With the aim of strengthening humanitarian and environmental response capabilities, the Brazilian Navy (MB) together with the National Bank for Economic and Social Development (BNDES) officially presented the Immediate Response Force for Environmental Disasters (FRIDA).
The announcement was made during the International Seminar on Humanitarian Operations and Disaster Response, held on November 13 and 14 on Governor’s Island, Rio de Janeiro.
The event, promoted by the PRÓ-DEFESA Program and coordinated by the Naval Nature Peace and Humanitarian Operations Center (COpPazNav), also included the signing of a cooperation agreement between the Brazilian Navy and the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), consolidating collaboration on an international level.
FRIDA: an amphibious and expeditionary force
The creation of FRIDA represents a milestone for the Brazilian Navy in the development of an amphibious, expeditionary, and rapid deployment force. It is intended to act in emergency situations and natural disasters.
Integrated into the Marine Corps, FRIDA combines:
- Logistical and rescue capabilities.
- Security functions.
- Humanitarian structure for high-complexity operations.
This advancement is part of the project “Prepare to Protect: Military Organizational Learning in Brazil in New Humanitarian Crisis Contexts”, implemented since 2024 within the framework of the PRÓ-DEFESA Program, in collaboration with Brazilian universities such as PUC-Rio, UFU, and UFRR.
First day: cooperation and operational deployment
During the first day, the General Commander of the Marine Corps, Admiral Carlos Chagas Vianna Braga, emphasized the importance of cooperation between the BNDES, the OCHA, and academic institutions to strengthen operational readiness.
“Today’s event has multiple purposes: to exchange experiences between military personnel, academics, and specialists, because there is always something to improve, as challenges constantly increase,” he stated.
The director of BNDES, Helena Tenório Veiga de Almeida, highlighted that this meeting represents “a civilizational milestone in building a national agenda of solidarity and coordinated action in the face of natural disasters”.
The first day included conferences on the Navy’s capabilities in humanitarian operations, such as the “Operation Refuge by Sea” and the recent action in the floods of Rio Grande do Sul. Rear Admiral Claudio Leite presented in detail the structure of FRIDA, explaining that the three pillars of disaster response are surveillance, alert, and action, and that FRIDA was created to effectively respond in this last stage.
Attendees toured the force’s facilities, with exhibitions of armored vehicles, field hospitals, and the new Coastal Landing Craft (LLN).
International cooperation and memorandum with the UN
The seminar featured the participation of representatives from OCHA, the European Commission (ECHO), and the Republic of Guyana, who shared experiences on regional humanitarian cooperation.
The closing of the first day was marked by the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the Brazilian Navy and OCHA, consolidating the country’s global projection in disaster management.
Second day: national operations and risk monitoring
The second day focused on humanitarian operations within Brazilian territory, with presentations on Operation Petrópolis (2022) and Operation Taquari (2024).
The researcher from the National Center for Monitoring and Alert of Natural Disasters (CEMADEN), Dr. Giovanni Dolif, explained the monitoring structure and the factors that determine regional risk, highlighting that “insignificant rain for one area can represent a serious threat for another”.
The closing was led by professor Kai Michael Kenkel, coordinator of the PRÓ-DEFESA V project, who addressed military organizational learning in the face of new humanitarian crisis scenarios.
“The cooperation between the Navy and universities allows for a comprehensive understanding of the country’s challenges, from Operation Taquari in the south to Operation Acolhida in the north,” he noted.
The presentation of FRIDA marks a decisive step in Brazil’s preparation to respond to environmental and humanitarian emergencies. With an amphibious, rapid, and expeditionary structure, and with academic and international support, the Brazilian Navy reinforces its role as a key player in disaster management and global cooperation.
