UN Disaster Response

1. UN Disaster Response Multinational Planning Augmentation Tempest Express 5 UlaanBaatar, Mongolia - 04 August 2003

2. Emergency Characteristics • A sudden and rapid population movement: • across international borders (or within national borders), • of large number of persons, • with high percentage of women and children, • caused by acute danger or other threats to their lives and liberty, • and into areas with scarce resources and limited infrastructure.

3. Response • Topic-specific Conventions - (e.g., CRC on Children; 1951 Refugee Convention on refugees) • Context specific resolution – (e.g., sanctions on regime; establishing peace operation) • Integrated Operations – (with political, military/police, humanitarian/development components)

5. The Main Emergency Response Agencies UN Agencies • UNHCR • World Food Programme (WFP) • UNICEF • OCHA Non- UN Agencies • Red Cross/Red Crescent movement • IOM • NGOs • National agencies

6. Brief History 1921: League of Nations elects Fridtjof Nansen as High Commissioner 1931-1938: International Nansen Office for Refugees 1938-1947: Intergovernmental Committee for Refugees 1943: United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration (UNRRA) 1946: UN General Assembly includes refugee problem as priority item • Refugee problem is international in scope and character • No involuntary returns of refugees and displaced persons • Establishment of international body for refugees • Assistance for early return to country of origin 1947-1952: International Refugee Organisation • repatriation, identification, registration, care, legal and political protection, transport, resettlement, etc. 1950: Establishment of UNHCR starting 1.1.1951

7. UNHCRAs of 1 July 2002 • No. UNHCR offices world-wide (incl. HQs)- 268 in 120 countries. • UNHCR staff members, incl. short-term: 5,523. • Staff members in the field: 4,353 (84% of total). • Ratio of staff members to people of concern to UNHCR: 1 per 3,582. • Total UNHCR budget for 2002: US$ 1billion. • Total number of NGOs as implementing partnersin 2001-573 • States party to the 1951 Convention and/or the 1967 Protocol-144

8. Statute of UNHCR (High Commissioner’s Mandate) • Defines refugees as persons of concern to UNHCR. • Provides international protection to refugees under auspices of UN. • Seeks durable solutions for problems of refugees by assisting governments. • Durable solutions - voluntary repatriation, local integration, or resettlement. • Work of High Commissioner: “entirely non-political, humanitarian and social.” • UNHCR is a temporary institution, originally 3 years, then extended every 5 years. • To promote international (refugee) conventions and supervise their applications, • To administer public or private funds which are received to assist refugees and distribute these funds to private and public agencies that are best qualified to administer assistance to refugees. • High Commissioner follows policy directives given by UN General Assembly or the Economic and Social Council.

9. Refugee Definition A refugee is a person who, owing to well-founded fear of being persecuted for reasons of race, religion, nationality, (membership of a particular social group) or political opinion, is outside the country or his/her nationality and is unable or, owing to such fear, unwilling to avail himself of the protection of that country”

10. Displaced Persons • Persons or group of persons who have been forced or obliged to flee or leave their homes or habitual residence as a result of or in order to avoid the effects of armed conflict, situations of generalised violence, violations of human rights or natural or human-made disasters, and who have not crossed an internationally recognised state border.

11. Parameters for IDP Operation • Specific request or authorisation from UN Secretary general or other competent organ of the UN. • Consent of the state concerned or other relevant entities to the conflict. • Access to the affected and adequate security for UNHCR and implementing partners to operate. • Clear lines of responsibility and accountability with the ability to intervene directly with parties concerned, particularly with protection matters. • Adequate resources and capacity to carry out activities.

12. Number of Refugees and Others of Concern to UNHCR - as of July 2002 • Refugees - 12 million • Returnees - 462,700 • Asylum Seekers - 940,800 • IDPs and others of Concern - 6.3 million

13. Annual Number of Persons of Concern to UNHCR

14. UNHCR Activities That May Be Linked With Military • Security of humanitarian operations (e.g.security/evacuation of staff, convoy escorts) • Augmenting UNHCR’s capacity to implement its mandate - (international protection and assistance)

15. Examples Where the Military Augments International Protection Activities • Presence • Support to Civil Administration • Liaison with Local/Military Authorities • Military Information • Creation of Environment Suitable for Return/Normalcy • Role of UNMOs/UNCIVPOL

16. Examples of Humanitarian Assistance Activities • Transporting Humanitarian Aid • Health and Medical Support • Repair and Maintenance of Infrastructure

17. Co-ordination • Recommended Steps: • Common geographic areas of responsibility • Compatible communications equipment • Collocation • Exchange of Liaison Officers • Regular Inter-Agency meetings • Routine Contact between Desk Officers • Civil-Military Operations Centers (CMOCs) • Assessment or Reconnaissance Missions

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