safety of un peacekeeping personnel

30-10-2012

SAFETY OF UN SAFETY OF UN PEACEKEEPING PEACEKEEPING

PERSONNELPERSONNEL

BE AWARE, NOT AFRAIDBE AWARE, NOT AFRAID

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““Huge package”Huge package”

HIV/AIDS in Peacekeeping and HIV/AIDS in Peacekeeping and Hygiene and Health PrecautionsHygiene and Health Precautions

Hostage ExperienceHostage Experience Land NavigationLand Navigation Landmine & UXO AwarenessLandmine & UXO Awareness Radio CommunicationsRadio Communications Driving + Road safetyDriving + Road safety Stress ManagementStress Management

MANDATORY MANDATORY SECURITY TRAININGSECURITY TRAINING

** Online ( UN Intranet)Online ( UN Intranet)Basic Security in the Field ( BSITF)Basic Security in the Field ( BSITF)Advance Security In the Field ( ASITF)Advance Security In the Field ( ASITF)

** Safe & Secure Approaches in Field Safe & Secure Approaches in Field Environments( SSAFE) Environments( SSAFE)

Only for UN Civilian staffs Only for UN Civilian staffs including UNV including UNV

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Security planSecurity planSecurity planSecurity plan Summaries of security situationSummaries of security situation

International staff and dependantsInternational staff and dependants

In-country areas and zonesIn-country areas and zones

Emergency communicationsEmergency communications

Coordination centres or Coordination centres or concentration pointsconcentration points

Safe havens, means of evacuationSafe havens, means of evacuation

Essential reserves and/or suppliesEssential reserves and/or supplies

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Kidnapping/hostage-Kidnapping/hostage-takingtaking

Violent robberies or Violent robberies or attacksattacks

Traffic accidentsTraffic accidents DiseasesDiseases AmbushAmbush Mines / UXOMines / UXO Car jackingCar jacking BanditryBanditry Sniper fireSniper fire

Common threatsCommon threatsCommon threatsCommon threats

UNITED NATIONS POLICY IN HOSTAGE INCIDENT SITUATION

• No ransom

• No prisoners for hostages

• No intervention with member states to make concessions

Car-jacking Darfur ( 2008-2010)UN and INGOs

Year Car-jackingRecovery Lost

2008 204 48 (24%)155(76%

)

2009 111 29 (26%)82 (74

%)

2010 45 11 (24%)34(76

%)

04/20/23 8

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In an accident or In an accident or breakdown:breakdown:

Stay calm, don’t panicStay calm, don’t panic

Avoid further damage by getting off Avoid further damage by getting off roadroad

Apply first aid, if requiredApply first aid, if required

Call for helpCall for help

Obtain police assistance, file a reportObtain police assistance, file a report

Wait for UN helpWait for UN help

• Mines / UXOMines / UXO

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Violent robberies or attacks

Minimum Operational ResidentialMinimum Operational ResidentialSecurity Standard (MORSS)Security Standard (MORSS)

Have you had your accommodation surveyed ?

Do you know where you leave ?

Fence/Concertina wire Lighting system Security guards

Window /bars

Doors /locks

Generator

Sniper FireSniper Fire Do Not:Do Not:

Stand by open windowsStand by open windows Leave curtains/blind open at Leave curtains/blind open at

nightnight Remain stationary for longer Remain stationary for longer

than neededthan needed Do:Do:

In buildings; take cover In buildings; take cover immediatelyimmediately

In vehicles moving; speed up and In vehicles moving; speed up and exitexit

In vehicles stationary; abandon In vehicles stationary; abandon and take coverand take cover

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Always be on the alertAlways be on the alert

Act in an organized mannerAct in an organized manner

Avoid routinesAvoid routines

Plan for the worstPlan for the worst

Carry your emergency run bag all Carry your emergency run bag all the time.the time.

