Links

2005: Year of Disasters [PDF]

Oxfam New Zealand, October 2005. 2005 has been a year of disasters. The international response has been characterized by televised suffering of the survivors of South Asia's earthquake and the tsunami, driving great generosity. But it has also been characterised by the continuing failure of governments to provide timely, sufficient aid to those, largely in Sub Saharan Africa, who suffer equally but less visibly.

http://www.oxfam.org.nz/imgs/pdf/world%20disasters%20report.pdf

(Added: Mon Oct 31 2005   Modified: Fri Jul 14 2006   Hits: 254)

A Bridge Too Far: Aid Agencies and the Military in Humanitarian Response (PDF)

(ReliefWeb) Author(s): Jane Barry with Anna Jefferys, Source: Humanitarian Practice Network, Publication date: January 2002, File type: PDF, Size: 173 KB. With military forces increasingly involved in humanitarian assistance and its effect on humanitarian space in terms of principle, policy and operational questions, this paper examines key issues concerning the roles of humanitarian actors and military forces. The following issues are discussed: the politics of peace operations; the humanitarian perspective; towards a framework for civil-military relations. In addition, the paper puts forward recommendations to further dialogue and guide policy and practice for humanitarian agencies and the international community as a whole.

http://www.reliefweb.int/w/lib.nsf/WebPubDocs/D6AD9850025B54A8C1256C6700484ED1?OpenDocument

(Added: Fri Jan 17 2003   Modified: Thu Jun 29 2006   Hits: 356)

A Tale of 4 Diagrams: Disaster Risk Reduction in an Increasingly Complex World [PDF]

Produced by Torqaid of Australia, this article, which is built around 4 diagrams, shows how effective disaster risk management (DRM) ideally can take place in both developing and developed countries. The initial diagram (the Disaster Risk Management Cycle = DRMC), shows that for most medium to fast onset disasters (such as Cyclone Nargis in Myanmar), these normally go through recognizable Normal/Risk Reduction, Emergency Response and Recovery Stages. The second diagram (Comprehensive Disaster Risk Reduction) shows that effect Risk Reduction ideally depends upon four complementary parameters, namely Security & Good Governance; Economic & Social Development (with a strong emphasis on Poverty Reduction); Environmental Sustainability/Climate Change Adaptation (CCA); and Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR). The third diagram (Disaster Risk Management Planning), shows that effective planning needs to be carried out by governments at national, state/provincial, and district levels, with all this being complemented at sub-district level by Risk Reduced Development Projects (RRDPS) - often called Community Based Disaster Risk Management (CBDRM), which tends to be the focus of NGOs. The final diagram (the Project Management Cycle = PMC), shows that in addition to development projects, this diagram can be a useful basis for planning, implementing and evaluation projects in the Recovery and Risk Reduction stages of a humanitarian disaster.

http://www.torqaid.com/images/stories/4_diagrams__3.pdf

(Added: Thu May 08 2008   Hits: 17)

After the Cameras Have Gone: Children and Disasters [PDF]

Plan International. Edited by Amer Jabry, Second edition: January 2005. Children are the most photographed and least listened to victims of disasters. As the tsunami relief effort moves from rescue to rebuilding and the global community is reflecting on what should happen 'after the cameras have gone', we are re-printing this report on the long-term effect of disasters on children. The report demonstrates that the protection of children and their right to participate in decisions made about their future will be overlooked if patterns of previous disasters are followed. This research shows that during a disaster the physical survival needs of children including, safe water, food, shelter, clothing and primary health care are usually given a very high priority. However, other needs and rights, which are also essential for children, like protection from abuse and harm, education, rest, privacy and the right to participate in matters that affect them are too often overlooked. Yet, as child traffickers try to profit from the tumult and whole communities are traumatised and in shock, children are at risk. The protection and psychological, as well as physical, recovery of children should be a leading feature of every stage of any disaster response.

http://www.plan-uk.org/pdfs/Children.pdf

(Added: Mon Nov 14 2005   Modified: Fri Jul 14 2006   Hits: 376)

Australian Emergency Management Forum (AEMF)

This forum has been designed as an Internet based meeting place, where anyone involved in emergency management can discuss matters of mutual interest in an open environment.

http://www.csu.edu.au/faculty/arts/sslib/aemf/

(Added: Tue Feb 19 2002   Modified: Wed Mar 26 2008   Hits: 425)

