with high results according to evaluation conducted by Compliance and Mediation Committee of the IFRC for 8 main indicators. This result clearly shows that our National Society is on the right track. I am sure that the Azerbaijan Red Crescent Society will maintain its image at a high level in the coming years, will successfully continue to achieve new achievements, will give its necessary contribution to solving problems facing people. In this respect, the National Society has developed its new strategic development plan for the years of 2016-2020. In addition, the National Society works on its new Statute in order to further strengthen its legal base. Thanks to the work and dedication of our staff members, volunteers, partners and donors the Azerbaijan Red Crescent Society has been able to assist vulnerable people and has become a place of hope for them. Here I would like to express my gratitude to everyone who worked together with us in the name of humanity and supported us in our work, governmental and non-governmental bodies, international organizations, our members and volunteers. I would particularly like to express my sincere gratitude to the President of Azerbaijan Republic and honorary member of the Azerbaijan Red Crescent Society Mr.Ilham Aliyev for his all-round support to activity of the Azerbaijan Red Crescent Society. Just thanks to care and attention provided by Mr.President our National Society has developed and become a reliable pillar of our State in the humanitarian area. Novruz Aslanov President of the Azerbaijan Red Crescent Society Member of the National Parliament DISASTER PREPAREDNESS AND RESPONSE Goal: According to a Strategic Plan of the Azerbaijan Red Crescent Society for the years 2016-2020, by mobilizing capacities of the Azerbaijan Red Crescent Society to be better prepared to disasters and crises in order to save human lives. Thus, to participate in rehabilitation activities carried out after the disasters occurred. Activities: In 2016, the Azerbaijan Red Crescent Society continued to provide humanitarian aid and psychological support to people affected by different disasters (such as an earthquake, a fire, a flood, a landslide and etc). In 2016, Disaster Preparedness and Response department of the Az.RC provided humanitarian aid in the amount of 22,392.54 manat to people affected in Khazar, Ismayilli, Agsu, Goygol regions, Nakhchevan Autonomous Republic by natural disasters, as well as to people affected in Goranboy, Terter and Agdam regions as a result of violation of cease-fire by Armenian armed forces on 2-6 April, 2016. 9 tents were distributed by the Headquarters of the Az.RC to Goranboy, Naftalan and Agdam district branches. In addition, for the purpose of disaster preparedness and response, 30 tents were given to Nakhchevan Autonomous Republic Committee of the Az.RC. In December 2016, Disaster Preparedness and Response department of the Az.RC with support of the International Committee of the Red Cross held a training-session for staff and volunteers of local branches of the Az.RC in front-line districts. Related with logistics: From January to December 2016, Disaster Preparedness and Response Department of the Az.RC distributed humanitarian aid including 7 mobile gas stoves, 24 bedding sets, 8 kitchen sets, 14 food parcels, 5 crow-bars, 5 axes, 5 saws, 9 hygienic sets, 8 pairs of rubber boots, 17 sleeping bags, 4 blankets, 4 mattresses and 52 tents to people affected in Khazar, Ismayilli, Agsu, Goygol regions, Nakhchevan Autonomous Republic by natural disasters, as well as to people affected in Goranboy, Terter and Agdam regions as a result of violation of cease-fire by Armenian armed forces on 2-6 April, 2016. In 2016, to be better prepared to respond to different natural disasters and emergency situations the Azerbaijan Red Crescent Society within the limits of its possibility purchased 70 bedding sets, 30 hygienic sets, 50 blankets, 30 mattresses and handed them over to the Central Warehouse of the Az.RC in Baku city. In addition, in June 2016, the Red Crescent Society of the Islamic Republic of Iran provided free of charge 300 tents to the Central Warehouse of the Az.RC in Baku city. Related with bilateral cooperation with partners: Throughout the year along with providing humanitarian aid to people affected by different natural disasters, the Azerbaijan Red Crescent Society, particularly the staff of Disaster Preparedness and Disaster Response department together with other partners actively participated in different events, meetings, seminars and trainings on disaster preparedness and response, disaster risk assessment and reduction. Within the framework of the planned Civil Defense Training Program and Prevention, Preparedness and Response to Natural and Man-made Disasters in the Eastern Partnership Countries Program (PPRD East 2) there was conducted Operational Management Training course (OPM 1) from the 26th of June to the 1st of July 2016 at the Danish Emergency Management College in Snekkersten city of Denmark. Candidates from the Southern Caucasus (Azerbaijan, Armenia and Georgia) countries as well as Belorussia, Moldova