OCHA Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific: Briefing Kit

©Pieter ten Hoopen/Plan

Briefing KitRegional Office for Asia and the Pacific

OCHA Regional Office for Asia-Pacific: countries and territories 2

OCHA ROAP flyers

- OCHA in Asia and the Pacific 3

- Tools & services 5

- Coordination in emergencies 7

- Response preparedness 9

- Emergency response 11

- Regional partnerships 13

- Humanitarian analysis 15

- Community engagement 17

World Humanitarian Summit - At a glance 19

Disaster response in Asia and the Pacific guide 20

ROAP emergency deployments - as of Jan 2014 21

Support to emergency relief efforts worldwide - How to give 22

Addressing the challenges of today’s humanitarian crises 23

OCHA strategic plan 2014-2017 24

CONTENTS

OCHA ROAPRegional Office for Asia and the Pacific, Executive Suite, 2nd Floor, UNCC Building, Rajdamnern Nok Ave, Bangkok 10200, Thailand.

Tel: +66 (0) 2288 1234 Fax: +66 (0) 2288 [email protected]

www.unocha.org/roap @OCHAAsiaPac1

The boundaries and names shown and the designations used on this map do not imply official endorsement or acceptance by the United Nations.Creation date: July 2015 Sources: OCHA ROAP Feedback: [email protected] www.unocha.org/roap www.reliefweb.int

PACIF ICOCEAN

SouthChinaSeaBay of

Bengal

INDIANOCEAN

C H I N A

INDIA

A U S T R A L I A

M O N G O L I A

MYANMAR

THAILAND

I N D O N E S I A

JAPAN

VIETNAM

NEPAL

M A L A Y S I A

CAMBODIA

BANGLADESH

PHILIPPINES

S R I L A N K A

LAO PDR

BHUTAN

RO KOREA

DPR KOREA

F I J I

TIMOR-LESTE

VA N U AT U

S O L O M O NI S L A N D S

BRUNEI DARUSSALAM

PALAU

SINGAPORE

F E D E R AT E DS TAT E S O F

M I C R O N E S I A

NAURU

MALDIVES

TUVALU

M A R S H A L L I S L A N D S

NewCaledonia (Fra)

Guam (US)

Northern Mariana Islands (US)

PA P U A N E WG U I N E A

SAMOA

TONGA

Tokelau (NZ)

Niue (NZ)

COOK ISLANDS

French Polynesia (Fra.)

Norfolk Island (Aus)

Wallis and Futuna (Fra)

KIRIBATI

NEW ZEALAND

TaiwanProvince of China (Ch)

Christmas Island (Aus)Cocos Island (Aus)

Kobe

ManilaYangon

Jakarta

Bangkok

Colombo

Suva

Pyongyang

Kathmandu

Regional Office

Country Office

Humanitarian Advisory Team

AustraliaBangladeshBhutanBrunei DarussalamCambodiaChinaIndiaIndonesiaJapanKorea, DPRKorea, ROLao PDR

MalaysiaMaldivesMongoliaMyanmarNepalPapua New GuineaPhilippinesSingaporeSri LankaThailandTimor-LesteViet Nam

Norfolk Island (Aus)Christmas Island (Aus)Cocos (Keeling) Islands (Aus)

24 COUNTRIES

3 TERRITORIES

OCHA ROAPExecutive Suite, 2nd Floor, UNCC Building, Rajdamnern Nok Ave, Bangkok 10200, ThailandTel: +66 (0) 2288 1234Fax: +66 (0) 2288 1043E-mail: [email protected]

OCHA ROPLevel 5, Kadavu House, 414 Victoria Parade, Suva, Fiji C/O UNDP Private Mail Bag, Suva, FijiTel: +67 (9) 331 6760Fax: +67 (9) 330 9762

ASEAN Liaison Office/ OCHA IndonesiaManara Thamrin 8th Floor, Jl. M.H. Thamrin No. 3, Jakarta 10250, IndonesiaTel: +62 (21) 314 1308Fax: +62 (21) 3190 0003

OCHA Philippines29th Floor, Yuchengco Tower, RCBC Plaza, 6819 Ayala Avenue,Makati City 1226, PhilippinesTel: +63 (2) 843 9553Fax: +63 (2) 844 1002

OCHA MyanmarNo. 5, Kanbawza Street, Shwe Taung Kyar 2 Ward, Bahan Township, Yangon, Myanmar Tel: +95 (1) 230 5662, 230 5682, 230 5683Fax: 95 (1) 2305684

OCHA NepalGPO Box, 107 UN House, Pulchowk, Kathmandu,NepalTel: +977 (1) 522 3200Fax: +977 (1) 533 6443

OCHA JapanReduction Museum East 5F, 1-5-2 Wakinohama-Kaigandori, Chuo-ku Kobe, 651-0073, JapanTel: +81 (7) 8262 5555Fax: +81 (7) 8262 5558

OCHA Sri LankaUN Compound, 202-204 Bauddhaloka Mawatha,Colombo 07, Sri LankaTel: +94 (11) 452 8689Fax: +94 (11) 452 8690

OCHA DPR Korea21 MunsudongPyongyang, DPR KoreaTel: +857 (2) 381 772

OCHA OFFICES

OCHA Regional Office for Asia-Pacific: Countries and Territories (as of July 2015)

OCHA’s Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific coordinates emergency preparedness and response in the world’s most disaster prone region.

Every year, millions of people in the region are affected by natural hazards including earthquakes, tsunamis, tropical storms, flooding, landslides and volcanic eruptions. These events are becoming more frequent and severe, compounded by the effects of climate change and growing population density. OCHA plays a key role in dealing with the consequences of disasters. It leads and coordinates international humanitarian preparedness and response efforts throughout the region in support of national governments.

The OCHA Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific supports 24 countries and four territories. It focuses in particular on 11 countries that are highly vulnerable to hazards and have a low capacity to respond. OCHA works with these countries to ensure coordinated and effective international responses to emergency situations.