Beneficiary Rights - Essential, Not Optional

Aid Workers Exchange, By Erik Johnson (with assistance from Elly Proudlock). How do you ensure that the rights of people affected by disaster are respected - particularly when dealing with national governments?

http://www.aidworkers.net/?q=node/274

(Added: Thu Nov 03 2005   Modified: Mon Sep 11 2006   Hits: 339)

Center for International Disaster Information

Since 1988 VITA's Center for International Disaster information has handled hundreds of thousands of public inquiries related to international emergencies. The Center, operated under a grant from the United States Agency for International Development's Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance and initial support from IBM, has become a valuable resource to the public, as well as US government agencies, foreign embassies and international corporations.

http://www.cidi.org/

(Added: Fri Mar 08 2002   Modified: Fri Jul 14 2006   Hits: 553)

Civil-Military Relationship in Complex Emergencies - An IASC Reference Paper (pdf)

(ReliefWeb) 28 June 2004. This paper has thus been prepared, with the overall goal of enhancing the understanding of civil- military relations, including the difficulties and limitations of such relations. While numerous complicated questions arise out of this relationship, what remains vital for the humanitarian community is to develop a clear awareness of the nature of this relation, as well as a common understanding on when and how as well as how not to coordinate with the military in fulfilling humanitarian objectives.

http://www.reliefweb.int/library/documents/2004/ocha-civmil-28jun.pdf

(Added: Thu Aug 26 2004   Modified: Fri Jul 14 2006   Hits: 474)

Disaster Management Ethics (PDF)

UNDP Disaster Management Training Programme, 1997. Module edited by: Eva Jenson, InterWorks. The Disaster Management Ethics module addresses some of the ethical issues and dilemmas faced by the humanitarian assistance community as it seeks to respond to human need in the context of natural and human-caused disasters. The format simulates a discussion which aims to foster conversation and interaction. It brings together the voices of fifteen practitioners and scholars to discuss five ethical issues in humanitarian assistance. While no collection of papers can adequately present a truly global perspective, it is hoped that the differences and conflicts in values and questions presented here hold promise for new understanding.

http://www.crid.or.cr/crid/PDF/Docs.%20PDF/M%C3%B3dulos%20DMTP/Ethics_DMTP.pdf

(Added: Thu Aug 28 2003   Modified: Fri Jul 14 2006   Hits: 601)

Disaster News Network

Disaster News Network (DNN) is a news service that tells the story of disaster response and suggests appropriate ways the public can help survivors. It also facilitates information sharing among disaster responders. It is produced by Disaster News Network Inc., a not-for-profit organization founded in early 1996 to create content for social justice-related Web sites.

http://www.disasternews.net/

(Added: Mon Jul 30 2001   Modified: Fri Jul 14 2006   Hits: 330)

Empirical Forecasting of Slow-Onset Disasters for Improved Emergency Response: An Application to Kenya's Arid Lands

The report on the model developed by economists working with data collected in Kenya's northern arid districts to predict severe child malnutrition - an indicator of famine - at least three months in advance.

http://www.ilri.org/Link/Publications/Publications/Theme%201/Pastoral%20conference/Papers/Mude_ForecastingforImprovedEmergencyResponse_May05.pdf

(Added: Fri Oct 12 2007   Hits: 83)

Flood Recovery Innovation and Response 2008 (2 - 3 July, London, UK)

The International Conference on Flood Recovery Innovation and Response, FRIAR 2008, aims to bring together researchers and practitioners who are actively involved in the repair, reinstatement and resilience of flood damaged property. The goal of the conference is to identify and disseminate good practice in flood repair, reinstatement and flood management. The meeting will also cover research into appropriate flooding and property issues aiming to develop critical perspectives on the impact of flooding.

http://www.wessex.ac.uk/conferences/2008/friar08/index.html

(Added: Wed Feb 27 2008   Modified: Fri Feb 29 2008   Hits: 82)

Guidelines for emergency management in culturally & linguistically diverse communities

This Emergency Management Australia (EMA) manual provides information and guidelines on preparing for and managing an emergency in culturally diverse communities (Commonwealth of Australia, 2007).

http://www.ema.gov.au/agd/EMA/rwpattach.nsf/VAP/(A80860EC13A61F5BA8C1121176F6CC3C)~CALDGuidelines_June2007.pdf/$file/CALDGuidelines_June2007.pdf

