Guyana set to host major regional disaster response simulation

…event to bolster regional flood emergency readiness, civil-military coordination

Guyana is set to host MECODEX 2025—the Mechanism for Disaster Cooperation Exercise—a high-level regional simulation aimed at enhancing preparedness for flood-related emergencies across the Americas. The event will take place from 19 to 22 May 2025 at the Pegasus Hotel and Corporate Centre in Georgetown.
MECODEX is being organised in collaboration with the Inter-American Defence Board (IADB) and Guyana’s Civil Defence Commission (CDC). The simulation will bring together disaster response professionals, military representatives, and humanitarian agencies to test and evaluate coordinated response protocols within the context of a realistic, large-scale flood scenario.
“This is more than just a drill,” said Lt Col Mark Thomas, Deputy Director General of the CDC. “It is a strategic opportunity to strengthen inter-agency coordination, evaluate our response mechanisms, and build the confidence of those entrusted with safeguarding lives during disasters.”
CDC Director General Colonel Nazrul Hussain highlighted the significance of the event for Guyana’s national readiness and international profile. “To host the leadership of the Inter-American Defence Board is a great honour, and augurs well for our civil-military coordination. We welcome the foreign delegations and look forward to a successful exercise here in Guyana.”
MECODEX 2025 falls under the umbrella of the Organisation of American States (OAS) and the Conference of Defence Ministers of the Americas (CDMA). The IADB, which acts as the permanent secretariat of MECODEX, plays a key role in ensuring the exercise reflects international best practices in disaster risk management.
Colonel José Carlos Diaz Torres of Brazil emphasised the technical tools that will support the simulation, including SICODE, a scenario-planning platform developed by Brazil’s Military Institute of Engineering. “Platforms like SICODE allow participating countries to simulate real-world challenges and fine-tune their response protocols. This exercise is strictly humanitarian in nature and underscores the value of regional preparedness,” he stated.
Meanwhile, Colonel Glauco Dos Santos Cândido, also of Brazil, underscored the collaborative ethos behind the effort. “MECODEX reflects our shared commitment to improving humanitarian assistance mechanisms so that, when disaster strikes, aid can be delivered swiftly, respectfully, and in full coordination with national authorities,” he noted.
This year’s event marks the fourth iteration of MECODEX. It was first conducted as a virtual tabletop exercise in 2022, followed by in-person events in Ecuador (2023) and Peru (2024).
The opening ceremony will take place on the afternoon of Monday, May 19, and will feature addresses from national officials, international delegates, and senior military leaders from across the hemisphere.