OCHA in Asia and the Pacific

For further informationon OCHA ROAP, contact:

Executive Suite, Second Floor, UNCC Building,Rajdamnern Nok Avenue, Bangkok 10200, Thailand.Tel: +66 (0) 2288 1234 Fax: +66 (0) 22881043

Email: [email protected]/roap@OCHAAsiaPac

OCHA REGIONAL OFFICE FOR ASIA AND THE PACIFIC (ROAP)

natural disasters126

people affected85M

KEY NUMBERS 2014

Credit: ©Markus Werne/OCHA

3

MYANMAR

THAILAND

INDONESIA

JAPAN

PHIL IPPINES

SRI LANKA

FIJ I

ASIA PACIFICwww.unocha.org/roap

Humanity Impartiality Neutrality Independence

What we do?

OCHA in Asia and the Pacific focuses on a wide range of activities, from emergency response and preparedness to humanitarian coordination, partnership building and information management. OCHA’s regional presence comprises experienced staff who respond to emergencies immediately by deploying at the onset of a disaster in the region.

ROAP can provide support to strengthen the inter-cluster coordination system; fundraise for humanitarian financing; information management, reporting and communication services to advocate for those affected; and civil-military expertise for greater efficiency in the delivery of humanitarian aid.

Asia and Pacific countries are increasingly developing their own skills and capability to respond to emergencies. OCHA is helping governments to achieve greater national leadership in coordination, to raise international support where needed, and to optimize the speed and volume of critical assistance delivered immediately after the onset of a humanitarian emergency.

OCHA’s work in Asia and the Pacific focuses on four key areas:

Emergency responseWhen a disaster occurs, it is critical to have the right people in the right place at the right time. OCHA’s regional office maintains a strong and diverse team of emergency response experts on standby ready to deploy as soon as disaster strikes.

Response preparednessGood planning leads to good response. OCHA’s emergency preparedness work enables Humanitarian Country Teams, national governments and regional organizations to rapidly identify, evaluate, and respond to a wide spectrum of emergencies.

Regional partnershipsSustained relations, built on trust and mutual respect, are vital when preparing for and responding to humanitarian emergencies. This is the basis for OCHA’s work in partnership building among humanitarian actors across the Asia-Pacific region.

Humanitarian analysisGathering, managing and analyzing information in a timely and systematic manner is key to making the right decisions in a disaster response situation. OCHA is leading efforts to harness existing and new technologies for humanitarian risk analysis and needs assessment.

OCHA has presences in Indonesia, Japan, Myanmar, the Philippines and Sri Lanka (until end of 2015). OCHA also has a regional office in Fiji, which covers the Pacific region.

Country office

Regional office


Humanitarian challenges in 2014

The Asia-Pacific region laid claim to almost half of the world’s 290 natural disasters.

43%

Global percentage of people affected by natural disasters in the Asia-Pacific region.

84%

Thirty per cent of the world’s ongoing conflicts in 2014 took place in Asia-Pacific region.

30%

4

OCHA provides support to national governments to access humanitarian tools and services in major humanitarian crises, providing greater speed and increased volume to deliver the necessary life-saving relief, to disaster-affected people.

Tools and services

Tools and services help Member States and other humanitarian partners to make informed decisions, help the vulnerable more effectively, and increase the predictability of emergency response operations. OCHA also helps to raise money for humanitarian response operations so that vital humanitarian funds are available quickly and have the greatest impact possible.

- The Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF)

- Flash Appeals

- OCHA Emergency Cash Grant (ECG)

- UN Disaster Assessment and Coordination Team (UNDAC)

- Urban Search and Rescue (USAR)

- Rapid Needs Assessments

- Civil-Military Coordination





Credit: ©Orla Fagan/OCHA

5

The Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF)

The CERF is a humanitarian fund designed to kick-start an emergency response, ensuring that people affected by disasters and conflict are able to receive life-saving assistance quickly. Funding can be allocated rapidly after a disaster and comprises a grant facility of up to US$450 million and a loan facility of $30 million. The Emergency Relief Coordinator allocates funds on the basis of articulated needs as prioritised by the HC and Humanitarian Country team. The CERF is replenished through annual contributions from governments, the private sector, foundations and individuals. It was established by the UN General Assembly in 2006 and is managed by the Under-Secretary-General for humanitarian affairs and emergency relief.

Flash Appeals

Flash Appeals are an inter-agency planning tool designed to structure coordinated humanitarian responses for immediate life-saving efforts during the first three to six months of emergencies. The appeal is usually issued within one week of the onset of an emergency and can also include recovery projects. Flash Appeals are funded by donors including Member States.

OCHA Emergency Cash Grant

OCHA’s Emergency Cash Grant provides immediate support for the most pressing needs of people affected by disasters with a maximum of $100,000 allocation per disaster. It supports local purchases of relief items, logistics support and, if needed, personnel to assist the Humanitarian Coordinator in relief coordination.

UN Disaster Assessment and Coordination Team (UNDAC)

As part of the international emergency response system for sudden-onset emergencies, UNDAC is designed to help the UN and governments of disaster-affected countries during the first phase of an emergency. UNDAC teams are available around the clock and their services provided free of charge to affected countries. They respond at the request of the affected government and are managed by OCHA. UNDAC teams are trained emergency managers from different countries and international organizations.

Rapid Impact Assessments

OCHA plays a key role in coordinating international, multi-sectoral needs assessments in disaster-affected countries. At policy level, OCHA co-chairs the Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC) Needs Assessment Task Force, while in the field, OCHA and partners conduct rapid assessments in new or deteriorating emergencies, to provide an evidence base for strategic planning and humanitarian action. As a preparedness measure, OCHA works with partners to ensure procedures are in place to efficiently execute needs assessments when required. In environmental disaster situations, OCHA facilitates the provision of environmental expertise and mobile laboratories from countries willing to donate resources.