(Added: Tue Jan 29 2008   Hits: 66)

Pakistan: Political Impact of the Earthquake

This report from the International Crisis Group takes a critical look at the Pakistan governements performance following the devastating earthquake that struck in October 2005. This report "finds that the military government sought to use earthquake rescue and relief, and now intends to use reconstruction and rehabilitation, to demonstrate its competence. Its attempt, however, to maintain central control and refuse civilian oversight and other transparency measures while encouraging a prominent role for Islamist organisations, including jihadi groups banned as terrorists, threatens to waste much of the international effort while increasing the influence of political extremists."

http://www.crisisgroup.org/home/index.cfm?l=1&id=4023

(Added: Thu Mar 16 2006   Modified: Thu Aug 31 2006   Hits: 258)

Reproductive Health Response in Conflict Consertium

The goal of the Reproductive Health Response in Conflict (RHRC) Consortium is to increase access to a range of quality, voluntary reproductive health (RH) services for refugees and displaced persons around the world. The RHRC Consortium is dedicated to the promotion of RH among all persons affected by armed conflict. The RHRC Consortium promotes sustained access to comprehensive, high quality RH programs in emergencies and advocates for policies that support RH of persons affected by armed conflict.

http://www.rhrc.org/

(Added: Fri Mar 16 2007   Hits: 146)

Rescue and Preparedness in Disasters (RAPID) UK

Formed in 1996 to meet the growing international need, this non-governmental Organisation (NGO), consists of members who volunteer their skills and time. Its primary objectives are the relief of human suffering and distress in any part of the world resulting from disaster of any kind and the protection and preservation of human life in particular, but not exclusively, by providing suitably trained and experienced response teams free of charge upon receipt of a request for assistance.

http://www.rapidsar.org.uk/

(Added: Thu Dec 06 2001   Modified: Fri Jul 14 2006   Hits: 304)

Synthesis Report: Review of the disaster response capacity of IASC agencies and organizations in selected disaster prone countries

This synthesis report outlines the main findings and recommendations emerging from the review of the disaster response capacity of IASC agencies and organizations in selected disaster prone countries carried out during the second half of 2004 as part of the work plan of the IASC Task Force on Natural Disasters (TFND).

http://www.dev-zone.org/downloads/Synthesis%20Report-web-1.doc

(Added: Fri Nov 11 2005   Modified: Wed Oct 25 2006   Hits: 196)

The Center for Refugee and Disaster Response

The Center for Refugee and Disaster Response at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health is an internationally-recognized education and research center that strives to promote excellence in humanitarian and emergency assistance through training, research and field programs in the United States and around the world. The overall goal of the Center is to promote the development of emergency systems to prepare for, and respond to disasters and complex humanitarian emergencies.

http://www.jhsph.edu/Refugee/

(Added: Tue Apr 15 2003   Modified: Wed Oct 25 2006   Hits: 410)

The Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF)

On 15 December 2005, the UN General Assembly adopted to upgrade the former Central Emergency Revolving Fund to the Central Emergency Response Fund. This Fund will ensure a more predictable and timely response to humanitarian crisis. The revamped Fund aims to achieve an overall target of $500 million and will add to the current $50 million revolving facility, a grant facility of $450 million. This fund is administered on behalf of the Secretary-General by the Emergency Relief Coordinator in consultation with humanitarian agencies and the relevant Humanitarian Coordinators.

http://ochaonline.un.org/webpage.asp?Page=2101

(Added: Mon Mar 13 2006   Hits: 195)

The Humanitarian Charter and Minimum Standards in Disaster Response

In a remarkable international initiative aimed at improving the effectiveness and accountability of disaster response, the Sphere Humanitarian Charter and Minimum Standards in Disaster Response sets out for the first time what people affected by disasters have a right to expect from humanitarian assistance. The cornerstone of this book is the Humanitarian Charter, which is based on the principles and provisions of international humanitarian, human rights and refugee law, and on the principles of the Red Cross and NGO Code of Conduct. It describes the core principles that govern humanitarian action and asserts the right of populations to protection and assistance. The Charter is followed by minimum standards in five core sectors - water supply and sanitation, nutrition, food aid, shelter and site planning, and health services.

http://www.sphereproject.org/handbook_index.htm

(Added: Thu Feb 21 2002   Modified: Fri Jul 14 2006   Hits: 285)