Environmental Emergencies and the Force d’Intervention Rapide

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OCHA EMERGENCY SERVICES BRANCH Environmental Emergencies and the Force d’Intervention Rapide Presentation 12 November 2007, Lyon, France

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Environmental Emergencies and the Force d’Intervention Rapide Presentation 12 November 2007, Lyon, France. Overview of presentation. Part 1 Background to FIR-OCHA Collaboration Why coordinate? Why address environment? Questions Part 2 - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Transcript of Environmental Emergencies and the Force d’Intervention Rapide

Page 1: Environmental Emergencies and the  Force d’Intervention Rapide

OCHA EMERGENCY SERVICES BRANCH

Environmental Emergencies and the Force

d’Intervention RapidePresentation 12 November 2007, Lyon, France

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Overview of presentationOverview of presentation• Part 1

– Background to FIR-OCHA Collaboration– Why coordinate? Why address

environment?– Questions

• Part 2– Case example – Pakistan – to show UNDAC

system, role of environment in emergencies

– Recap: Environment in disasters– Questions

• Part 3– Case example

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Background to OCHA-FIR collaborationBackground to OCHA-FIR collaboration

• OCHA:principal UN humanitarian body. Plays the leading role in coordination/ management of disaster response in the UN system

• FIR: can offer specialized expertise to identify and address environmental impacts of disasters

• Draft agreement: FIR experts would be deployed through OCHA to certain disasters.

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Sudden-onset disasters: why coordinate?Sudden-onset disasters: why coordinate?

• Sudden, overwhelming Sudden, overwhelming needsneeds

• Damaged infrastructure Damaged infrastructure & communications& communications

• Chaotic environmentChaotic environment• Casualties & stress Casualties & stress

amongst local officialsamongst local officials• Influx of international Influx of international

assistanceassistance• Pressure of media Pressure of media

attentionattention• Delay in mobilizing Delay in mobilizing

longer-term supportlonger-term support

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UNHCRUNHCR

UN ERC

(OCHA)

UN humanitarianagencies

The REDCROSS

Movement

International &LocalNGOs

UNHumanitarianCoordinator

Who is Being CoordinatedWho is Being Coordinated

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OSOCC

EMOPS

UNCEF

PNS’NGOs

WFP

NGOs

WFPRome

MIL

UNDAC

OCHANew York

HumanitarianCoordinator

UN SGUN SGOCHA

ERC

CMOC

UNCS

USAID/DART

Ambassador

DonorGovt’s

NGOsNGOs

UNDP

UNHCR

Private

IFRC

Relief Coordination – The Reality…Relief Coordination – The Reality…

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UNDAC: a key coordination toolUNDAC: a key coordination tool• Disaster response tool

of the UN Emergency Relief Coordinator

• Team of rapidly deployable international emergency management experts

• Stand-by capacity available worldwide

• Immediate deployment (12 - 24 hours)

• Deployed for approx. 3 weeks

• Self-sufficient• A neutral, international

asset, provided free of cost

ConceptConcept

Components

Membership

Member Countries

Team Members

OCHA’s Role

Deployment

Equipment

Training

Statistics

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The UNDAC ConceptThe UNDAC Concept• Assists UN & national authorities, under

leadership of UN Humanitarian/ Resident Coordinator

• Provides on-site coordination of incoming international relief & international needs for early and qualified information during the first phase of a sudden-onset emergency

ConceptConcept

Components

Membership

Member Countries

Team Members

OCHA’s Role

Deployment

Equipment

Training

Statistics

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UNDAC Deployment StatisticsUNDAC Deployment Statistics

Explosions Explosions

VolcanoesVolcanoes

Environmental Environmental

Drought Drought

Forest firesForest fires

TsunamisTsunamis

Response Prep.Response Prep.

Complex Complex Emerg.Emerg.