Urban Search and Rescue (USAR)

USAR Teams can be requested by affected Member States through either bilateral channels or through the International Search and Rescue Advisory Group (INSARAG) Secretariat, based at OCHA Geneva. OCHA ROAP and the INSARAG community acknowledges the importance of providing rapid, professional USAR support during disasters that result in structural collapse.

Humanitarian Civil-Military Coordination

OCHA ROAP develops innovative policy and guidance in UN-CMCoord. This includes the publication of the “APC MADRO Guidelines” that encompass the overarching principles and concepts guiding the use of foreign military assets in disaster response in the Asia-Pacific region. OCHA ROAP also leads the first multi-stakeholder Regional Consultative Group (RCG) on Humanitarian Civil-Military Coordination for Asia and the Pacific. The RCG objective is to facilitate coordinated planning for disaster response as well as to engage and maintain a focus on the region’s complex emergencies.

ASIA PACIFICwww.unocha.org/roap @OCHAAsiaPac

Humanity Impartiality Neutrality Independence 6

HUMANITARIAN& EMERGENCY

RELIEFCOORDINATOR

Coordination in emergencies

Coordination is central to effective humanitarian response and OCHA’s role is to bring together humanitarian actors to assist people when they most need relief. Good coordination ensures response is efficient, effective, coherent and cost efficient.

OCHA is guided by General Assembly resolution 46/182 that established new arrangements for

humanitarian coordination in 1991 to:

strengthen the UN response to complex emergencies and natural disasters

improve the overall effectiveness of humanitarian operations in the field

establish a robust coordination framework for international humanitarian assistance

Coordination includes:• strong humanitarian leaders through the appointment of

experienced in-country Humanitarian Coordinators

• ensuring humanitarian coordination structures are supported where all relevant organizations can contribute effectively and systematically

• promoting efficient interaction within the Humanitarian Country Team representing all major humanitarian actors

• mobilizing funding and other resources quickly and efficiently during a crisis





7

The cluster systemClusters are groups of humanitarian organizations (UN and non-UN) working in the main sectors of humanitarian response. Set up in 2005, the cluster system ensures capacity, leadership, predictability

and accountability in an international response. Clusters provide a clear point of contact; are accountable for adequate and appropriate humanitarian assistance; and address gaps and strengthen the effectiveness of humanitarian response through partnerships between international humanitarian actors, national and local authorities and civil society.

OCHA’s role in the cluster systemOCHA plays a central role in ensuring a smooth operation of the cluster system, which is activated by the Emergency Relief Coordinator whenever major emergencies require a multi-sectoral response. Humanitarian Coordinators can also apply the cluster approach in ongoing emergencies.

At a global level, OCHA develops policies, coordinates inter-cluster issues, disseminates operational guidance and organizes field support in close cooperation with agencies and NGOs. At country level, under the Humanitarian Coordinator’s leadership, it helps to ensure that the humanitarian system functions efficiently.

At the field level, OCHA helps ensure that the humanitarian system functions well and in support of the Humanitarian Coordinator’s leadership. OCHA provides guidance and support to the Humanitarian Coordinator and Humanitarian Country Team, and facilitates inter-cluster coordination and endorses operational decisions including needs assessment, joint planning, implementation, coordinating resource mobilization and monitoring and evaluation.

The international humanitarian system follows a set of concrete actions aimed at transforming the way in which the humanitarian community responds to emergencies.

The three key areas required to improve the timeliness and effectiveness of a collective response are:

LEADERSHIPProvides strategic planning,

timeliness and effectiveness of the humanitarian community.

COORDINATIONDelivers a greater

symbiosis among organizations responding to a crisis.

ACCOUNTABILITYImproves transparency

and meets the needs of the community and donors.

Coordinating preparedness OCHA provides support to country offices in the region for preparedness in advance of a crisis. Partnering with local and national authorities, regional bodies, UN agencies, NGOs and the private sector to put the

right structures in place ensure that all parties concerned are equipped to respond to an emergency.

OCHA’s regional and country offices are on constant standby to respond at short notice to emergencies. They support several surge-capacity mechanisms and networks that enable the broader humanitarian community to respond rapidly to natural disasters and complex emergencies.



Good preparedness leads to good response; this is the basis for OCHA’s emergency preparedness work encompassing emergency response preparedness (ERP).

Response preparedness





RIS

K A

NA

LYSI

S & M

ONITORING

MINIMUM PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS

ADVANCED PREPAREDNESS

ACTIONS &CONTINGENCY

PLANNING

PRELIMINARY RESPONSE

PLAN

The Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC) developed the Emergency Response Preparedness (ERP) guidance to enable the international humanitarian system to apply a operational approach to emergency preparedness. The primary aim of the ERP guidance is to optimize the speed and volume of critical assistance delivered immediately after the onset of a humanitarian emergency. Target countries for OCHA’s preparedness work are selected annually using the Index for Risk Management (INFORM), a global inter-agency tool for understanding the risk of humanitarian crises.

BangladeshBhutan CambodiaDPR KoreaIndonesia Lao PDRMaldives Myanmar

MongoliaNepalPapua New GuineaPhilippinesSri LankaTimor-LesteThailandViet Nam

ROAP ‘FOCUS COUNTRIES’ IN 2015:

9

The risk analysis provides a clear and common understanding through identifying the hazards that could trigger a crisis and ranks them by impact and likelihood. The risk ranking determines whether thresholds are low, medium, or high, and whether minimum or advanced preparedness actions are recommended Outcome: clear and common understanding of the risks.

Minimum preparedness actions (MPAs) are a set of activities that every Humanitarian Country Team (HCT) must implement in order to establish a minimum level of operational readiness within the country. The MPAs are not risk or scenario specific and usually do not require significant additional resources. This step lays the foundation for a rapid build-up of emergency readiness. MPAs should include actions related to: risk monitoring; establishment of coordination and management arrangements; preparing for joint needs assessments; information management; and establishing operational capacity and arrangements to deliver critical relief assistance and protection. Outcome: a foundation of operational readiness.

