FUNDAMENTALS OF INTELLIGENCE SUPPORT TO HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE AND DISASTER RELIEF OPERATIONS

1. FUNDAMENTALS OF INTELLIGENCE SUPPORTTOHUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE ANDDISASTER RELIEF OPERATIONS 1

2. OBJECTIVE • Provide an overview of intelligence concepts and their application to humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HA/DR) operations 2

3. OUTLINE • UN Perspective • Info Requirements and Sources • Doctrine • Intel Contributions • Intel Challenges • Info Architecture • Lessons Learned 3

4. INTELLIGENCE- UN Perspective “Massive flows of refugees and displaced persons have become the central feature of most humanitarian emergencies.” -- Mr Eliasson, former UN Sec-Gen for Humanitarian Affairs “We don’t call it intelligence, but it’s the same thing. We both have a need for accurate and timely information.” -- Ms Ogata, former UN High Commissioner for Refugees “Information is not the problem; the problem is analysis.” -- Emergency Preparedness and Response Officer, UNHCR 4

5. INTEL SUPPORT TO HA/DR Typical Information Requirements: • Political, economic, and social data • Details about refugees/displaced persons • specific needs (food, water, shelter, medicine) • cultural and demographic considerations • future intentions • Maps and physical characteristics of the crisis area • Infrastructure and resources in the host country • Major relief organizations in the crisis area • Threats to relief personnel (crime, civic violence, health) 5

6. INTEL SUPPORT TO HA/DR • Principal sources of information: • Refugees/displaced persons • IO and NGOs in the crisis area • Host Nation governments • Regional and international organizations • Other UN organizations with field presence • Coalition partners • Local media • Clandestine intelligence may not be useful • Could undermine humanitarian nature of operation • Insufficient time to make HUMINT operational • Foreign disclosure challenges 6

7. INTEL SUPPORT TO HA/DR The primary intel effort must focus on answering the commander’s priority intelligence requirements assisting in the accomplishment of the mission - Involves assessing the potential threats to the HA/DR mission (from forces external and/or internal to the affected population) - The unique aspects of HA/DR ops may result in significant or even primary emphasis being placed upon logistic [to include transportation and infrastructure], medical, or political intelligence and/or intel support to CA and PSYOP -- Joint Pub 3-07.6 7

8. INTEL SUPPORT TO HA/DR Collection should not be equated with hostile penetration of a country’s internal affairs; - In fact, open sources may be an excellent source to determine agendas and patterns of operation and to identify factional territory - In some cases, provisions have to be made for working with governments for which no previously established intelligence agreements exist… - … and for exchanging security-related information with NGOs, and IOs. -- Joint Pub 3-07.6

9. INTEL SUPPORT TO HA/DR • Because of NGO and IO sensitivities regarding negative perceptions generated by working with military (and intelligence) organizations, use of the term “information” vice “intelligence” may be less inflammatory. - Joint Pub 3-07.6 • But be up front and honest about who you are (integrity and transparency) • A working relationship can develop with IO and NGOs if you can explain your purpose, intentions, boundaries, and what you can offer to them. • Information exchange: must be two-way • so IO and NGOs don’t see you as a ‘leech’ • personnel protection is valuable data to IO and NGOs 9

10. INTEL SUPPORT TO HA/DR What can military intelligence contribute to HA/DR operations? • Expertise in information collection, analysis and dissemination • Indications and Warning • Predictive analysis • Situational awareness • Force protection assessments • USG info and intel dissemination • Imagery • Information flow architecture • An entity other than operators and field reps digesting and assessing massive amounts of data

11. INTEL SUPPORT TO HA/DR Challenges to military intelligence in HA/DR operations • A natural inclination for military personnel to focus on enemy “threats” • INTSUMs dominated by force protection, rather than balanced with situational awareness • Requires a deliberate shift from conventional military intel analysis to HA/DR analysis • I.e. key terrain changes from hilltops to hospitals • The enemy becomes disease, crime, civil unrest, damage

12. INTEL SUPPORT TO HA/DR Challenges to military intelligence in HA/DR operations • Image perception • “Cloak and dagger spies” and “torturers” • Recent arrivals to the crisis typically lack deep knowledge and in-country experience • Interoperability • Equipment/Doctrine/Experience

13. INTEL SUPPORT TO HA/DR Challenges to military intelligence in HA/DR operations • Language / cultural differences • Disclosure of classified information • Intelligence vs. Information • Interaction with IO, NGOs, etc.

14. COMBINED INFORMATION ARCHITECTURE COALITION GOV’TS HOST NATION NGO’s UN REFUGEES & DPs CIVIL- MILITARY OPS CENTER (CMOC) C/JTF NAT’L SPT ELM C2 COLL MAN ANALYSIS C2X OPS Combined Military Information Center - CMIC

15. LESSONS LEARNED FROM PREVIOUS HA/DR OPS • Best sources of information on emerging HA/DR crisis could be in-country NGOs and Host Nation • Honest and open communications is key • CMIC liaison in CMOC • Info is abundant; analysis is the problem • Don’t focus on force protection to the detriment of ability to monitor other aspects of the situation • Clandestine HUMINT may not be useful • Unclassified intelligence products are imperative in relationships with coalitions, IO and NGOs • Sensitive info should be handled with discretion, not classification • Understand ethnic and organizational cultures, objectives, bias • Have the ability to operate “low tech”

16. FUNDAMENTALS OF INTELLIGENCE SUPPORTTO HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE ANDDISASTER RELIEF OPERATIONS 23