Issues in Disaster Response

 

As the Lessons Learnt from the 2007 Teso Floods showed, disaster response can always be improved.

Day 2 of the workshop focused on reviewing standards and other related issues in disaster response, in order to plan better responses in the future. This was followed by the development of inputs for the Uganda Disater Preparedness Plan

Lessons Learnt from the 2007 Teso Floods

Presentation by Ms Beatrice Lakot, OCHA Uganda

Unusually heavy rainfall from July to November 2007 led to flooding and water-logging across a number of districts in eastern and northern Uganda, giving rise to a major humanitarian response across all sectors.

The Lessons Learnt workshop, held in Soroti in January 2008, aimed to learn lessons from the 2007 floods response, and determine priorities for disaster risk reduction in relation to potential future floods in Uganda.

The main lessons learnt were the following:

1. Coordination must include all actors, and the DMCs must be given the necessary resources to lead overall coordination of the disaster response

2. Strong rapid assessments are critical to ensure a timely and effective disaster response

3. Funding for recovery activities is equally important as funding for emergency programmes.

4. Government funding for emergency response is critical, but procedures to access such funds by the districts could be simplified to improve the timeliness of the response.

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5. Clusters with members already working in the flood-affected areas were at an advantage, however the willingness of other actors to move into the area on short notice was also a key contributor to the success of the emergency response

6. Adoption of a human rights based approach would have benefited the planning and response to the emergency

7. Opportunities for mitigating disaster risk by reducing vulnerabilities should be prioritised, in order to reduce the potential negative impact of future flooding

8. Early warning systems could play a major role in risk monitoring and triggering a timely response to future flood disasters

9. A stronger focus on reinforcing community coping capacities would improve future responses

10. Stronger linkages with private sector actors are required to ensure that the response is coordinated and common strategies and standards are applied

11. Activation of the logistics cluster was critical to the success of the first phase of the response

12. Adherence to common criteria in the identification of affected population and the use of quality control mechanisms support equitable humanitarian assistance to all those in need

The full report is available here

 

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The Hyogo Framework for Action Indicator Package

Presentation by Ms Jenty Kirsch-Wood, OCHA Disaster and Vulnerability Policy, Geneva

Situates disaster preparedness within a holistic risk reduction framework.

Provides overview of the institutional and legislative frameworks that must be in place to support disaster preparedness.

Outlines key steps essential for developing a national disaster preparedness capability

Highlights the critical role that contingency planning and capacity analysis can play in strengthening preparedness.

Underlines essential elements for an effective response, including:

Establishment and maintenance of early warning systems

Stand-by capacities and effective funding mechanisms.

Stresses the need for to integrate early-recovery analysis into preparedness planning

Click here for the full document

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Sphere Standards

 

Presentation by Mr Johnson Byamukama, Concern Worldwide Uganda

 

The Sphere Project was launched in 1997 by a group of humanitarian NGOs and the Red Cross and Red Crescent movement. (the word Sphere was chosen to suggest universality)

Based on the Humanitarian Charter, which describes the core principles that govern humanitarian action and reasserts the right of populations affected natural or man made disasters to protection and assistance – Both form a framework for accountability in assistance efforts

Sphere is three aspects: a handbook, a broad process of collaboration and an expression of commitment to quality and accountability

Its Objective: To improve the quality of assistance provided to people affected by disaster and to enhance the accountability of the humanitarian system in disaster response.

www.sphereproject.org

For a copy of the handbook click here

Minimum Standards in Education in Emergencies, Chronic Crises and Early Reconstruction

Presentation by Dr Gary Ovington, UNICEF and Education Cluster Coordinator

Launched in 2004, the INEE Minimum Standards for Education in Emergencies, Chronic Crises and Early Reconstruction represent the first global tool to define a minimum level of education access and quality

The INEE Minimum Standards present a global framework for coordinated action to enhance the quality of educational preparedness and response, increase access to safe and relevant learning opportunities, and ensure humanitarian accountability in providing these services