Advanced preparedness actions (APAs) and the contingency plan are designed to advance Humanitarian Country Team readiness to respond to identified specific risks. Unlike the MPAs, the APAs are risk specific, building on the MPAs already in place. A Contingency Plan sets out the initial response strategy and operational plan to meet the humanitarian needs during the first three to four weeks of an emergency. This step identifies additional resource requirements, both human and financial, and supports the timely drafting of response plans and appeal documents in the event of an emergency. Outcome: readiness to respond to specific risks, including response strategy and operational plan.

Situation and Risk Analysis

Response Strategy

Operational Delivery

Coordination and Management Arrangements

Operational Support Arrangements

Preparedness Gaps and Actions

Funding Requirements



OCHA is collaborating with WFP on a joint initiative that aims to improve regional preparedness to response to large-scale emergencies in five Asian countries: Bangladesh, Indonesia, Myanmar, Nepal and the Philippines. The project focuses on four areas of preparedness:

• Improved national capacity to respond to humanitarian emergencies and when necessary, to request/receive external assistance

• Strengthened regional and international preparedness to augment national responses in a coordinated manner

• Increased predictability and coordination between regional and international responders and host governments

• Improved timeliness and appropriateness of humanitarian response, with national actors effectively leading and external responders supporting response operations

Preparedness for large-scale emergencies in Asia

There are three elements of the ERP

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It is critical to have the right people, with the right skills, in the right place at the right time when a disaster strikes. OCHA supports national Governments in leading emergency response efforts in the Asia-Pacific region. OCHA provides a first wave of surge response for emergencies that occur in the region where governments request specific targeted support to cover gaps.

Emergency response

OCHA in Asia-Pacific maintains a strong and diverse team of emergency response experts ready to deploy in a matter of hours following a disaster. Their skills are geared towards increasing the speed and volume necessary to help save lives and respond to the needs of people.

OCHA’s response teams support national governments with specialists who can provide the skills and services that may be otherwise absent, to enable a more effective response. They also support in-country teams to coordinate needs assessment, humanitarian financing, information management, communications and advocacy needs, and civil-military coordination.





ROAP responds on average to 7 disasters

each year

7RESPONSE

Credit: ©Orla Fagan/OCHA

11

INTERCLUSTER COORDINATIONResponding to an emergency requires coordination from the village to government level and everywhere in between. OCHA facilitates the

conditions to bring the various actors, including the community itself to ensure efficient, cost-effective and successful responses to emergencies. It leads the international community’s efforts to establish a robust and effective humanitarian coordination system at both the global and country level, usually in support of the national government. OCHA coordinates the various humanitarian clusters (groups of humanitarian organizations that deal with specific sectors of humanitarian action), to work together to deliver aid in an effective and efficient manner.

HUMANITARIAN FINANCINGOCHA disaster management teams deploy and coordinate the development of requests to the CERF, the development of Flash

Appeals, Consolidated Appeals and pooled funds. OCHA ensures that this vital humanitarian financing reaches priority programmes in a timely and fair manner, with the greatest impact possible. The Financial Tracking Service (FTS) can be followed on the OCHA web page fts.unocha.org

NEEDS ASSESSMENTSDelivering timely aid that targets the needs of people, requires reliable data. OCHA coordinates international efforts to assist

disaster-affected countries to conduct rapid assessments and develop strategies to respond. Working in partnership with governments, OCHA helps the humanitarian community develop assessment tools and methodologies in line with international best practice and to improve the speed and reliability of information.

INFORMATION MANAGEMENTEvery emergency relies on accurate, trustworthy data for effective response. OCHA’s information management team deploys immediately

to a new disaster to support coordination. They will prepare and share the Common and Fundamental Operational Datasets (CODs & FODs). They will convene and lead an Information Management Working Group. They will deploy and administer IASC information tools and platforms such as humanitarianresponse.info and HumanitarianID. They will also assist coordination through the development of a Who does What Where (3W) database and produce numerous maps and infographics, as well as provide data management support to assessments.

MAPPINGHigh-quality maps are essential for successful relief planning and action in the event of an emergency. OCHA produces a variety of

maps to inform strategic responses including reference, hazard, climate and storm maps, emergency situation maps and humanitarian snapshots. These provide valuable data for donors, partner organizations and the media.

REPORTINGWithin 24 hours of an emergency OCHA issues a situation report

providing a comprehensive overview of the humanitarian needs, response and gaps. The reports are used to raise awareness and assist partners directly involved in the humanitarian emergency. They also inform the wider humanitarian community of developments in the field and are used for resource mobilization.

MEDIA & COMMUNICATIONS

OCHA’s unique advocacy role enables it to speak for the interests of the broader humanitarian community as well as people affected by disaster or conflict. During an emergency, OCHA spokespersons provide regular press briefings and interviews for the media on the overall humanitarian situation. They play a key role in ensuring the humanitarian community speaks with one voice and keeps the attention focused on the most important humanitarian needs and issues.

HUMANITARIAN CIVIL-MILITARY COORDINATION

Military and Civil Defence Assets (MCDA) including machinery to clear debris and helicopters to deliver assistance is a valuable asset in a sudden on-set disaster. To establish a predictable approach to the use of these assets, and facilitate the coordination of planning processes between civilian and military actors, OCHA has established a multi-stakeholder Regional Consultative Group (RCG) on Humanitarian Civil-Military Coordination for Asia-Pacific. One of the key activities of the RCG is also to facilitate awareness and ensure dissemination of the Asia-Pacific Regional Guidelines for the Use of Foreign Military Assets in Natural Disaster Response Operations (“APC MADRO Guidelines”) that encompass the overarching principles and concepts guiding the use of foreign military assets in disaster response operations in the Asia-Pacific region.



