Country Spain Role Emergency management Part of Ministry of Defence Motto Para servir (To serve) Headquarters Torrejón Air Base Color Yellow | Allegiance King Felipe VI Size 3,987 (2008) Founded 2006 Branch Spanish Armed Forces Bomber Canadair CL-215 | |
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Active 11 April 2006 – present Similar Spanish Armed Forces, Spanish Army, Spanish Air Force, Spanish Royal Guard, Spanish Legion Profiles | ||
The Military Emergencies Unit (Spanish: Unidad Militar de Emergencias, UME; [uniˈðað miliˈtar ðe emerˈxenθjas]) is a branch of the Spanish Armed Forces responsible for providing disaster relief throughout Spain mainly, and abroad if required. It is the newest branch of the Spanish Armed Forces.
Contents
History
The decision to create the Military Emergencies Unit was agreed upon at a cabinet meeting of the Zapatero administration on October 7, 2005. This was enacted in law by the Real Decreto 416/2006 (Royal Decree 416/2006) on April 11, 2006.
Missions
- Intervention during emergencies that have their origin in natural hazards; among these are floods, spill-overs, earthquakes, land slides, large snow storms and other adverse weather conditions.
- Intervention fighting forest fires.
- Intervention during emergencies derived from technological hazards; among which are chemical, nuclear, radiological and biological hazards
- Intervention during emergencies as a consequence of terrorist attacks or illicit or violent acts, including those acts against critical infrastructures, dangerous installations or with nuclear, biological, radiological or chemical agents.
- Intervention during situations of environmental contamination.
- Intervention during any other emergency deemed appropriate by the Prime Minister of Spain.
Organisation
The UME consists of Headquarters (Unidad de Cuartel General, UCG), five emergency intervention battalions (Batallon de Intervención en Emergencias, BIEM), a support regiment (Regimiento de Apoyo a Emergencias, RAEM) and an aerial group (Agrupación de Medios Aéreos, AGRUMEDA)