Key definitions Flashcards
Cluster system
*Clusters are groups of humanitarian organizations, both UN and non-UN, in each of the main sectors of humanitarian action, e.g., water, health and logistics. They are designated by the Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC) and have clear responsibilities for coordination.
*WHO for health
*UNHCR for IDPs (internally displaced person-like a refugee but within the same country)
*WFP for logistics
*Globally there is 11 clusters however on the field level the number may vary.
*It first came to use in the Pakistan earthquake in 2005 and Timor- Leste in 2009.
*In 2005 there was a UN review of global humanitarian systems, it was decided that coordination should be strengthened and there should be a central emergency response fund.
*There was also a cluster system formed
*This cluster system focuses on increasing coordination and capacity. Good coordination means less gaps and overlaps in the assistance delivered by humanitarian organizations.
DFID
Department for International Development
DEC
Disasters and Emergencies Committee
*This committee was created in 1963 and it is up to 15 charities working the disaster field (currently 14). Rather than competing after a disaster they co-ordinate together to fundraise.
*This in turn increases accountability and effectiveness
IETR
International Emergency Trauma Register
*This followed the Haiti Earthquake
*DFID (Department for International Funding) , DoH (Department for health) and interested NGOs met . Hosted by UK Med
*Created a database of volunteers; This was a database of accredited/trained volunteers, it was up to date. This database was first used in Libya
*Rebranded Emergency Medical Register for Ebola
*Recently has been relaunched with team-based structure
Complex Emergencies
A multifaceted humanitarian crisis in a country, region, or society where there is a total or considerable breakdown of authority resulting from internal or external conflict which requires a multi-sectoral international response.
with a pre-existing stressor for e.g.:
* Conflict
* Famine
* Mass Population Movement
* Social & Political Breakdown
*As the stressor is ongoing it causes a delayed response to the natural disaster and almost always external help is needed.
*Classic Example – Haiti – a very big earthquake but also had a dysfunctional government making the situation a complex emergency.
What is a landmine?
*Landmines or more simply known as mines are explosive traps. They contain explosives in some form of casing (typically metal, plastic or wood) there is also a fusing mechanism to detonate the explosive.
*This is a global epidemic with landmines in Afghanistan, Angola, Cambodia, Somalia, Iran, Peru etc..
*They are not laid randomly – they have specific military objectives (offensive, defensive and nuisance minelaying)
IEDs
Improvised Explosive Device
*IEDs are bombs constructed in ways other than conventional military action
*It may be constructed using conventional explosives such as artillery shell.
*They are commonly used as roadside bombs.
*They can also be made with homemade explosives
PMSC
Private Military and Security Companies
UN
The United Nations is an overriding intergovernmental organisation.
*It was established on the 24th October 1945.
*It operates in 193 states and its headquarters are in New York. There also offices in Geneva, Nairobi, and Vienna.
UN: ECOSOC
*This is the UN Economic and Social Council, and they are responsible for the cooperation between states on economic and social matters e.g., trade agreements.
*They co-ordinate the cooperation’s between the UN’s specialised agencies e.g., UNICEF and WHO.
*There are 54 members in the UN’s ECOSOC, and they are voted in from the general assembly.
OCHA
the united nations office for the coordination of humanitarian affairs (OCHA) was formed in 1991 and replaced the DHA/UNDRC.
*The OCHA is an interagency body, serving UN Agencies and NGOs.
*It is headed by Reena Ghelani, who is the under-secretary general for humanitarian affairs and emergency relief coordinator.
*He is also the IASC (Inter-Agency standing committee) lead.
UNDAC
*United Nations Disaster Assessment and Coordination. It was created in 1993 and give help to the UN & SODs affected countries in 1st phase of disaster response
* Teams deploy within 12-48hrs. it is Free
* Earthquakes:
- OSOCC
- USAR Teams
- INSARAG
UNHCR
*This is the office of the united nations high commissioner for refugees, it’s also the UNs refugee agency.
*UNHCR was founded in 1951 and its headquarters are in Geneva.
*They aim to provide protection for refugees and seek a solution for them.
The Red Cross & Red Crescent Movement
*The Red Cross is not part of UN and is distinct in nature because it is an international humanitarian movement.
*It was founded in 1863 by Henry Dunant and is Geneva based, it has around 100 million volunteers globally.
*Within the red cross you have the:
-International federation of the red cross (IFRC) = The federation of national red cross societies i.e., there is a UK red cross society and a Spanish red cross, the IFRC would coordinate all these different societies. These societies mainly have volunteers that do minimal first aid courses and things like give our blankets or water.Coordinates & directs international assistance following natural & man-made disasters in non-conflict. Not to do with IHL
-International Committee of the red cross (ICRC) = They are essentially the teeth of the red cross; they implement and assess international humanitarian law. They are mandated under international law to carry out humanitarian actions to situations of armed conflicts. They make prison visits. They monitor the adherence to international conventions. They carry out relief operations, missing person’s operations (after conflict), family reunification and war surgery and rehabilitation