OCHA is building strategic and operational partnerships with a wide range of groups and organizations across the Asia-Pacific region to bring greater predictability and effectiveness to humanitarian response.

Regional partnerships

The changing environment, and particularly the growing capacity of middle income countries, in Asia and the Pacific mean that ensuring effective coordination with the communities, national/local authorities and regional organizations that increasingly stand at the centre of disaster response are a core part of OCHA’s work.

At the same time, the region’s continued exposure to major shocks means the international system is increasingly focused on preparing to respond at greater speed and larger volume when mega-disasters occur. By working with the private sector and foreign militaries, OCHA ensures that actors with the capacity to have a critical impact in the initial days and weeks after a disaster are better integrated into government-led and coordinated response.





35MPRIVATE SECTOR

Private sector donations to the Nepal earthquake

response 2015

(US$ millions)

Source: OCHA

Credit: ©Elizabeth Marasco/OCHA

13

For more information, email [email protected] or [email protected]

When humanitarian relief is delivered quickly and critical needs are addressed immediately, communities are better placed to focus on restoring livelihoods and recover from the initial shock. The support of international and regional actors can also bring valuable lessons, standards and principles to wider disaster response and early recovery efforts.

works with:

To prepare more effectively, governments and national disaster management organisations manage incoming humanitarian assistance during an emergency and provide assistance to other countries when disaster strikes. Through biannual Regional Humanitarian Partnerships Forums, and the regularly updated publication Disaster Response in Asia and the Pacific: a Guide to International Tools and Services – which provides disaster managers with a concise reference guide to international and regional preparedness and response capacities – OCHA raises governments’ awareness of resources upon which they can call and supports the sharing of experience among a wide group of stakeholders: www.unocha.org/publications/asiadisasterresponse

Regional networks to bring together humanitarian responders and disaster managers from international, regional and national civil society. This includes the Inter-Agency Standing Committee Regional Network for Asia-Pacific and the Asian Disaster Response and Reduction Network (ADRRN)

Private sector networks and businesses to support the establishment of private sector coordination platforms and engage network representatives in preparedness efforts at country level.

Academic institutions and researchers to develop innovative humanitarian policy, practices and platforms that support greater inclusivity and diversity in response.

Regional Humanitarian Communications Network to share information and training resources, build media understanding of humanitarian response and develop common advocacy and communication strategies on humanitarian issues.

The Working Group on Gender in humanitarian action to strengthen protection and planning for the needs of the most vulnerable groups, including women, children and youth, the elderly and disabled.

Regional intergovernmental organizations such as the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) as well as other regional groupings such as the East Asian Summit (EAS). OCHA coordinates the ASEAN-UN Strategic Plan of Action on Disaster Management and works closely with the ASEAN Coordinating Centre for Humanitarian Assistance on disaster management (AHA Centre).

National and international militaries to strengthen humanitarian civil-military coordination and planning. Conducting joint training exercises with military partners through the Asia-Pacific Conferences in forums such as the Asian Regional Forum (ARF), ASEAN Disaster Response Exercise (ARDEX) and the Regional Consultative Group for Asia and the Pacific.



Humanitarian civil-military response

Military assets from 21 countries supported the humanitarian response following Typhoon Haiyan, in the Philippines (2013).

21 COUNTRIES71 national and 10 sub-national networks identified in 27 countries, in addition to 17 regional and multi-country networks in Asia-Pacific region.

71 NETWORKSCivil society engagement

14

Gathering, managing and analyzing information in a timely and systematic manner is key to making the right decisions in a disaster response situation. OCHA leads efforts to harness existing and new technologies for humanitarian risk analysis and needs assessment.

Humanitarian analysis





Based on the Global Focus Model - a humanitarian risk tool developed by OCHA’s regional office in Asia-Pacific, the Index for Risk Management (INFORM) is a global, open-source risk assessment for humanitarian crises and disasters.

INFORM can help identify where and why crises and disasters are likely to occur so we can reduce the risks, build people’s resilience and prepare and respond better.

Ranking level INFORM

Concept level (Dimensions)

Hazard & Exposure Vulnerability Lack of Coping Capacity

Functional level (Categories)

Natural Human Socio-Economic

Vulnerable Groups Institutional Infrastructure

Component level

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Credit: ©Anthony Burke/OCHA

15

BANGLADESH

BHUTAN

CAMBODIA

DPR KOREA

INDONESIA

LAO PDR

MALDIVES

MYANMAR

MONGOLIA

NEPAL

PAPUA NEW GUINEA

PHILIPPINES

SRI LANKA

TIMOR-LESTE

THAILAND

VIET NAM

ROAP ‘FOCUS COUNTRIES’ IN 2015: Reliable, relevant and accessible baseline datasets are an essential component of a good response operation, particularly in the early hours and days when responders are mobilising a fast and targeted response, at a sufficient scale. OCHA works with government technical agencies and others to compile and share key baseline datasets before a crisis hits to ensure our partners have a shared understanding of the operating context.

Effective needs assessments are required to refine our understanding of the scale and extent of an emergency. OCHA is utilizing the latest available tools and technology for needs assessment in its operations in the region to ensure better analysis of needs on the ground. This includes technology such as KoBoCAT, a mobile data collection tool, remote sensing using satellite imagery, and the use of digital volunteers to capture operational information from social media.

Geographic information is also central to OCHA’s information management activities. OCHA creates maps and infographics to support a number of key functions. Partner agencies, donors and media are all important users of the maps and graphics produced by OCHA.

These information products are publicly available at: www.unocha.org/roap

Hazard maps describe the risks affecting different countries at different times.

Reference maps provide valuable baseline data (i.e. population density, average temperature, etc.) to put events in context.

Situation maps overlay operational information over an affected area to assist in coordination.

Humanitarian snapshots incorporate maps and graphics to summarize complex situations and deliver advocacy messages.

The boundaries and names shown and the designations used on this map do not imply official endorsement or acceptance by the United Nations.

