Emergency Capacity Building Project

Safety, Security & Civil / Military Relations

SAFETY & SECURITYMSF Action In Precarious

Situations

General Objectives

To understand potential safety & security risks Be aware of MSF safety and security guidelines

Specific Objectives

To understand and accept MSF general security policy Awareness of various safety & security risks to MSF work

Lesson Plan

General introduction safety & security Inventory and prevention of safety & security risks MSF, field and volunteer responsibilities Case studies

What is # 1 Death Cause?

Car accidents

Main Repatriation Cause?

Malaria related

Safety and Security Risks

Car Accidents Diseases Robbery And Theft Fraud / Embezzlement Alcohol /Drugs

Hijack / Carjack Military Action Warfare Landmines Armed Assaults

Four Main Risk Minimising Rules

COMMON SENSE: Makes up 50% of minimising risk. Rules and measures the other 50%

CONSENSUS: should be reached within team on security policy, rules, measures and eventual

exceptions on the rules

COMMUNICATION: within team and between team and HQ are

essential to increase awareness and Consensus

CALMNESS: everybody knows fear! try to stay calm and support your colleagues.

Summarising... Common Sense Consensus Communication Calmness

MSF Responsibility

It is MSF’s decision to work in unstable and security risk prone areas:• to establishes whether security conditions are

acceptable and• determine specific risk minimising measures

Field Responsibility

On Project level the Project Coordinator bears final responsibility to monitor security conditions and maintain a security plan

On capital level the Head of Mission carries final responsibility at country level to monitor security conditions and endorse plans

Every Team Member

Must be familiar with MSF security policy Must know and accept the local security plan Should bring any disagreement with the plan and the

risk minimising measures to discussion with the coordinator and team

MAY LEAVE THE PROJECT when he/she does not accept the

security plan, risk minimising measures and/or the prevailing

security risk conditions

Communication Format

Who Communicates with Whom?

Team members with Coordinator Coordinator with Country Manager Coordinator with local sources Country Manager with local sources Country Manager with HQ Headquarters with international sources

team setting

coordinatorteam member

team member

security officer

country manager

external local sources

HQ sourcescapital sources

??

From this presentation...

What did you learn about your risk factors? What can you say about MSF’s presence? What can you estimate on your own role in a project?

Imagine This......

AFRICA

A peaceful village somewhere in Africa

refugees AFRICA

A problem arises elsewhere and refugees arrive near the village

refugees AFRICA

assistance

msf

refugees

msf compound

AFRICA

refugees

msf compound

AFRICA

refugees

msf compound

AFRICA

staff?

refugees

msf compound

AFRICA

$$$jobs

refugees

msf compound

AFRICA

$$$jobs

road by msf donations

AFRICA

Remember.... This was the village before the problems started....

refugees

msf compound

AFRICA

$$$jobs

any consequences?

And now?????

In Summary

Security is very much related to your environment Meaning the impact on the local situation Understanding local habits Sensitivities, interests and potential conflicts......

Therefore....

Take your time to understand the context & the impact of MSF operation

Thereby balancing control on operations and respect for local sensitivities

Lastly... You are NOT enjoying diplomatic protection You are subject to local laws and criminal prosecution And...... you are an outside visitor in a foreign country So.... always respect the local power structure and its

populations.

Your Security is in Your Own Hands

Remain Security Aware!following: CASE STUDIES IN SUB-GROUPS.....