Basic principlesBasic principles

Personal Security – General – Run BagsPersonal Security – General – Run Bags

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Understand emergency security Understand emergency security

proceduresprocedures

Rehearse fire safety drillsRehearse fire safety drills

Know how to use local phonesKnow how to use local phones

Carry coins or a local phone cardCarry coins or a local phone card

Remember emergency telephone numbersRemember emergency telephone numbers

Carry a radio,- keep it chargedCarry a radio,- keep it charged

Observe security regulationsObserve security regulations

Basic strategiesBasic strategies

Observe security Observe security regulationsregulations

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Understand emergency Understand emergency security proceduressecurity procedures

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Understand emergency Understand emergency security proceduressecurity procedures

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………………. basic strategies. basic strategies

Stay away from isolated areasStay away from isolated areas

Don’t follow same daily routineDon’t follow same daily routine

Don’t work late hours in officeDon’t work late hours in office

Don’t write name or address on Don’t write name or address on keyskeys

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Where you are goingWhere you are going

When you are leavingWhen you are leaving

When you are returningWhen you are returning

Know the areaKnow the area

When travelling, When travelling, always tell always tell

family or associates:family or associates:

And call them when you arrive!

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When walking or jogging:When walking or jogging: Be aware & alertBe aware & alert

Carry only what you needCarry only what you need

Walk in the open- away from hiding Walk in the open- away from hiding placesplaces

Do not use earphones when Do not use earphones when walking/joggingwalking/jogging

Use the “buddy system”, NOT Use the “buddy system”, NOT ALONEALONE!!

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Approach a vehicle to answer Approach a vehicle to answer questionsquestions

Hitch-hike or accept rides from Hitch-hike or accept rides from strangersstrangers

Walk alone at nightWalk alone at night

Talk to strangers at nightTalk to strangers at night

Take shortcuts through isolated areasTake shortcuts through isolated areas

Don’t:Don’t:

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When being followed:When being followed:

Get to safety — to the police,Get to safety — to the police,fire department, UN/AU fire department, UN/AU office,office,public areapublic area

Tell someone you need help!Tell someone you need help!

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Hotel accommodationHotel accommodation Stay where security is goodStay where security is good

Ask for a room near the elevatorAsk for a room near the elevator

Keep door locked & close Keep door locked & close curtainscurtains

Get & use a rubber doorstopGet & use a rubber doorstop

Locate emergency escape routesLocate emergency escape routes

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Get written authorizationGet written authorization

Update yourself on security Update yourself on security situationsituation

Inform about your travel plansInform about your travel plans

Prepare your personal checklistPrepare your personal checklist

Calculate distances, sectorsCalculate distances, sectors

Check communications equipmentCheck communications equipment

Pre-departure prepPre-departure prep

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Never travel alone — use the buddy Never travel alone — use the buddy systemsystem

Go in convoy, if possibleGo in convoy, if possible

Check your vehicle.Check your vehicle.

Know local emergency action proceduresKnow local emergency action procedures

Make periodic contact with officeMake periodic contact with office

Take a guide or escort if in doubtTake a guide or escort if in doubt

Take no hitch-hikers!Take no hitch-hikers!

More prepMore prep

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At checkpoints:At checkpoints: Stop if directedStop if directed Reduce speed, lower headlights,Reduce speed, lower headlights,

turn on interior lightturn on interior light Window down no more than 1 Window down no more than 1

inchinch Be aware of hand movements Be aware of hand movements Ask permission to do anythingAsk permission to do anything Be friendly, courteousBe friendly, courteous Understanding a bit of local Understanding a bit of local

language language

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At checkpointsAt checkpoints Show your ID if asked — Show your ID if asked — do not do not

surrender itsurrender it

Stay in vehicle unless ordered outStay in vehicle unless ordered out

Observe any search of vehicleObserve any search of vehicle

Protest removal of personal items Protest removal of personal items (Don’t resist)(Don’t resist)

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If taken hostage:If taken hostage:

SurviveSurvive Report incident as soon as possibleReport incident as soon as possible HIJACK-HIJACK-HIJACK!HIJACK-HIJACK-HIJACK! RememberRemember

Be calm and co-operative but do Be calm and co-operative but do not collaborate not collaborate

Escape?Escape? USE YOUR COMMON SENSEUSE YOUR COMMON SENSE

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What is your priority?What is your priority?

Personal belongings/moneyPersonal belongings/money

MandateMandate

Your lifeYour life

ConclusionConclusion

Observe security Observe security regulationsregulations

Respect local cultureRespect local culture Eat wellEat well Medical checksMedical checks Observe traffic regulations.Observe traffic regulations.

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THANK YOU!THANK YOU!COMMENTS?COMMENTS?

Questions?Questions?

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