Creation date: 21 Apr 2014 Sources: OCHA ROAP Feedback: [email protected]/roap www.reliefweb.int

PACIF ICOCEAN

SouthChinaSeaBay of

Bengal

INDIANOCEAN

C H I N A

INDIA

A U S T R A L I A

M O N G O L I A

MYANMAR

THAILAND

I N D O N E S I A

JAPAN

VIETNAM

NEPAL

M A L A Y S I A

CAMBODIA

BANGLADESH

PHILIPPINES

S R I L A N K A

LAO PDR

BHUTAN

RO KOREA

DPR KOREA

F I J I

TIMOR-LESTE

VA N U AT U

S O L O M O NI S L A N D S

BRUNEI DARUSSALAM

PALAU

SINGAPORE

F E D E R AT E DS TAT E S O F

M I C R O N E S I A

NAURU

MALDIVES

TUVALU

M A R S H A L L I S L A N D S

N E WC A L E D O N I A

Guam (US)

Northern Mariana Islands (US)

PA P U A N E WG U I N E A

SAMOA

TONGA

TOKELAU

NIUE

COOK ISLANDS

FRENCH POLYNESIA

PITCAIRN

NORFOLK ISLAND

WALLIS AND FUTUNA

KIRIBATI

NEW ZEALAND

TaiwanProvince of China (Ch)

Christmas Island (Aus)Cocos Island (Aus)

Kobe

ManilaYangon

Jakarta

Bangkok

Colombo

Suva

Regional Office

Country Office


Australia

Bangladesh

Bhutan

Brunei Darussalam

Cambodia

China

India

Indonesia

Japan

Korea, DPR

Korea, RO

Lao PDR

Malaysia

Maldives

Mongolia

Myanmar

Nepal

Papua New Guinea

Philippines

Singapore

Sri Lanka

Thailand

Timor-Leste

Viet Nam

Norfolk Island (Aus)

Christmas Island (Aus)

Cocos (Keeling) Islands (Aus)

Taiwan Province of China (Ch)

24 COUNTRIES

4 TERRITORIES

OCHA Regional Office for Asia-Pacific: Countries and Territories (as of Jul 2014)



Community engagement

OCHA’s Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific delivers coordination and support services to the humanitarian responders to improve community engagement with disaster affected communities. It believes that by improving communication with people affected by crises humanitarian actors better engage with and are more accountable to the communities they work with. Through this, it seeks to ensure that issues relating to gender equality and the diversity of the communities are fully integrated into the response.

Recent large-scale emergencies have underscored more than ever the need for a comprehensive approach to community engagement through working with community groups, civil society and local private sector organizations engaged in disaster response. Through partnerships like these, solutions are grounded by community centred priorities while complemented by international standards of accountability.





Credit: ©Amir Jina/UNISDR

17

OCHA’s priorities Community engagement is a two-way communication process, a dialogue between responders and affected communities and their community partners. It should enable people to meet their differential needs, address vulnerabilities and build on their pre-existing capacities. It recognizes the role of affected communities as first responders and that the role of the international system is primarily to support their efforts. OCHA prioritizes community engagement at the centre of humanitarian response through several critical elements.

Information provision, community feedback and participation Information and communications systems are a life-saving form of aid in their own right, enabling individuals and communities to make decisions that protect their lives and livelihoods, access assistance more effectively, express their needs and develop capacities on their own terms.

Appropriate information and communication technologies With the continued growth of information and communication technologies, a vast body of technical expertise has emerged. Governments and NGOs are joined by civil society and the private sector, especially the media and telecommunications and technology groups. They are increasingly engaged in innovative two-way communications approaches, which relies on both specialized expertise and local knowledge of capacities and customs.

Augmenting existing capacities and partnerships An international humanitarian response needs to build on existing response efforts and capacities – whether conducted by national governments or humanitarian NGOs, or by civil society groups, private companies or other actors. It is incumbent on humanitarians to take into account these activities and ensure that the international response is supportive and complementary through inclusive coordination mechanisms.

“More information is more widely available than ever before; making better use of this information will reap rewards. On offer is a better way of designing humanitarian response, whereby people determine their own priorities and communicate them to those who would assist.”

- OCHA, Humanitarianism in the Network Age - Including World Humanitarian Data and Trends 2012

Category 5 Tropical Cyclone Pam struck Vanuatu on 13 March 2015 bringing heavy rainfall and flooding leaving the entire country’s communications infrastructure in disarray. UN, telecommunications and media partners immediately worked on re-establishing a means to engage with 188,000 people affected across 23 islands.

In the Philippines following Typhoon Haiyan on 08 November 2013, it was clear that as a middle-income country with significant capacity of government and civil society, many international agencies had limited capacity for direct implementation. International agencies that balanced direct aid delivery with local partners benefited by closer engagement with communities and were adept to local conditions.



AT A GLANCE The UN Secretary General called for the first ever World Humanitarian Summit (WHS) to be held in Istanbul in May 2016. The Summit aims to set out a future agenda to make humanitarian action more effective, inclusive, accountable and overall, a better fit for a changing world.

www.worldhumanitariansummit.org @WHSummit #ReShapeAid

HELP US TO

THE FUTURESHAPE

OF HUMANITARIAN

ACTION

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s remarks at a Member States briefing on WHS

"We look to the World Humanitarian Summit to generate strong global support for bold changes in humanitarian action. This is the only way we will meet the enormous challenges we face in the coming years and decades. The world is changing, and we need to make sure we change with it to meet the needs of those affected by crisis in a timely and effective manner."

New York, 20 April 2015

In the lead-up to the Summit, eight regional consultations were organized by the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs with a wide range of stakeholders (national governments, humanitarian organizations, community responders / affected people, private sector and other partners). The consultations took the views, perspectives and experiences from around the world and will set the agenda for the Summit in Istanbul.

