Posted: December 20th, 2014

complex humanitarian emergency or an international disaster event

The original question from my professor was:
Using a case study approach, provide an example of the issues of responding to a complex humanitarian emergency or an international disaster event. (choose one type of event.) Discuss disaster management models, logistics, political and capacity related topics as applicable. This should be 2-3 pages of substantive analysis, posted to the discussion board.
My 2-page answer to this question was:
The cluster approach in responding to international disasters is a system that entails proper coordination of the efforts towards relieving the affected people. Proper coordination is necessary when dealing with the international, local and the host government efforts towards responding to a disaster. Without proper coordination, it will lead to duplication of efforts and delay in delivering the required aid. The paper will explore how the cluster approach was used in dealing with the Tsunami issue in Indonesia, Maldives and Sri Lanka.
The UN Humanitarian Organization, the Red Cross Movement, and the NGOs had their coordination through their field representatives. These organizations had different divisions dealing with specific issues. For instance, there were those who were dealing with the delivery of health services to the victims and others were responsible for the distributions of food to the victims. Division of labor guided the subdivision of duties to various groups based on their competencies. The multilateral and bilateral donor funding was regulated and controlled by the central government of the host countries. All the efforts of the NGOs, Red Cross Movement and the UN had a central command system through which they coordinated their efforts. The central command system was tasked with the responsibility of ensuring that the alignments of the efforts of the organizations are in a way that they do not collide with each other. Every organization and its representatives had a duty to play, which was different from the organization’s activities. All the organizations reported in a pyramid structured system of communication. The field participants reported to their field coordinator, who in turn reported to the chief coordinator of their organization. The chief coordinator reported to the central command system that consisted of all the teams that were engaged in the field (Benett, Bertrand, Harkin, Samarasinghe, & Wickramatillake, 2006).
Coordination meetings were held severally, which served as platform information exchanges, resource allocations, distribution, change of responsibilities and platform for strategic planning and decision-making. At the meetings, the field coordinators gave a report on their continued efforts and reported for any need for adjustment if necessary. The efforts of the military groups were also used in the distribution of relief food and the transfer of patients to hospitals for emergency services. Air transport by the military was found as the fastest in transferring emergency services to the victims and to hospitals for attendance by doctors. Satellite images were used to relay information to the central management centers, which evaluated the images sent and could develop the appropriate action to be taken (Harkin, 2005).
A Tsunami Recovery Consortium was held, and former US president Bill Clinton was appointed as the leader (Benett, Bertrand, Harkin, Samarasinghe, & Wickramatillake, 2006). He was tasked with the responsibility of ensuring that the funds donated were well spent and ensured that money was not wasted or used unnecessarily. Bill Clinton was to champion the idea that the world has a moral obligation of building the areas that were affected by the disaster. Also, he had to ensure that all the efforts were focused on restoring the affected countries to the way they were before the disaster happened. The recovery efforts entailed the compensation programs that were organized by the UN agencies (Unicef, 2008). Communication with the affected families and the provision of counseling services was necessary to help the affected cope with the traumatic effects of the disaster. Resettling and construction of households were necessary as part of the relief effort.
From the above discussion, it is evident that proper coordination of the efforts was necessary for the achievement of recovery for the affected. The efforts should not only be focused on dealing with the problems at the time of occurrence, but also helping the affected resume their normal live although not everything can be given back to them.

References
Benett, J., Bertrand, W., Harkin, C., Samarasinghe, S., & Wickramatillake, H. (2006). Coordination of international humanitarian assistance in tsunami-affected countries. London: Tsunami Evaluation Coalition (TEC).
Harkin, C. (2005). The 2004 Tsunami: Civil Military Aspects of the International Response. London: Tsunami Evaluation Coalition.
Unicef. (2008). 2004 Indian Ocean Earthquake and Tsunami. Retrieved December 15, 2014, from Unicef: https://www.unicef.org/har08/index_tsunami.html

NOW, the comment and question, you will answer in this order, from my professor was:
Coordination is certainly imperative, so within that…how much has to do with communication and sharing similar goals and visions as seperate entities?
– SO, PLEASE ANSWER HIS QUESTION IN A LONG PARAGRAPH USING TWO REFERENCES (BUT) TO BE GUIDED PLEASE BE THAT NATURE OF THIS COURSE FOUND IN THE COURSE DESCRIPTION.
– Regards!

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