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| Post-emergency
rehabilitation policy |
Introduction |
| Once
emergency needs have been met following a disaster and the initial
crisis is over, people affected and the communities that support
them are still in a state of heightened vulnerability. The country
and the National Society, from branch to national level, may have
been weakened by the disaster. It is in these situations that post-emergency
rehabilitation programmes should be considered.
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| Scope |
| This
policy covers all National Society and Federation assistance activities,
targeted to disaster affected communities, in the post-emergency phase
of disaster response (as described in the Emergency Response Policy)
which are designed to reduce immediate vulnerability to disaster or
to address the root causes of those vulnerabilities. It also covers
actions taken specifically to rebuild and strengthen the capacity
of the disaster affected National Society. The policy recognizes the
prime responsibility of government, at the national and local level,
to direct and resource disaster rehabilitation and the auxiliary role
of National Societies in complementing such actions. The policy applies
to activities carried out at all levels of the Federation: branch,
national and international. |
| Statement |
|
The
International Federation and each individual National Society shall:
- Undertake rehabilitation activities with the active
participation of the community in the planning and implementation
of the activities on the basis of a timely and thorough assessment
of unmet needs and available response capacity and,
ensuring that, should assistance be given, it is targeted to
the most needy and most vulnerable groups and complements rather
than replaces the responsibilities and activities of government
services.
- Engage in active dialogue with local authorities
over the priorities and focus of rehabilitation programmes seeking
to ensure that local authorities are aware of the National Society's
potential role in rehabilitation and are aware of the Society's
concerns and priorities with regard to rehabilitation programming.
- Prioritize community services. The National
Society and the Federation will prioritize activities which
rehabilitate the most important life preserving systems in a
manner which takes advantage of the Society's volunteer nature,
ongoing programs and skills, and expertise available locally
and through the Federation. Of particular concern should be;
the rehabilitation of health care support systems and public
health infrastructure, the provision of tracing services, systems
to ensure food security and access to potable water, and the
rehabilitation of shelter.
- Enhance capacity building. The National Society
and the Federation shall use rehabilitation programing as an
opportunity to further develop their own skills and capacities
in order to be better able to respond to disasters in the future.
- Consider gender and environment factors.
All National Society and Federation rehabilitation interventions
will be carried out in a gender sensitive manner and with due
regard to environmental concerns. Rehabilitation programs provide
an opportunity to redress unavoidable environmental damage done
during relief operations and an opportunity to develop more
disaster resilient communities through disaster mitigation measures.
- Effectively coordinate rehabilitation activities.
The Operating National Society has ultimate responsibility for
and authority over all rehabilitation activities carried out
in the name of the Federation in its country. All parts of the
Federation - the Operating Society, Participating Societies
and the Secretariat - have an obligation to ensure that their
planning, resource mobilization, implementation and reporting
are effectively coordinated.
- Coordinate with national and local authorities and
other agencies. Federation rehabilitation activities
complement the activities of national and local authorities.
Federation planning and implementation must take into account
the policies, standards and actions of the relevant local authorities
as well as the rehabilitation activities being planned and implemented
by other agencies.
- Develop advocacy for disaster mitigation.
On the basis of its operational work, the National Society and
the Federation where appropriate, will share with local and
national authorities, and other agencies and international organizations,
information and opinion on appropriate strategies and activities
to address disaster vulnerability.
- Develop an exit strategy. The National Society
and the Federation are committed to maintaining involvement
in rehabilitation programming for as long as is necessary to
ensure that the lives and livlihoods of those they seek to assist
are protected. Rehabilitation will be programed so that those
services and activities which are the prime responsibility of
government or other authorities can be handed back to them or
adapted to fit with the long term programming of the National
Society.
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|
| Reponsabilities |
| National
Societies and the Federation have the responsibility to ensure that
all post-disaster rehabilitation operations are carried out in compliance
with this policy, that actions taken under this policy are coordinated
with the rehabilitation activities of the national and local authorities
and other relevant agencies, and that all such authorities and agencies
are adequately informed of this policy. |
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| Further
reference texts |
|
| Reference:
This policy was adopted by the 12th session of the General Assembly
of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies
on October 26, 1999. The policy replaces all previously established
post-disaster rehabilitation policies. |
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| Printed
version |
English
version 
(56kb, 2 pages)
French
version
(59kb, 2 pages) |
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