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Produced at the request of Asia-Pacific Governments, the Guide assists disaster managers in understanding the interaction between national, regional and international humanitarian response mechanisms:

• To increase understanding of the tools and services available in the region.

• To support emergency decision-making in small-, medium- and large-scale disasters.

• To help locate international technical expertise before and at the onset of a disaster.

• To facilitate partnerships between humanitarian actors.

• To inform academic curricula at national and regional learning institutions.

The scope of the Guide: Response and response preparedness

www.unocha.org/publications/asiadisasterresponse

Who is the Guide for?The guide is for national disaster management organizations (NDMOs) and line ministries involved in disaster response and disaster response preparedness. It is also a reference document for representatives of intergovernmental organizations, civil- society actors and disaster-affected people.

What are the definitions of disaster response and disaster response preparedness?Disaster response: the provision of assistance or intervention during or immediately after a disaster to meet the life preservation and basic subsistence needs of those people affected.

Disaster response preparedness: pre-disaster activities that are undertaken to minimize loss of life, injury and property damage in a disaster, and to ensure that rescue, relief, rehabilitation and other services can be provided following a disaster. Preparedness for the first and immediate response is called “emergency preparedness.”

Humanitarian actors

International coordination mechanisms

Regulations and voluntary guidelines

Technical teams

Technical services

Financial resources

Information management and assets

Technical training

Readiness planning

Simulation exercises

Early warning systems

INTERNATIONAL ARCHITECTURE DISASTER RESPONSE RESPONSE PREPAREDNESS

THE GUIDEThe structure of the Guide

Disaster Response in Asia and the Pacific: A Guide to International Tools and Services

Disaster strikes

20

1, 22, 26, 43

6, 27, 31, 46, 66

34, 39

47

7, 8, 10, 41 9, 11

12, 25

13, 3815

18

4214

45

30

37

19

20, 48, 54

21, 28

17

40, 52

1, 3, 533

1

16

23

24, 56

35, 44, 49 32

1

29

2, 36

4

50

51

55

53

57

58 59, 65 60, 61

6263 64

01. Indonesia, Thailand, Indian Ocean Tsunami Dec 2004 Sri Lanka, Maldives

02. Cook Islands Cyclone Percy Feb 200503. Indonesia Nias Earthquake Mar 200504. Pakistan, India South Asia Earthquake Oct 200505. Indonesia Aceh Floods Dec 2005

06. Philippines Leyte Landslide Feb 200607. Indonesia Mt. Merapi Volcano Apr 200608. Indonesia Yogyakarta earthquake May 200609. Timor-Leste Unrest May 200610. Indonesia Earthquake and Tsunami Jul 2006

11. Timor-Leste Surge Support Mar 2007 12. Solomon Islands Earthquake & Tsunami Apr 200713. South Asia Floods Jun 200714. DPR Korea Floods Aug 2007 15. Bangladesh Cyclone Sidr Nov 200716. Papua New Guinea Cyclone Guba Nov 2007

17. Myanmar Cyclone Nargis May 200818. China Sichuan Earthquake May 200819. Lao PDR Floods Aug 200820. Philippines Mindanao Unrest Aug 200821. Pakistan Conflict Sep200822. Sri Lanka Surge Support Nov 200823. PNG Floods & Sea Swells Dec 2008

24. Fiji Floods Jan 200925. Solomon Island Floods Feb 200926. Sri Lanka Surge Support Jun 200927. Philippines Surge Support Jun 200928. Pakistan Conflict Jul200929. Indonesia West Java Earthquake Sep 200930. Bhutan Earthquake Sep 200931. Philippines Typhoon Ketsana Sep 200932. Samoa Earthquake & Tsunami Sep 200933. Indonesia Sumatra Earthquake Sep 2009

ROAP Emergency Deployments - Map Reference34. Philippines Typhoon Parma Oct 200935. Vanuatu Volcano Nov 2009

36. Cook Islands Cyclone Feb 201037. China Qinghai Earthquake Apr 201038. Pakistan Floods Jul 201039. Philippines Typhoon Megi Oct 2010 40. Myanmar Typhoon Giri Oct 201041. Indonesia Mt. Merapi Volcano Oct 2010 42. Mongolia Dzud Nov 2010

43. Sri Lanka Floods Jan 201144. Vanuatu Cyclone Vania Jan 201145. Japan Earthquake & Tsunami Mar 201146. Philippines Typhoon Nesat Sep 201147. Cambodia Floods Oct 201148. Philippines TS Washi Dec 2011

49. Vanuatu Cyclone Jasmine Feb 201250. Nepal Flood May 201251. PNG Flood May 201252. Myanmar Rakhineconflict Jun201253. Cambodia Floods Sep 201254. Philippines Typhoon Bopha Dec 201255. Palau Cyclone Bopha Dec 2012

56. Fiji Cyclone Eva Jun 2013 57. Marshall Islands Drought May 2013 58. Myanmar Cyclone Mahasan May 201359. Myanmar Surge Support July 201360. Lao PDR Dengue Aug 201361. Lao PDR Floods Sep 201362. Philippines Conflict Sep201363. Philippines Earthquake Oct 2013 64. Philippines Cyclone Haiyan Nov 2013

65. Myanmar Surge Support Oct 2014 66. Philippines Cyclone Hagupit Dec 2014

RegionalOfficeforAsia-PacificEmergencyDeployments-asofJan2015

13

9

6

4

4

3

3

3

2

2

2

2

2

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

Philippines

Indonesia

Myanmar

Pakistan

Sri Lanka

PNG

Vanuatu

Lao PDR

Cambodia

China

Cook Is.

Timor-Leste

Fiji

Bangladesh

Bhutan

DPR Korea

India

Japan

Maldives

Mongolia

Nepal

Palau

Samoa

Solomon Is.

South Asia

Thailand

Marshall Is. 1

Number of ROAP Deployments per Country 2004-2014

OCHA ROAP deploys specialised humanitarian personnel to support efforts on the ground in response to a new or escalating humanitarian crises. Since 2004, ROAP deployed on 66 occasions to 27 countries to provide rapid and temporary reinforcement and ensure coordination takes place effectivelyandefficiently.

