Security And Humanitarian Workers: Staying Alive

Question 1

Learning objectives

Answer 1

• Security and safety threats
• Threat information sources
• Personal threat mitigation measures
• Communal threat mitigation measures
• Role of teams in safe and effective delivery of disaster relief

Question 2

Define the term “Threat”

Answer 2

Any factors (actions, circumstances, or events) which have
the potential or possibility to cause harm, loss, or damage
to the NGO, including its personnel, assets, and operations.

Question 3

Define the term “Risk”

Answer 3

The combination of the impact and likelihood for harm,
loss, or damage to NGOs from the exposure to threats.
Risks are categorized in levels from Very Low to Very High for their prioritisation.

Question 4

List the different types of natural threats (3)

Answer 4

• Climate
• Disease
• Topography

Question 5

List the different types of man-made threats (3)

Answer 5

• Crime
• Violence
• Infrastructure damage

Question 6

What are the 2 main types of threats?

Answer 6

• Inherent
• Targeted

Question 7

What are the features of inherent threats?

Answer 7

• Non targeted threats
• Work and travel: ill health; work place accidents; vehicle accidents; air crashes; boat accidents etc
• Natural hazards: Earthquakes, floods, avalanches, wildfires
• Wrong place, Wrong time: Demonstrates and rallies, indiscriminate violences, looting, crossfire, military actions
• Indiscriminate weapons: Mines and unexplored ordnance, shelling and aerial bombardment, chemical and biological weapons

Question 8

What are the features of targeted threats?

Answer 8

• Crime: Armed robbery or theft, arson, ambush, carjacking, bribery, extortion and fraud
• Acts of violence: Bodily harm, assault, sexual violence
• Acts of terror: Bombs/improvised explosive devices, suicide attacks, shootings/assassinations
• Staff disappearance: Detention, arrest, abduction, kidnapping
• Psychological intimidation: Harassment, death threats

Question 9

What is the security management framework? VD

Answer 9

Assess -> Plan -> Implement -> Monitor -> Review -> influences

Question 10

Where do you find out about the security assessment of a country?

Answer 10

• You go on the gov.uk website and search up your country of interest
• For e.g. Democratic Republic of Congo
• Then you click on foreign travel advice
• Then go to safety and security

Question 11

What is the assessment of risk based on?

Answer 11

• Based on 2 main factors:
• Impact
• Likelihood

Question 12

What are the subcategories for the table between impact and likelihood? VD

Answer 12

• Impact: Negligable, Minor, Moderate, Severe, Critical
• Likelihood: Very likely, Likely, Moderately Likely, Unlikely, Very unlikely

Question 13

How does using information sources help us out?

Answer 13

• Assessment of risk: Impact and likelihood
• Risk mitigation measures
• Residual risk and it’s acceptability
• Importance of planning

Question 14

Why is planning key in terms of security?

Answer 14

• Prior
• Preparation
• Planning
• Prevent
• Pathetically
• Poor
• Performance
• If you fail to plan, you plan to fail

Question 15

When is mitigation of risk used?

Answer 15

• Prior to departure
• During a deployment
• Post-deployment

Question 16

How is mitigation of risk used prior to departure?

Answer 16

• Mission
• Tasks
• Planning
• Selection of personnel: Skills, fitness
• Equipment: Personal, Technical

Question 17

How is mitigation of risk used prior to departure? (PART 2)

Answer 17

• Mission rehearsal
• Individual training: ‘Survival’ skills! Technical/professional role, Team working
• Medical preparation: Vaccinations, Chemoprophylaxis

Question 18

List some basic survival skills

Answer 18

• Food and water hygiene
• Protection against the elements
• Sanitation
• Personal hygiene
• Sleep drills/discipline
• Stress management
• Defensive driving

Question 19

What are some skills to consider for organisational team training?

Answer 19

• Ethos
• Doctrine
• Policy
• Standards to be applied

Question 20

List the security considerations when travelling to a dangerous country

Answer 20

• Personal
• Equipment
• Transport
• Supplies
• Prevention of inter-factional violence within camps
• Crime/sexual violence

Question 21

List the personal security considerations when travelling to a dangerous country

Answer 21

• Do not display expensive belongings
• Try not to be too loud or easily picked out
• Always keep your belongings in sight or properly secured
• Try to look the least like a military person as possible
• Ask for and follow local advice

Question 22

What is a key message for maintaining personal security?

Answer 22

Situational Awareness

Question 23

What are the security procedures you’ll need to carry out when travelling to a dangerous country?

Answer 23

• Booking in and out
• Routes and ETA
• Communications
• Maintenance of vehicles
• No individual movement

Question 24

What is team working?

Answer 24

A group of willing and trained individuals who are:
- United around a common goal
- Depending on each other to achieve it
- Structured to work together
- Sharing responsibility for their task
- Empowered to implement decisions

Question 25

Why should we have teams in general?

Answer 25

• Meet psycho-social needs
• Provide appropriate skills mixes
• Provide mutual support to members
• Division of tasks
• Can produce originality
• Most efficient, self-sustaining type of group

Question 26

What is team building?

Answer 26

• Team communication guidelines
• Team ground rules:
• Respect, Responsibility, Procedures, Discussion, Differences, Non team behaviour

Question 27

What are the considerations to be taken post deployment?

Answer 27

• Continuing chemo prophylaxis
• Medical ‘screening’
• Dissolve team carefully
• Identify lessons
• Re-fit