Consular emergency preparedness of the Swedish Foreign Service – equipped for effective action?

In connection with the tsunami disaster in South East Asia in 2004 major deficiencies were revealed in the organisation of the Swedish Foreign Service’s consular emergency preparedness. However, this preparedness has improved since and the embassies are better equipped for future consular crises. The competence has been enhanced, and the organization for a potential crisis situation has a clear division of responsibility, as well as an emergency duty roster. Many Swedish embassies should however, plan for more regular and frequent emergency training than what is the case today.