HurricanesHurricanes

EarthquakesEarthquakes

FloodsFloods 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45

160 UNDAC missions to more than 80 countries since 1993

0n average, one UNDAC mission per month

200 members from 63 countries 200 members from 63 countries &19 international organisations&19 international organisations

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UNDAC Emergency Response MissionsUNDAC Emergency Response MissionsEnvironmental & Man-made EmergenciesEnvironmental & Man-made Emergencies

• Côte d’Ivoire (Toxic Waste Dumping, 2006)• Djibouti (Toxic Spill, 2002)• Hungary (Toxic Spill, 2000) (Cyanide Spill,

2000)• Indonesia (Cracked Gas Well, 2006)• Kenya (Nairobi Bomb Explosion, 1998)• Nigeria (Ammunitions Depot Explosion, 2002)• Romania (Toxic Spill, 2000) (Cyanide Spill,

2000)• Syrian Arab Republic (Dam Collapse, 2002)• Yugoslavia (Cyanide Spill, 2000)

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UNDAC Emergency Response MissionsUNDAC Emergency Response Missions

Many emergency response missions include:

• an UNDAC-trained environmental expert (performing UNDAC functions as well as providing environmental expertise)

• + associate experts (non-UNDAC trained – providing environmental expertise)

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UNDAC team member skillsUNDAC team member skills• Practical, organized• Team player, team

building skills• Flexible, able to assume

a variety of functions• Strong communication/

interpersonal skills• Physically & mentally fit• Able to cope with

hardship/chaos• Able to drive, swim• Basic first aid • Culturally aware

• Leadership skills/able to assume authority

• Negotiation skills• Chairing meetings• Briefings, presentations,

public info• Report writing, analysis• Info mgmt• Security/CMCoord• IT, radio/telecoms

proficient• Logistics, operational

support• Language skills – English

+ …

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Obligations of UNDAC Team MembersObligations of UNDAC Team Members

• Ensure readiness for missions– Vaccinations– Travel documents– Personal equipment– Work/family

commitments• Respond to UNDAC

mobilization messages • Be available for

UNDAC missions, at least once per year

• Participate in refresher & other courses to update skills

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UNDAC MethodologyUNDAC Methodology• Predefined methods for establishing

– Coordination structures– Organizing and facilitating assessments– Information management

• UNDAC Handbook – revised & updated to take account of

lessons learned/new developments

• Rapid Alert & Deployment Procedures– SMS + e-mail/fax– 24 hour travel booking– Swiss plane if needed– Despatch within 24 hours of request

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UNDAC EquipmentUNDAC Equipment

UNDAC Personal Equipment• Clothing (jacket, vest, cap, shirts, waterproofs, etc.)• Living equipment (sleeping bag/roll mat, mosquito

net, stove, water purification bottle, etc.)• First Aid/dust protection mask, etc.

OCHA Mission Equipment• Office kit (laptop, printer, accessories)• Telecoms (VHF radio, satphones)• Assessment kit (GPS, camera) • OSOCC (On-Site Operations Coordination

Centre) – full set office (inc. wireless LAN), telecoms, assessment equipment + flags, tent, etc.

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Disasters: why environment?Disasters: why environment?• Disasters can have deadly

environmental impacts:– Technological disasters (refineries,

factories)– Natural disasters with secondary impacts:

earthquake that destorys a factory, causes a spill

• Joint UNEP/OCHA Environment Unit– Mobilizes/coordinates international

assistance: is there acute environmental impact? If yes: mobilize resources to address it.

– OFTEN WORKS THROUGH UNDAC TEAMS

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END OF PART 1END OF PART 1• QUESTIONS BEFORE MOVING TO CASE

EXAMPLE?

