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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• INSERT PHOTO
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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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• INSERT PHOTO
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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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• INSERT PHOTO
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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?