Julie Bishop address to Council 2010
Humanitarian and emergency response
Emergency response
In recent years, increases in global emergencies and disasters, food insecurity, mass migration, climate degradation and the global financial crisis have posed significant challenges for humanitarian assistance. Australian NGOs continue to deliver accountable assistance through well-developed links into communities and support networks for the Pacific, Asia and Africa regions.
Emergency responses
Philippines
(updated 6 January 2012)
On 16 December 2011, Typhoon Washi, locally known as Sendong, caused flash flooding and landslides causing the death of over 1,200 people and more than 400,000 seeking emergency refuge in the Philippines. More than 720,000 people have been affected in this crisis and humanitarian agencies are working to provide support both within evacuation centres and to affected communities. The number of people seeking refuge in evacuation centres continues to increase and already over-crowded facilities are being strained further.
There are concerns about hygiene and sanitation conditions within the crowded evacuation centres and lack of access to clean water continues to be a problem both for affected communities and those residing in evacuation centres.
Australian NGOs (ANGOs) are providing support and working with local partners to address the needs of the disaster-hit communities. ANGO activities includes provision of non-food items such as cooking utensils, jerry cans, mosquito nets and school supplies; hot food; medical and health support, and; child friendly spaces and psychosocial support.
To find out more about how you can help please see which ACFID Members are running appeals or visit the ACFID Fact Sheet: How Can I Help?
East Africa
(updated 12 December 2011)
The Dollar for Dollar Initiative in which the Australian Government and the Australian public joined forces for the people of East Africa raised more than $25 million for humanitarian work. The inaugural undertaking of this creative scheme to provide much needed lifesaving support to this crisis was, by any measure, a tremendous success. These results reaffirm the Australian public’s support for humanitarian relief and the solidarity Australians feel with these drought and famine-stricken communities.
Increasing insecurity and flooding have impacted on the region and the humanitarian gains achieved so far. Flooding in Kenya has resulted in 80,000 people being displaced with crops, homes and livestock lost to the rains. Deteriorating security conditions within Kenya and Somalia and at the border have forced many aid organisations to limit their relief efforts to only lifesaving support.
While 250,000 people in Somalia remain at severe risk of starvation, 500,000 people have experienced significant increases to their nutritional outcomes since July and have now been declassified as experiencing ‘famine’. While these gains and the needed improvements for a quarter of a million people remain fragile, a good rainy season coupled with continued food assistance programs is expected to assist many local people in improving their nutrition status. In Ethiopia, refugee flows from neighbouring Sudan remain high as volatility between Sudan and South Sudan increases.
Positive humanitarian outcomes are evident, but they remain unequal across the affected countries. Humanitarian organisations are continuing to survey local communities to identify gaps and address needs. With the money raised through the Dollar for Dollar Initiative, Australian NGOs humanitarian assistance programs are able to reach a greater number of people in need.
To find out more please visit our East Africa Appeals page. Interested in helping? Please see our How Can I Help? fact sheet.
Pakistan
(updated 2 November 2011)
As the international aid community continues to provide humanitarian assistance to the victims of this year’s monsoonal floods, key sectors of response remain critically underfunded. Only 23% of the overall rapid response funding needs have been contributed and sectors such as health are funded only to 31%, shelter 41%, food security 14% and WASH 17%. With the large amounts of stagnant water which remains, provision of potable water and WASH are fundamental elements of the response.
Mid-November marks the onset of winter in Sindh Province and distribution of blankets, appropriate winterisation of shelter and other responses that mitigate vulnerability due to winter continue to be a critical priority. In both Sindh and Balochistan 3 million people likewise remain in need of emergency food assistance and over 5 million people need agricultural support to allow them to re-engage in food production and to generate income. Many of the areas hardest hit are those that were struggling to recover from the 2010 floods which displaced nearly 21 million people just over one year ago.
Displacement has further interrupted the practices in infant feeding and nutrition and immunisation responses can be further strengthened to meet needs.
Australian NGOs are providing emergency relief through distribution of food items, non-food items such as jerry cans, kitchen sets, blankets and mosquito nets, and health and hygiene kits. Other sectors in which Australian NGOs are responding include water, hygiene and sanitation (WASH). New jointly collected data pertaining to needs is due to be released shortly to further assist the international aid community in targeting their response.
Australian NGOs will continue to provide life-saving relief to those affected by this crisis.
ACFID member appeals for the Pakistan floods.
