Disasters and their Effects ​on the Population: Key Concepts

6. Organizations

Organizations capable of providing assistance during humanitarian emergencies

When local resources are insufficient, assistance from multiple national or perhaps multinational organizations will be needed. Each involved organization has its own institutional structure and culture, in addition to other features, such as capacity for response, technical and logistic resources, and thematic or regional approach.

Several international agencies may have activities in the country prior to the event. In response to the disaster these agencies may retarget their resources in the country to emergency relief. Effective coordination and cooperation among involved organizations are essential but very difficult to achieve in the chaotic situation of a massive emergency. There are two major types of organizations that can get involved in assistance when a disaster

National ministries - These are agencies at the national ministry level that have authority for disaster planning and response. A regional conference on disasters took place in 1986 to optimize the preparedness and response mechanisms of Latin American and Caribbean nations. As a result of this conference, most nations established a health disaster coordinator within the Ministry of Health (MoH.) The health disaster coordinator not only coordinates health-related relief efforts in the event of a disaster, but also continuously updates emergency plans and conducts preparedness training for health care professionals.

Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) - This is an international public health agency serving as the Regional Office for the Americas of the World Health Organization. It provides health policy guidance and technical assistance in disaster planning and response (Box 7). More information is available at: www.paho.org.

World Health Organization (WHO)—The WHO provides technical advice and develops health policies relating to disasters. More information is available at: www.who.int.

SUMA (Humanitarian Supply Administration System, developed by the PAHO) - This organization facilitates the reception, inventory, and rapid distribution of essential humanitarian supplies and equipment. In the event of a disaster, PAHO can send SUMA-trained staff to the affected country to assist in managing the inflow of supplies.

United Nations (UN) - The UN is a multinational organization that functions mainly through its sub-agencies, which are independently funded. More information is available at: www.un.org.

The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) - The agency is mandated to lead and co-ordinate international action to protect refugees and resolve refugee problems worldwide. Its primary purpose is to safeguard the rights and well being of refugees. It strives to ensure everyone can exercise the right to seek asylum and find safe refuge in another State, with the option to return home voluntarily, integrate locally, or to resettle in a third country. More information is available at: www.unhcr.org.

World Food Program (WFP) - This organization coordinates the delivery of food to regions in need around the world. More information available at: www.wfp.org.

United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) This organization was created by the UN General Assembly to advocate and protect children’s rights, to help fulfill their basic needs, and to provide opportunities for maximizing the development of their potential. When an emergency occurs, UNICEF focuses on ensuring that basic needs of women and children are fulfilled and on protecting their basic rights. More information is available at: www.unicef.org.

Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA)—In 1998 the OCHA resulted from the reorganization of the UN Department of Humanitarian Affairs (DHA). Its mission was expanded to include the coordination of humanitarian response, policy development, and advocacy. OCHA’s tasks are done through the Inter Agency Permanent Committee that includes multiple participating organizations, such as UN agencies, funds, and programs, the Red Cross, and NGOs. More information is available at: www.unocha.org.

Foreign organizations that provide help in case of disaster - Box 8 identifies some of the governmental agencies of developed countries that provide funding and technical help to countries affected by humanitarian emergencies. PAHO and WHO have developed guidelines to assist disaster-affected countries in managing donor offers from various agencies. According to the 1999 PAHO publication Humanitarian Assistance in Disaster Situations: A Guide for Effective Aid, “In the most advanced developing countries, in particular in Latin America, national health services, voluntary organizations and the affected communities mobilize their own resources to meet the most compelling medical needs in the early phase after a disaster. Requirements for external assistance are generally limited to highly skilled expertise or equipment in a few specialized areas.”

Military help - Both local and foreign military can be mobilized to assist in the response to natural disasters or complex emergencies. Certain unique features make military organizations useful in a disaster.