Humanitarian ResponseHumanitarian ResponsePresented by Garry Dunbar

Director, Humanitarian and Emergencies Section

Australian Agency for International Development

Objectives of session

• Discuss emergency & disaster response• Discuss the role of humanitarian agencies in

emergency & disaster response operations.Who are the Humanitarian Actors?What are the Policy Guidelines?

• Introduce the Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID).

Who is AusAID? How does it operate in emergency & disaster

response?

Disasters and Humanitarian Emergencies

• Hazards, risks, disasters

Humanitarian Goal

… protect lives, alleviate suffering, maintain human dignity and assist recovery following conflict, natural and other disasters… through effective response, prevention, preparedness and risk reduction

Humanitarian Principles

• Humanity– To bring assistance to people in distress without

discrimination

• Impartiality– Action is based solely on need

• Neutrality– Humanitarian action must not favour any side or group

• Independence– Humanitarian action must be kept separate from

political, economic, military or other objectives

Full time Players• Government of affected Country (NDMO)• Major International NGOs• United Nations• Multilateral Agencies• Development Agencies (Donors)

and BanksPart time Players• Defence Forces• Volunteers and local NGOs• Citizens on the spot

Disasters and Humanitarian Emergencies

Full time Players• Government of affected Country (NDMO)• Major International NGOs• United Nations• Multilateral Agencies• Development Agencies (Donors)

and BanksPart time Players• Defence Forces• Volunteers and local NGOs• Citizens on the spot

Disasters and Humanitarian Emergencies

Disaster

Full time Players• Government of affected Country (NDMO)• Major International NGOs• United Nations• Multilateral Agencies• Development Agencies (Donors)

and BanksPart time Players• Defence Forces• Volunteers and local NGOs• Citizens on the spot

Disasters and Humanitarian Emergencies

Disaster

Defence Forces Host Nation Defence Forces Assisting Nations

Use of military assets

• clear humanitarian direction in the use of these assets;

• unique capability – which means no appropriate civilian/humanitarian resources exist which can undertake the task;

• timeliness – the urgency demands immediate action; and

• last resort – which means all civilian/ humanitarian alternatives have been exhausted.

‘Oslo Guidelines’ and UN Guidelines on the use of Military Civil Defence Assets to Support UN Humanitarian Activities in Complex Emergencies

Specialized Agencies

Programmes and Funds

OCHA Office for the Coordination xxxxxxof Humanitarian Affairs

Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA)

To mobilise and coordinate effective and principled humanitarian action in partnership with national actors in order to:– Alleviate human suffering in disasters and

emergencies;– Advocate for the rights of people in need;– Promote preparedness and prevention; and– Facilitate sustainable solutions

Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA)

OCHA carries out its coordination role by:– Developing common strategies (CHAP);– Assessing situations and needs (UNDAC);– Convening coordination forums;– Mobilising resources (CERF, CAP);– Addressing common problems; and– Administering coordination mechanisms &

tools (IASC, UNDAC).

CLUSTER APPROACH

Adequate capacity and predictable leadership in all

sectors

Relief & Assistance

• ICRC* / UNHCR • WHO • UNICEF• UNICEF • WFP• OCHA / UNICEF / WFP• UNDP• UNHCR / IOM• UNHCR• FAO • UNICEF & Save the Children

Alliance

Humanitarian Cluster Leads

Service provision

Cross Cutting

• Shelter• Health• Nutrition• Water and Sanitation• Logistics • Emergency Telecom• Early Recovery• Camp Coord & Mngment• Protection• Agriculture• Education

International Red Cross & Red Crescent Movement

• International Committee of the Red Cross

• International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent

• National Societies

Conflict

Disasters/Emergencies

Non Governmental Organisations (NGOs)

• Thousands around the world– Major international organisations– Very small, grass roots, local

• Each has a different approach– Need for ‘brand’ recognition

• Important implementing partners

Common Standards

• Participation (including all ethnic groups, women, aged)

• Initial Assessment• Response (eg priority to saving life)

• Targeting (eg degree of vulnerability, impartiality)

• Monitoring (eg info - timely, useful)

• Evaluation

Sphere Project

• Project to develop minimum standards

• Based on human rights– the right to life with dignity– distinction between

combatants and non-combatants

– the principle of non-refoulment

A word of caution!

Vulnerability = Need – Availability

Need + Availability = DependencyHowever

AusAID

Who are we?

AusAID

• Not an NGO!

• We are a Government agency pursuing its interests and objectives

• Small Agency with a range of implementing partners

Humanitarian Response

• AusAID’s response is guided by:– Affected Government

request– Beneficiary needs– Scale– Location– Other donor responses– Partners on the ground– Our capacity to assist– Do no harm

Key Implementing Partners

• Exchange of Letters of Intent between AusAID and: OCHA, UNICEF, UNDP, WFP, ICRC

• Global Emergency Cooperation Agreements with accredited Australian NGOs: Austcare Australian Red Cross Society CARE Australia Community Aid Abroad/Oxfam Australia World Vision Australia Caritas

Thank You

Garry.Dunbar@ausaid.gov.auwww.ausaid.gov.au