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SUPPORT TO EMERGENCY RELIEF EFFORTS WORLDWIDE - HOW TO GIVE

OCHA is mandated to mobilize resources on behalf of the United Nations and non-governmental organizations. These resources may be financial

or in-kind and may be channeled directly to the appealing organization or through an OCHA-managed pooled fund.

All resources mobilized are destined for humanitarian relief operations. These operations are planned following a needs analysis followed by

joint, strategic and prioritized humanitarian programming where results are monitored and evaluated.

All contributors should report their contributions to the United Nations Financial Tracking Service for full accountability and visibility. FTS is managed

by OCHA and all data is based on reports from donors or recipient organizations

The FTS is a global, real-time database recording all reported international humanitarian aid since 1992. FTS provides an overview of humanitarian

contributions to emergencies by recording cash and in-kind assistance.

We need your reports. FTS can only record reported contributions. Up-to-date accurate information makes FTS a powerful coordination

tool that provides all stakeholders with an overview of humanitarian action, funding gaps and priorities in each emergency. To report a contribution email: [email protected]

1. FTS FEATURES:• Tracking of contributions for total humanitarian

assistance (as reported to OCHA).

• Tables, updated daily, with breakdown of contributions vs. requirements by donor, country, appealing organization and sector/cluster.

• Global overview with reports by donor, appealing organization, sector and appeals

WHAT YOU CAN DO WITH FTS:• Monitor the funding status of any emergency or

appeal. Detailed reports show funding by cluster, organization, project, priority and location.

• Monitor humanitarian funding outside the appeal, identify donors and implementing organizations for activities not included in the appeal.

• Donor profiles provide quick overviews of humanitarian funding by any given donor to a specific country or globally.

• Analyse funding trends – FTS shows the history of funding to any country, as well as global trends by donor, sector, emergency or recipient agency

2.

www.unocha.orgThe mission of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) is to mobilize and coordinate effective and principled humanitarian action in partnership with national and international actors.

3.

4.

5.

Credit: ©Gemma Cortes/OCHA

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OCHA ENABLES EMERGENCY RESPONSE TO BE MORE PREDICTABLE AND TIMELYWe coordinate response, mobilize resources for the humanitarian system through international appeals, manage rapid-response funds, speak out for people in need, defend humanitarian principles, negotiate access to those in need and provide critical information and analysis as crises unfold.

OCHA STRIVES TO MANAGE AND DELIVER ITS SERVICES MORE EFFECTIVELYOCHA strives to improve the delivery of our core services, according to our 2014-2017 Strategic Framework goals, including strengthening OCHA performance management and administration, maintaining a more flexible structure and improving field leadership.

OCHA ADDS VALUEAt a time of economic austerity, our services help humanitarian funds to go further. We provide strategic and timely information on needs, priorities and gaps that help save lives and reduces the vulnerability of people in need.

ADDRESSING THE CHALLENGES OF TODAY’S HUMANITARIAN CRISES

OCHA PROVIDES STRONG LEADERSHIP IN HUMANITARIAN AFFAIRSOCHA provides valuable leadership and facilitates coordination to ensure the humanitarian community delivers predictable and needs-driven emergency assistance at the speed and volume required, and leads in preparedness activities.

OCHA SPEAKS OUT ON BEHALF OF PEOPLE AFFECTED BY CONFLICT AND DISASTER SO THEIR NEEDS ARE METTo ensure aid reaches whoever needs it most, OCHA’s neutral role allows us to speak out when necessary, with all parties. This includes negotiating on issues such as access, the protection of civilians and aid workers while promoting core humanitarian principles.

OCHA SETS A CLEAR AND PRINCIPLED HUMANITARIAN POLICY AGENDAOCHA sets an evidence-based policy agenda to identify emerging trends and to guide the international community in developing common policy based on humanitarian principles. Our policy guidance continues to help the humanitarian system evolve and adapt to the changing environment.

www.unocha.orgThe mission of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) is to mobilize and coordinate effective and principled humanitarian action in partnership with national and international actors.

Credit: ©Gemma Cortes/OCHA

23

1. LEADERSHIPHumanitarian action is led by empowered, competent and experienced professionals.

3. ASSESSMENT, PLANNING & MONITORINGHumanitarian action is guided by joint strategic response planning based on prioritized needs.

5. HUMANITARIAN FINANCINGHumanitarian financing is predictable, timely and allocated based on priority needs.

6. PROTECTION & ACCESS TO ASSISTANCEPeople in emergencies are protected from harm and have access to assistance as a result of advocacy and coordination.

2. SITUATIONAL AWARENESSHumanitarian decision-making is based on a common situational awareness.

4. COORDINATION MECHANISMSCoordination mechanisms are adapted to the context and support the effective and coherent delivery of humanitarian assistance.

7. EMERGENCY RESPONSE PREPAREDNESSInternational partners are ready to respondto humanitarian emergencies without delay and with the right assistance.

GOAL 1 FIELD EFFECTIVENESS More effective and principled humanitarian action that meets the needs of affected people

STR

ATE

GIC

OB

JEC

TIV

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$

8. DIVERSITYA more diverse set of actors engages in and provides political, technical and material support to collective humanitarian action.

10. INNOVATIONInnovation to promote improvement is consistently fostered and brought to scale in the humanitarian sector.

GOAL 2 FIT FOR THE FUTUREA more diverse and adaptable humanitarian sector, spanning a variety of existing and emerging responder and partner networks

STR

ATE

GIC

OB

JEC

TIV

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9. INTEROPERABILITYInternational, regional and national actors are able to deploy well-coordinated and interoperable humanitarian response capacities within agreed frameworks.

United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

STRATEGIC PLAN2014–2017

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Documents

OCHA Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific: Briefing Kit