CoordinationCoordination

Leaders 2003Leaders 2003

INTERNATIONAL ASSISTANCEINTERNATIONAL ASSISTANCEIN PERSPECTIVE . . .IN PERSPECTIVE . . .

ASSISTANCE FROMWITHIN THE COUNTRY

EXTERNALASSISTANCE

(1-2%)

BILATERAL

MULTILATERAL

NGOs

FROM ONE EXTREME TO THE OTHERFROM ONE EXTREME TO THE OTHER

1980’sNational sovereignity

of the affected countryis absolute

1990’sDonor country

knows best!

ASSISTANCE REQUESTSASSISTANCE REQUESTS

DISASTERAFFECTEDCOUNTRY

INTERNATIONALCOMMUNITY

FOREIGN AFFAIRS

PRESIDENCY

MINISTRY OF HEALTH

CIVIL DEFENSE

RED CROSS/NGOs

INDIVIDUAL HOSPITALS

THERE ARE DELAYS BETWEEN THE THERE ARE DELAYS BETWEEN THE REQUEST AND THE ARRIVAL OF SUPPLIESREQUEST AND THE ARRIVAL OF SUPPLIES

ASSESSMENT OF NEEDS

PREPARATION OF REQUESTSSUBMISSION TO LOCAL

REPRESENTATIVES

REVISION BY DONOR AGENCIES

CONSULTATIONS BETWEEN ORGANIZATIONS

DECISION AND PLEDGE OFFORMAL ASSISTANCE

PROCUREMENT OF GOODSTRANSPORTATION

RECEPTION ANDDISTRIBUTION

DISASTER IMPACT

DURING NORMAL TIMES . . .DURING NORMAL TIMES . . .

I NEEDONE

DOCTOR!

THE RIGHT THINGTHE RIGHT THING

DISASTERAREA

I NEEDONE

DOCTOR!

PAHO/WHO Cooperation in DisastersPAHO/WHO Cooperation in Disasters

• coordinates international health assistancecoordinates international health assistance

– Caribbean Response TeamCaribbean Response Team

• Provides technical cooperation in the health fieldProvides technical cooperation in the health field

Coordinating International Health Coordinating International Health AssistanceAssistance

• participates in the assessment of external health needsparticipates in the assessment of external health needs

• contributes to OCHA Situation Reports for health matters, contributes to OCHA Situation Reports for health matters, medical care, water, nutrition, environmental health, . . .medical care, water, nutrition, environmental health, . . .

• assumes responsibility for health aspects of UNDAC assumes responsibility for health aspects of UNDAC operations when mobilizedoperations when mobilized

• informs donors of appropriateness of requests/offersinforms donors of appropriateness of requests/offers

Cooperation in disasters

PAHO/WHOPAHO/WHO

• specially trained staff in PAHO country offices and specially trained staff in PAHO country offices and regional centersregional centers

• experts from the regional disaster programsexperts from the regional disaster programs

• consultants from the Regionconsultants from the Region

Cooperation in disasters

National disaster coordinators are National disaster coordinators are assisted in field assessments by:assisted in field assessments by:

Assessment of damages and needsAssessment of damages and needs

• Over 100 PAHO experts on-site in Central Over 100 PAHO experts on-site in Central America + 59 mobilized for this purposeAmerica + 59 mobilized for this purpose

• “ “Seasoned” disaster experts dispatched Seasoned” disaster experts dispatched

• All with a knowledge of local conditions prior All with a knowledge of local conditions prior to the hurricaneto the hurricane

Coordinating External AssistanceCoordinating External Assistance

• Generate and disseminate informationGenerate and disseminate information

• Provide a forum for dialogueProvide a forum for dialogue

• NGOs and GovernmentsNGOs and Governments

• Donors and recipientsDonors and recipients

Some chaos is an integral part of all Some chaos is an integral part of all disastersdisasters

Let’s ensure that external humanitarian Let’s ensure that external humanitarian assistance do not contribute to theassistance do not contribute to the

‘secondary disaster’‘secondary disaster’

When humanitarian assistanceWhen humanitarian assistance becomes a problem? becomes a problem?

When humanitarian assistanceWhen humanitarian assistance becomes a problem? becomes a problem?

• Unsolicited donations exceed the Unsolicited donations exceed the absorption capacityabsorption capacity

• Foreign teams bypass the national Foreign teams bypass the national coordinator and take overcoordinator and take over

• National priorities are overlooked National priorities are overlooked

• National institutions are weakenedNational institutions are weakened

• External resources and influence may External resources and influence may seem overwhelming:seem overwhelming:

– Bilateral agenciesBilateral agencies– Mighty MilitaryMighty Military– International NGOsInternational NGOs

SuggestionsSuggestions

• A good and realistic assessment of needs:A good and realistic assessment of needs:– Know and tell what you want and DO NOT Know and tell what you want and DO NOT

wantwant

• Master communications with the mediaMaster communications with the media

• Go to the donor public directly: Use the Go to the donor public directly: Use the InternetInternet

SuggestionsSuggestions

• Monitor the trend towards humanitarian Monitor the trend towards humanitarian interventionism interventionism

• Formulate a position at the ECOSOC, OAS, Formulate a position at the ECOSOC, OAS, OCS and other political forum:OCS and other political forum:

• Clarify the responsibilities for coordinationClarify the responsibilities for coordination

• Promote UNDAC as a tool at the service of Promote UNDAC as a tool at the service of nationalnational institutions institutions

• Support the SUMA approach of strengthening Support the SUMA approach of strengthening the national capacity rather than substituting it.the national capacity rather than substituting it.