INTERNATIONAL SEMINAR ON COORDINATION IN EMERGENCY RESPONSE MANAGEMENT

Mechanisms and Experiences in Coordinating International Assistance

15 October 2018, Jogjakarta

Oliver Lacey-Hall

Head – OCHA Indonesia/ASEAN Liaison

• Global Humanitarian Action and Needs

• Underpinning principles

• The United Nations system and the (so-called) international humanitarian system

• Emerging paradigm in Asia

• A changing humanitarian landscape in Asia

• INSARAG – a primer

Introduction

For 2018:

Financial requirements are growing year on year

….and many crises are not “new”

Key Points

HUMANITY

Human suffering must be addressed

wherever it is found, with particular

attention to the most vulnerable in the

population, such as children, women and

the elderly. The dignity and rights of all victims must be

respected and protected

NEUTRALITY

Humanitarian assistance must be provided without

engaging in hostilities or taking sides in controversies of a

political, religious or ideological nature.

IMPARTIALITY

Humanitarian assistance must be provided without

discriminating as to ethnic origin, gender, nationality, political

opinions, race or religion. Relief of the

suffering must be guided solely by needs

and priority must be given to the most

urgent cases of distress.

• Humanitarian action must be autonomous from the political, economic, military or other objectives that any actor may hold with regard to areas where humanitarian action is being implemented

INDEPENDENCE

Humanitarian Principles – Universally Acknowledged

The United Nations System

OSGOffice for the Secretary General

OIOSOffice of Internal Oversight Services

OLAOffice of Legal Affairs

DPADepartment of Political Affairs

DDADepartment for Disarmament Affairs

DPKODepartment of Peacekeeping Operations

OCHAOffice for the Coordination of Humanitarian AffairsDESADepartment of Economic and Social Affairs

DGAACSDepartment of General Assembly Affairs and Conference Services

DPIDepartment of Public Information

DMDepartment of Management

DSS

Department for Safety and Security

UNOG - United Nations Office at Geneva

UNOV - United Nations Office at Vienna

UNON - United Nations Office at Nairobi

Secretariat

25%

25%

50%

United Nations Red Cross/Red Crescent NGO

United Nations

25%

Red Cross/ Red

Crescent25%

NGO50%

A wide and sometimes tense partnership of civilian actors, national or international, UN or non-UN, Governmental or non-governmental who have a commitment to humanitarian principles and are engaged

in humanitarian activities.

The International Humanitarian Community

In support of nationally-led disaster and crisis management – Governments and Civil Society

Key Developments in the International Humanitarian System

Year Event

1971 General Assembly Resolution 2814 creates UN Disaster Relief Office (UNDRO) in Geneva

1991 GA Resolution 46/182 to strengthen UN response to disasters and emergencies - Emergency Relief Coordinator role established - USG for Humanitarian Affairs created (also ERC)- Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC) created - Consolidated Appeals process established - Central Emergency Revolving Fund created ($50m)- UN Dept of Humanitarian Affairs established.

2005 UN Sec-Gen introduces humanitarian reforms to enhance predictability, accountability and partnerships for humanitarian action

• CERF upgraded to $500m• Clusters created

2011 IASC organisations agree on a set of transformative actions to improve the international humanitarian response system

2016 World Humanitarian Summit and the adoption of the Agenda for HumanityGlobal humanitarian appeal tops US$20 billion for the first time

2018 As at mid-September Global Humanitarian Appeal for 2018 is 41% funded. Asia is leading the next phase of change in the international humanitarian system (?)

• Responsibility for disaster response lies with the affected country.

• Speed of response must be paramount.

• Most relief work following a disaster is carried by the affected population and national authorities.

• All international and regional assistance is in support of national authorities - on request or acceptance of an offer only.

• That includes for Search and Rescue: selected, targeted requests are normal (e.g. Japan and New Zealand (2011)).

• The UN General Assembly has mandated the Emergency Relief Coordinator (ERC) to direct & coordinate international response.

Tenets of International Disaster Response

Asia

• The definitive guide to international and regional tools and services.

• Produced by OCHA in 2013 and updated this year.

•

Can be downloaded here:

• https://www.unocha.org/sites/unocha/files/ROAP_DisasterGuide.pdf

• Largely middle-income countries –implications for external resourcing and engagement

• Growing capacity/political will among governments to lead, especially with renewed focus from HFA and SFDRR

• Robust legal frameworks for disaster management

• Welcoming rather than requesting assistance

• Increasing involvement/capacity of regional organisations (e.g. ASEAN, SAARC etc.).

