UNITED NATIONS HUMANITARIAN CIVIL-MILITARY COORDINATION:

RESPONSE OPERATIONSAND TRAINING

The United Nations System

Increased number of natural hazards provoking natural disasters.

Fewer new wars, but more long standing complex conflicts.

Fewer refugees, but more internally displaced persons.

More actors who are engaging in humanitarian response.

A CHANGING CONTEXT IN A CHANGING WORLD

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WHY DO WE NEEDCOORDINATION? We need to deal with a multiplicity of actors.

We need to work with limited resources.

We need to avoid the politicization of aid.

We need to avoid gaps, duplications, and assure the responsibility of each humanitarian partner.

AID IS AN ABSOLUTE RIGHT

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1991: General Assembly Resolution 46/182 created the Emergency Relief Coordinator as the focal point and voice for humanitarian emergencies.

OCHA’S MANDATE AND MISSION

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OCHA’S FIVE CORE FUNCTIONS: Humanitarian Coordination Humanitarian Advocacy Policy Development Management of Humanitarian Info Humanitarian Financing

OCHA is the UN Focal Point for Humanitarian Civil-Military Coordination

Predictability, Predictability, Accountability Accountability and Partnership and Partnership in all response in all response sectors;sectors;

Better support Better support to national-led to national-led response efforts;response efforts;

Common Common standards and standards and tools.tools.

THE CLUSTERAPPROACH

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Humanitarian Principles

Humanity: Human suffering must be addressed wherever it is found, with particular attention to the most vulnerable in the population, such as children, women and the elderly. The dignity and rights of all victims must be respected and protected.

Neutrality: Humanitarian assistance must be provided without engaging in hostilities or taking sides in controversies of a political, religious or ideological nature.

Impartiality: Humanitarian assistance must be provided without discriminating as to ethnic origin, gender, nationality, political opinions, race or religion. Relief of the suffering must be guided solely by needs and priority must be given to the most urgent cases of distress.

Key Considerations for Humanitarian Action

Access to vulnerable populations

Perception of humanitarian action

Operational independence of humanitarian operation

Security of humanitarian personnel

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Transforming Civil-Military Environment Increased role of military in relief

operations Humanitarian missions specifically

assigned to armed forces Multi-dimensional UN

Peacekeeping Operations Integrated Missions and Planning

Process Increased emphasis on the full

range of national and multilateral power Diplomacy, Development, Defense,

Private Corporations Increasing humanitarian

acceptance of an appropriate military role in assistance operations

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UN Humanitarian Civil-Military Coordination

UN Definition: The essential dialogue and interaction between civilian and military actors in humanitarian emergencies that is necessary to protect and promote humanitarian principles, avoid competition, minimize inconsistency, and when appropriate, pursue common goals.

Coordination is a shared shared responsibilityresponsibility facilitated by liaison and common training. Information sharing, Task

division, Planning

Possible Interaction between Humanitarian and Military Actors

Liaison arrangements Information sharing Military assets in

humanitarian operations Military or armed escorts Coordinated civil-military

operations

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UN-CMCoord Training Multiple levels 15 to 20 iterations per year.

UN-CMCoord Guidelines and Reference

UN-CMCoord operations and field deployments Robust exercise program

Capacity Building and Technical Assistance

Linkage to the UN Agencies and Humanitarian Community

UN-CMCoord Functions and Services

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Existing UN-CMCoord Guidelines and References Guidelines on the Use of Military and Civil Defence Assets in Disaster Relief (Oslo Guidelines)

The Use of Military and Civil Defence Assets in Support of Humanitarian Activities in Complex Emergencies (MCDA Guidelines)

Interagency Standing Committee Reference Paper on Civil Military Relations in Complex Emergencies

The Use of Military or Armed Escorts for Humanitarian Convoys

Civil-Military Guidelines and Reference for Complex Emergencies

Civil-Military Coordination Officer Field Handbook

Country Specific Guidance

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ReliefWeb…………………………….............http://www.reliefweb.int

One Response………...………….…..……..…..http://oneresponse.info

UN Logistics Cluster…….…..........................http://www.logcluster.org

Humanitarian Early Warning System……......http://www.hewsweb.org

Global Disaster Alert & Coordination System.….http://www.gdacs.org

Humanitarian news and analysis…….……...http://www.IRINnews.org

Humanitarian Information Centres…..http://www.humanitarianinfo.org

OCHA………………………………………http://www.ochaonline.org

WHERE TO FIND OUT MORE

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