The standards represent rights and commitments as well as consensus on good practices and lessons learnt across the field of education and protection in emergencies and post-crisis recovery

For a copy of the MSEE, click here

 

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Human Rights Based Approach

 

Presentation by Ms Priscilla Ciesay, OHCHR

The 7 Core Principles in the IASC HR and Natural Disaster Guidelines of 2006

I. Persons affected by natural disasters should enjoy the same rights and freedoms under human rights law as others in their country and not be discriminated against. Targeted measures to address assistance and protection needs of specific categories of affected populations do not constitute discrimination if, and to the extent that, they are based on differing needs.

II. States have the primary duty and responsibility to provide assistance to persons affected by natural disasters and to protect their human rights.

III. Organizations providing protection and assistance to persons affected by natural disasters accept that human rights underpin all humanitarian action. In situations of natural disaster they should therefore respect the human rights of persons affected by disasters at all times and advocate for their promotion and protection to the fullest extent. Humanitarian organizations shall not promote, actively participate in, or in any other manner contribute to, or endorse policies or activities, which do or can lead to human rights violations by States. They shall strive to enable the affected people to exercise their own rights.

IV. Organizations providing protection and assistance in situations of natural disasters shall be guided by these Operational Guidelines in all of their activities, in particular when monitoring and assessing the situation and needs of affected persons, when programming and implementing their own activities as well as when entering into a dialogue with governmental authorities on the State's duties and responsibilities under international human rights and, where applicable, international humanitarian and refugee law. In doing so, they shall remain accountable to all of their relevant stakeholders, in particular to the persons affected by the natural disaster.

V. All communities affected by the natural disaster should be entitled to easy accessible information concerning: (a) the nature and level of disaster they are facing; (b) the possible risk mitigation measures that can be taken; (c) early warning information; and (d) information on ongoing humanitarian assistance, recovery efforts and their respective entitlements. They should be meaningfully consulted and given the opportunity to take charge of their own affairs to the maximum extent possible and to participate in the planning and implementation of the various stages of the disaster response.

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VI. These Operational Guidelines seek to improve the practical implementation of international instruments protecting human rights. They shall not be interpreted as restricting, modifying or impairing the provisions of international human rights or, where applicable, international humanitarian and refugee law. They should be applied together with other relevant Codes of Conduct, Guidelines and Manuals.

VII. Organizations providing protection and assistance in situations of natural disasters shall endeavor to have adequate mechanisms established to ensure that the Operational Guidelines are applied and that the human rights of the affected are protected.

For a copy of the assessment conducted by OHCHR following the Teso Floods response in 2007, click here

 

Other related documents: IASC Operational Guidelines on Human Rights and Natural Disasters the IASC Gender Handbook and the 7 core principles.

Oxfam's Disaster Preparedness Programme

Presentation by Mr Felix Omumu, Oxfam GB - Uganda

Oxfam is undertaking a disaster preparedness and contingency planning project initially

The aim is to reduce the impact of disasters through better preparedness and response of Oxfam International and partners

Once this is underway we can then, at a later stage look at longer term DRR approaches, particularly in livelihoods and mainstreaming.

Capacity Building in Disaster Preparedness

Presentation by Ms Ines Brill, OCHA Emergency Preparedness Section, Geneva

CADRI aims at advancing knowledge and practices for development of sustainable disaster risk reduction capacities in high-risk countries for Governments and the UN system and serves as the vehicle through which ISDR, OCHA and UNDP/BCPR can achieve a more synergistic approach to disaster risk management

CADRI bases its work on multi-stakeholders dialogue processes which includes clarification of the demand, identification of the needs, assessment of capacities and provision of specific services for capacity enhancement, such as:

Capacity development planning, disaster risk reduction training design, support for organizing multi-stakeholder events, services to enhance organizational networking and collaboration.

To support these services, CADRI also develops guidance, learning materials, methodological tools and resources on capacity development.

www.unisdr.org/cadri/index.html

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