Disaster risk reduction, emergency relief and reconstruction

Services

Contact the responsible Swiss representation or consulate when you want to register or unregister as a resident, when you need a new passport, have moved or wish to apply for citizenship. The entire selection of services offered can be found in the dropdown menu to the right. The contact details of the responsible Swiss representation are shown on the corresponding page.

Swiss citizens who get into difficulties abroad, also can ask for advice and help from the Swiss representative.

The magazine for the Swiss Abroad appears six times a year and provides information about what is happening at home and the activities of Swiss associations abroad. It also answers administrative questions.

Online desk FDFA

Using the FDFA’s online consular services while abroad.

The relevant Swiss representation abroad can answer any questions concerning the FDFA’s online desk.

SDC in India is engaged in Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) and provides capacity building for preparedness/response and needs-based support in case of emergency events. SDC supports national government and Himalayan states’ institutions to increase people’s resilience against climate change. A milestone of this collaboration was the development of the first Guidelines for Management of Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs) published in collaboration with the National Disaster Management Authority.

In 2003, the Governments of Switzerland and India signed the ‘Cooperation in the event of disaster’ framework agreement. This paved the way for a close collaboration towards capacity building of India’s Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) units. From 2008 to 2017, SDC supported the Indian National Disaster Response Forces (NDRF) and the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) on management and operational leadership, training methodology, search, rescue and medical operations, logistics, canine search and advice for the design of training grounds. In 2024, SDC is supporting the NDRF for international classification under international standards of INSARAG (International Search and rescue Advisory Group).

In case of an emergency event, SDC is prepared for a “rapid response” action. Through its regional advisor for rapid response based in New Delhi and experts from Switzerland, SDC can rapidly mobilise emergency assistance through expertise, equipment or financial support to save human lives, alleviate suffering and assist most affected victims.