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Increasing the efficiency of disaster management
Statement
by Martin Faller, Head of Office, Coordination and Programmes Division,at the Public Hearing of the Committee on Development of the European Parliament, in Brussels
29 January 2008 |
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The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent closely followed the consultation process that lead to the approval of "The European Consensus on Humanitarian Aid”.
We and our European member National Red Cross Societies – appreciate the possibility to participate in the consultation process and consider the Consensus as a highly valuable document for guiding the action of the EU. We are looking forward to continue this cooperation in the application and implementation of the Consensus.
The Consensus addresses many important subjects which are highly welcomed by the IFRC. These include
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the firm commitment for humanitarian principles and compliance with International Humanitarian Law (IHL),
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the provision of needs-based emergency response,
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the support to capacity building activities to prevent and mitigate impact of disasters,
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the emphasis on partnership,
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the need to take into account where possible, long term development objectives,
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the protection of the humanitarian space and the value of good donor practice,
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the issue of speed and quality in the effective delivery of humanitarian aid,
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the positive note on International Disaster Response Laws, Rules and Principles (IDRL),
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the recognition of the reduction of risk and vulnerability through enhanced preparedness,
as well as the importance which the EU gives to the development of the collective global capacity to respond to humanitarian crises and not to duplicate existing international mechanisms.
Let me focus on two very important elements of the Consensus: the support for IDRL and the building of local capacities – both are contributing to increasing efficiency of disaster management.
International Disaster Response Laws, Rules and Principles (IDRL):
Our finding is that while there has been a number of important improvements at the international level in recent years – including the Good Humanitarian Donorship Principles, the humanitarian cluster system, and the Oslo Guidelines as emphasized by the Consensus – the role of the government in affected states has been neglected.
Few states have detailed laws and mechanisms in place for facilitating international relief. As a result, we see unnecessary bureaucratic bottlenecks and a lack of effective monitoring of the quality and coordination of international assistance.
For example, in several states affected by the 2004 tsunami, hundreds of containers of relief goods were stuck in customs for months. Humanitarian personnel were required to repeatedly fly in and out of the affected countries to renew visas.
At the same time, there and in other recent disasters, inappropriate and unnecessary goods and interventions from the international community posed a great burden on local officials and National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies and sometimes represented an affirmative danger to disaster-affected persons.
To address these kinds of problems, the International Federation led a global collaborative process to develop the “Guidelines for the domestic facilitation and regulation of international disaster relief and initial recovery assistance”.
The IDRL Guidelines were unanimously adopted by states and the components of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement at its 30th International Conference in November 2007. EU member states and European National Red Cross Societies made joint pledges at the Conference with regard to following up with the Guidelines.
We strongly recommend that the implementation plans for the Consensus will include support for the dissemination and promotion of the IDRL Guidelines, both within the EU and in the states where it provides assistance.
Building local capacities:
While continuously optimising our international response capabilities, we are giving highest importance to increase local community, civil society and Red Cross Red Crescent capacity to address the most urgent situations of vulnerability.
Wherever we work we are benefiting from local knowledge and the many volunteers of National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies and the support from regionally and internationally active national societies (including many European National Societies) cooperating in alliances with our colleagues in the affected countries.
For example: The global measles Initiative – a partnership led by the American Red Cross, the United Nations Foundation, UNICEF, the U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention, and WHO connecting many international supporters with governments and local partners in over 50 countries - with global and local impact: between 2001 and 2006, measles deaths had dropped globally by 68 percent and in Africa, by more than 91 percent.
Since 2001, 40 National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies have been able to support measles campaigns with 80,000 volunteers – who are the main connectors to the communities at risk. By the end of 2006, these campaigns reached more than 240 million children.
For example: Across West Africa and Morocco, the effects of complex emergencies, sudden and slow onset disasters such as drought, famine and desertification demand more resources and presence from our national Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies and their volunteers.
Migration in this region is increasing and migrants are trying to reach the coast of Spain and other European countries.
We are working in alliances between African and European partners and one of the most important elements of this collaboration is the enhancement of the capacities of our African partners to work on the spot with the affected communities and to strengthen national and regional disaster response teams.
For example: Only three weeks ago, the Mozambique Red Cross Society concentrated all its forces in the north of the country to fight another major flood disaster.
This year compared to the 2001 flood, deaths have so far been recorded in much lower numbers. A combination of resettlement, prompt evacuation readiness and overall preparedness works. This year’s floods operation further proves the impact of community based early warning and risk reduction – however, the major flood is still to be expected, it has not yet arrived!
For example: Only three months ago Cyclone Sidr devastated parts of Bangladesh and caused terrible destruction.
It is important to remember that while 3,300 people lost their lives in the Cyclone Sidr, the cyclone’s power was such that the death toll could easily have matched the 500,000 people who died in a very similar cyclone in 1970. In the years since the 1970 cyclone, massive operations have been conducted by the Bangladesh Red Crescent Society, the government of Bangladesh and many other actors in risk reduction. Over 650,000 people were evacuated to Cyclone Shelters, many of which are built and managed by the Bangladesh Red Crescent Society.
For example: During the Rasht earthquake operation in July 2007 in Tajikistan, local disaster response committees responded within 3.5 hrs, and national response teams were on the spot within 5.5 hrs, government aid came into the disaster zone two days later.
The intervention was not just fast, but also qualified as appropriate.
It is interesting to note that in Tajikistan a disaster risk management partnership worked as a permanent coordination mechanism (REACT - Rapid Emergency Assessment and Coordination Team), involving government and specialized national agencies, NGOs, donors and the UN system. Five sectoral sub-groups were established following the cluster model (food, non food items and shelter, health, education and water and sanitation).
From villages to capital cities, we need to build the capacity of communities and to prepare and help themselves.
More attention needs to be paid to improving national and regional preparedness and contingency planning, particularly for natural disasters, with the full involvement of national authorities, the UN, the Red Cross and Red Crescent, NGOs and civil society. International capacity for early warning, international coordination and rapid deployment remains crucial – but it has to be better connected with local and regional resources.
Climate change is expected to lead to an increase in the frequency and/or severity of extreme weather events like heat waves, floods, droughts and tropical cyclones, and the spread of diseases such as malaria and dengue.
Looking back over the past three decades, we can see a dramatic increase in the number of weather related disasters. Between 2004 and 2007, the number of emergencies that the International Federation responded to increased from 278 to 509 per year.
We strongly recommend that the implementation plans for the Consensus will include further support of the international community to strengthen local, national and regional capacities for disaster management.
The IFRC stresses the need to enhance the ability of local communities, civil society and the Red Cross and Red Crescent to deal not only with response but also with extreme vulnerability.
This may be the most viable way of reducing the number of deaths, injuries, illnesses and overall impact of disasters, diseases and public health emergencies at a time when climate change threatens increasing humanitarian crises.
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