NEEDS ANSWERS (EACH ANSWER MUST BE 3 BODY PARAGRAPHS):
1. What role does security play during post-disaster or humanitarian responses?
2. What implications does security have on the response?
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2 POSTS NEED RESPONSES (ONE RESPONSE FOR EACH)
1)
Security plays a vital role in humanitarian response to both manmade and natural disasters. It is provided in various forms during the humanitarian response, such as food and shelter security. Food security helps to ensure that affected populations are provided with the right and healthy food. That is the food provided is nutritionally right in terms of its nutrients requirement. It is also ensuring that the people in great need get the delivered food. Food security helps by establishing monitoring mechanisms to determine the adequacy of the established food rations. This is meant to ensure that food distributed meets needs of the most vulnerable groups like children, elderly, lactating and pregnant mothers (Khan, 2011).
On the other hand, shelter security ensures that the damaged properties are repaired and reconstructed based on the level of damage. This helps to prevent overcrowding and also protects the health of the victims to ensure they don’t suffer from the adverse weather. In addition, security in humanitarian response ensures that first aid is provided to the affected population. And in case of medical attention to the severely injured, the quickest available mode of transport is used. This helps to ensure that more lives are saved (Khan, 2011).
Security has various implications for humanitarian response. Firstly, security during humanitarian response plays a vital role since it helps in saving lives, alleviating suffering and maintaining human dignity. Shelter and food security during the humanitarian response can be achieved via a better preparedness. And this level of preparedness is supposed to involve various factors like risk assessment and contingency planning. Other things are stockpiling of supplies and equipment, standby arrangements and emergency services and communication. It should also involve information management as well as coordination management amongst the involved agencies. This helps them to stay alert and respond fast and accordingly in event of a disaster (Khan, 2011).
References
FOOD SECURITY AND HUMANITARIAN EMERGENCIES IN SOUTHERN AFRICA.(2003). African Security Review, 12(1), 1-2. Doi:10.1080/10246029.2003.9627565.
Khan, S. (2011). Faith-Based Humanitarian Assistance in Response to Disasters. Comparative Emergency Management, 175-199. Doi: 10.1201/b10974-11.
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2)
Safety and security in humanitarian operations are challenging. Security involves planning, mitigation strategies, and the involvement of the different actors at the local and the international level. Security needs to be provided to the staff, to the affected population, and also to the resources. Security also needs to be provided during staff transportation and even in the lodging facilities. Depending on the country situation, Security measures will be more or less challenging (Peace Corps, 2011). Humanitarian aid workers when they deploy to an international operation can be exposed to different safety and security issues. (Haver, Harmer, & Stoddard, 2011)
Conflict countries
- Suicide bombing
- Kidnapping
- Landmines
- Armed raids
- Sexual violence
- Common crime
- Internationals can be targeted as foreigners and be subject to politically-motivated violence.
Gender and security
The OCHA (2011) report identified that women face more risk than men. especially that was seen in Haiti, Pakistan, Democratic Republic of Congo, and Somalia. In some cases, the presence of female staff added to aid worker insecurity due to local cultural norms that disapprove of women working or being in close proximity to unrelated men. (Haver et al., 2011)
Natural disasters
Consequences of a natural disaster can cause risk to the responders. In a flooding, for example, waterborne diseases, disruption in safe transportation, high risk of electrocution. After an earthquake, the after shakes can cause collapsed of unsafe infrastructure.
General risks
- Property crimes
- Burglary
- Physical assault
- Sexual assault
- Health risks
Ways to improve humanitarian aid workers safety and security
- Have previous knowledge of the country (demographics, language, risks, and common diseases)
- Participate in the security and safety briefing
- Always be aware of your surroundings
- Have medical insurance
- Have required immunizations
- Use personal protective equipment
- Have an emergency plan in case evacuation is necessary
- Create a buddy system
- Don’t expose yourself (don’t walk in the dark alone, don’t bring expensive items to the field)
- Don’t drink alcohol or use drugs, act professionally.
- Agencies can implement mitigation strategies such as armored vehicles, creating local partnerships, community acceptance and trust-building is key. (UNAMI, 2010)
References
Haver, K., Harmer, A., & Stoddard, A. (2011). To stay and deliver: Good practice for humanitarians in complex security environments. Policy and Studies Series, 105. Retrieved from https://www.unocha.org/sites/unocha/files/Safety and Security for National Humanitarian Workers%2C PDSB%2C 2011%2C English.pdf
Peace Corps. (2011). Safety and Security Highlights to Help You Prepare for Peace Corps Service, (August). Retrieved from http://files.peacecorps.gov/multimedia/pdf/documen…
UNAMI. (2010). Staff safety and security. Wear, (August). Retrieved from http://www.unhcr.org/59c4e2ed7.pdf
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