New Zealand
(updated 23 February 2011)
Considerable damage has been reported in the Christchurch Central Business District and in Lyttelton. There is a cordon around the central business district. Damage assessment is ongoing and over time, will present a better understanding of the extent of damage. Rescue work is likely to take days to complete. Aftershocks are expected to continue and this could lead to further building damage or collapse, as well as continued distruption to power, telecommunications and essential services
A large number of people have been pulled alive from collapsed buildings as rescuers have continued to work throughout the night under floodlights. Priorities for the response remain the support of the urban search and rescue operation, the treatment and care of injured or affected individuals, and the coordination of national resources in support of the local response. Australian agencies working to support their partners and affiliates in New Zealand include Oxfam, Caritas, Save the Children and the Red Cross Movement is also responding.
Appeals have been set up on the following websites:
Australian Red Cross (in conjuction with New Zealand Red Cross)
Caritas (Appeal will be launched in coming days)- to donate to Caritas emergencies
Save the Children
Currently, Red Cross is asking for cash donations only.
Sri Lanka
(updated 24 Jan 2011)
The heavy rains of the monsoon season have caused mud slides and mass flooding across the country. Around 950,000 people have been affected by the disaster and 18 people have died. Hundreds of temporary shelters have been set up as the flooding continues. Non-government agencies are doing their best to provide temporary shelter, food and non-food items, clean water and medical supplies to the affected communities. Challenges for the response include access difficulties, transportation restrictions, logistical constraints and targeting those who need the assistance. Australian agencies working to support their partners and affiliates in Sri Lanka include Act for Peace, CARE, ChildFund, Caritas, Oxfam, Plan, Save the Children and World Vision. The Red Cross Movement is also responding. An international appeal for $51 million has been set up through the United Nations.
Sudan
(updated 10 Jan 2011)
January 9th 2011 marks an important date for the population of Sudan with the long-awaited referendum on the secession of the South. With more than 53,000 people returning home to South Sudan to vote and thousands in commute, significant stress is being placed upon communities already lacking food, water, sanitation and shelter, bringing an increased risk of disease and depletion of food supplies. Regardless of the outcome of the referendum, South Sudan faces a long road to recovery and stability. As one of the most underdeveloped and unstable areas in the world and with its long history of war, aid agencies are preparing for a high-level humanitarian emergency response. This response includes providing essential relief provisions such as medical and food supplies, drinking water, mosquito nets and blankets, as well as ensuring the protection of civilians and a credible, transparent political process. Agencies involved in this emergency response include Act for Peace, CARE, Caritas, Oxfam, Save the Children and World Vision.
ACFID Humanitarian Reference Group
In 2008, ACFID's Humanitarian Reference Group (HRG) was invited by ACFID’s Executive Committee to increase its role to that of an ACFID advisory Committee. As an advisory committee, the HRG will continue to coordinate emergency response systems, work closely with ACFID's Executive Committee on policy and advocacy and further collaborate on operational activities/policy such as disaster risk reduction, protection, civil military coordination and human security issues. If you are an ACFID member and are interested in joining the HRG, please contact
Resources:
Emergency Response Supply Chain Assessment (PDF)
Civil-military cooperation
NGOs define civil-military cooperation as 'the essential dialogue and interaction between civilian and military actors in humanitarian emergencies that is necessary to protect and promote humanitarian principles, avoid competition, minimise inconsistency, and when appropriate pursue common goals'.
Resources:
Inter Agency Standing Committee (IASC) Reference Paper: Civil-Military Relationship in Complex Emergencies (pdf)
ACFID Guiding Principles for Civil-Military Interaction
Working Better Together, Michele Lipner and Louis Henley (a joint APCMCOE and ACFID study, 2010)
Protection
Humanitarian protection is the effort to protect the fundamental well-being of individuals caught up in certain conflicts, or ‘man-made’ emergencies. People at risk are usually the main actors in their own protection, but there is also a role for humanitarian agencies to help them and to mobilise the responsible authorities. Protection is usually sought from direct violence, coercion (including forced displacement, slavery, or prostitution), or deprivation (including the restriction of access to humanitarian aid, or the destruction of property or livelihoods).
The ALNAP Guide to Protection is an excellent and practical resource for NGOs to better understand the complexities of protection, and how to implement protection into existing and new programs.
Resources:
Minimum Agency Standards for Incorporating Protection into Humanitarian Response (PDF)