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UNDACUNDAC

Mission to Pakistan Earthquake

October 2005

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Sequence of EventsSequence of EventsSaturday 8 Oct 2005 (Geneva time)• O550 hrs (Geneva time) – Earthquake• 0825 hrs - UNDAC Alert sent, team composed, put on standby• 1800 hrs - Pakistan Govt requested international assistance • 2345 hrs - UNDAC team departed by Swiss provided aircraft from

Geneva • TWO ENVIRONMENTAL EXPERTS ON UNDAC TEAM

Sunday 9 Oct (local time)• 0930 – UNDAC Team arrives Islamabad, ahead of all but 2 USAR

teams • 1030 – Airport Reception Centre established by UNDAC• 1600 – UNDAC advance party sent to Muzaffarabad to establish

OSOCC for international USAR teams.• In Islamabad, UNDAC meet Govt, UN RC, UN Country team,

decided on Flash Appeal• International USAR teams start arriving Islamabad• Pakistan Army using helicopters to deliver relief

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Sequence of Events 2Sequence of Events 2Monday 10 Oct• OSOCC at Muzaffarabad fully functional• USAR operations, Islamabad & Muzaffarabad• UN Flash Appeal sent to Geneva by 2100 hrs

Tuesday 11 Oct• UN Emergency Response Coordination Centre established

in Islamabad by UNDAC for UN • UN RC & UNDAC team leader visit Muzaffarabad• International USAR teams continue to arrive• Roads not cleared – all rescue and relief operations by

helicopter• Pakistan Army starts move of two Divisions into NWFP and

Kashmir

Wednesday 11 Oct• USAR Phase, casualty evacuation and relief continue• Condoleeza Rice visits Islamabad

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Sequence of Events 3Sequence of Events 3Thursday 12 Oct• UN ERC arrives – visits Muzaffarabad• USAR, casualty evacuation and relief continue• UN ERC meets Govt of Pakistan• Maj Gen Farooq Ahmed Khan appointed Federal Relief

Commissioner• ENVIRONMENTAL EXPERTS IDENTIFY WASTE, MEDICAL WASTE,

SLOPE INSTABILITY ISSUES, NOTIFY JOINT UNIT. JOINT UNIT CONTACTS DONORS TO IDENTIFY SPECIALIZED EXPERTS.

Friday 13 Oct• UN ERC meets President Musharraf • One month visa on arrival granted, improved liaision with military

promised• Road access on main roads improves• International USAR teams start to withdraw• Casualty evacuation continues, relief effort stepped up• UNDAC Airport Reception Centre converted into USAR Departure

Centre

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Sequence of Events 4Sequence of Events 4Saturday 15 Oct• Govt agrees to locate Liaision Officer in UN Emergency Centre• UN decides to establish second humanitarian hub at Mansehra• Pakistan Air Force MI – 17 helicopter on relief mission crashes

near Bagh• Bad weather does not permit relief operations• SRSA camp arrives (90 person) – to be located at Muzaffarabad

Sunday 16 Oct• Bad weather continues• UNDAC team deploys to Mansehra • Additional UNDAC members deployed to establish additional

humanitarian hub at Bagh• JOINT UNIT BEGINS TO DEPLOY ENVIRONMENTAL EXPERT AS

QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE TO PROVIDE SUPPORT TO NATIONAL AUTHORITIES

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Environment in PakistanEnvironment in Pakistan

Sudden onsetdisaster

Phase 1.

UNDAC Environment Experts deployed to identify major impacts and risks

Phase 2.

Sectoral experts deployed to address problems identified by UNDAC experts in phase 1.

Emergency response phase Recovery/rehabilitation (medium-longer term)

Phase 3.

Integration of environmental issues into the recovery/rehabilitation activities

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Summary of FIR and environmentSummary of FIR and environment• What is needed from experts:

– Rapid identifcation of acute, life-threatening issues – talk to national authorities!

– Tell the Joint Unit quickly what is needed.– Help national authorities with request for

assistance.– No issues is still OK.

• Joint Unit support– ERI– Contacts and assistance– Backstopping

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End of Part 2End of Part 2• Questions before moving to case

examples?