• International role to augment national/regional capacity only when needed

• Identified value-added – speed and volume

Disaster Preparedness and Response in Asia and the Pacific

Disaster Response Dialogue Global Meeting: Feedback from the Philippines Minister for

Social Welfare

• Deficiency in Trust – unclear on what activation of the “L3 protocol” meant

• Lack of Context – rapid change of humanitarian leadership in the country confused stakeholders.

• The money – lack of transparency on resource receipts and flows made expectation management complicated.

Typhoon Haiyan - 2013

Lombok Earthquake – 2017

• Incoming international assistance may burden already stretched national systems incl. customs and immigration, and may trigger surges of personnel to help manage it from outside;

• Immediate post-disaster humanitarian assistance items available in-country and can be mobilized by national actors (including national chapters of international NGOs).

• Specifically for this disaster there were possible social implications.

• But limited technical assistance from national staff with a specific scope of work was welcomed.

• ASEAN deployed its ERAT team – in learning mode, and issued regular public situation updates.

Indonesia – some pointers on international support - Lombok

Indonesian Government information on international support - Palu

30/9 • Governor of Central Sulawesi Province declares emergency response period for 14 days

1/10 • Government of Indonesia welcomes offer of international assistance. • AHA Centre mandated to support BNPB in coordinating the offers of assistance• ASEAN – ERAT team arrives in Palu

2/10 • MOFA issues Note Verbal to confirm international assistance acceptance and indicates four priorities for international response (i) air transportation, (ii) tents (shelter), (iii) water treatment, (iv) generators - and that bilateral financial contributions should go through BNPB, while financial contributions from private sector / international NGOs should go through PMI

• BNPB and MOFA announce Balikpapan as the staging point for incoming assistance at the AHA Centre daily meeting

2/10 • UNDAC team deploys to Palu with the agreement of BNPB, embeds with ERAT team

5/10 • BNPB issues written confirmation that foreign USAR and EMTs not requested

6/10 • MOFA issues instructions regarding foreign staff operating in Sulawesi

11/10 • MOFA announces creation of a task force to respond to offers of assistance and clarifies Government position on foreign NGOs and aid workers

• BNPB announces the end of Search and Rescue (SAR) operations

12/10 • Governor of Central Sulawesi Province announces the extension of the emergency response period until 26 October

• Largely middle-income countries –implications for external resourcing and engagement

• Growing capacity/political will among governments to lead, especially with renewed focus from HFA and SFDRR

• Robust legal frameworks for disaster management

• Welcoming rather than requesting assistance

• Increasing involvement/capacity of regional organisations (e.g. ASEAN, SAARC etc.).

• International role to augment national/regional capacity only when needed – especially on coordination

• Identified value-added – speed, volume and technical support to national leadership – ideally through national staff

Disaster Preparedness and Response in Asia and the Pacific

• Global system

• National focal points – BASARNAS for Indonesia

• Created after the 1988 SpitakEarthquake in Armenia

• Is governed by a General Assembly resolution (57/150)

• Gave birth to UNDAC

• Continues to grow – with significant interest in Asia

• Expression of solidarity between nations.

Search and Rescue – INSARAG

Search and Rescue – INSARAG

• Render emergency preparedness and response activities more effective and thereby save more lives, reduce suffering and minimize adverse consequences.

• Improve efficiency in cooperation among international USAR teams working in collapsed structures at a disaster site.

• Promote activities designed to improve search-and-rescue preparedness in disaster-prone countries, thereby prioritizing developing countries.

• Develop internationally accepted procedures and systems for sustained cooperation between national USAR teams operating on the international scene.

• Develop USAR procedures, guidelines and best practices, and strengthen cooperation between interested organizations during the emergency relief phase.

International Cooperation – INSARAG

“As the UN, we are ready to support the government; we already have people on the ground. But the leadership must always be the leadership of the government of the country and the international community needs to be

supportive of that effort.”

UN Secretary-General, Antonio Gutteres – 12 October in Palu

INSARAG mean solidarity in the face of disaster

INSARAG means neighbour helping neighbour

INSARAG means learning through deployment

INSARAG means predictable, certified, qualified support

INSARAG needs quick clear and predictable decision-making – life or death scenario

Disaster-prone Asian Member States are a large component of the network – but SAR must be used to be useful

INSARAG – A Partnership of Equals

Thank you