SEADMC 2009 Role of International Militaries 02 -0009

SEADMC 2009 Role of International Militaries 02 -0009 As of 16 Nov 09 2 December 2009 UNCLASSIFIED

Agenda • Globalization of Disaster Response • Guiding Principles • Contextual Framework • Spectrum of Cooperation • Summary UNCLASSIFIED 2

The “Globalization” of Disaster Response • 24 hour news cycle – Images “hit” home – Pressure to do something now • The “new” security environment – an opportunity for cooperation? – Non-contentious activity – Militaries have many capabilities to offer in support UNCLASSIFIED

The “Globalization” of Disaster Response The Challenges – • Affected states and populations – Laws and regulations – Customs and culture • Relations with other nations • The humanitarian imperative – old paradigms and modern realities – “Rules” crafted in the developed world – Challenges in application in the developing world § Is use of the military a “last resort”? UNCLASSIFIED 4

Guiding Principles • Practical Guiding Principles – Affected States § § § Sovereignty & territorial integrity is respected Responsible for caring for victims of disasters in its territory Right & primary role in initiating, organizing, coordinating, implementing, regulating & monitoring disaster relief assistance Should seek regional or international assistance if needs exceed the national coping capacities Disaster relief shall be with affected state’s consent UNCLASSIFIED 5

Guiding Principles • Practical Guiding Principles – Assisting States § § Provide disaster relief under the Humanitarian Principles of Humanity, Neutrality & Impartiality Coordinate their disaster relief operations with Affected State authorities Abide by the domestic laws of the Affected State and applicable International Law Shall provide disaster relief without seeking to: Ø Ø Further a political or religious standpoint; Intervene in the internal affairs of the Affected State; Gain a commercial advantage; or Gather sensitive political, economic or military information irrelevant to the disaster assistance UNCLASSIFIED 6

Guiding Principles • Humanitarian Principles – Humanity – Neutrality – Impartiality • Other (Humanitarian) Principles – Military is the option of “Last Resort” – Do no harm UNCLASSIFIED 7

Contextual Framework Needs Analysis: Basic Needs - Available Resources Outstanding Requirements Needs Assessments: (Identify Needs and Available Capabilities & Resources) Needs Crisis Appeals & RFAs: Information Sharing • Outstanding Requirements Relief / Donor Action: • Aid / Resource Delivery UNCLASSIFIED 8

Contextual Framework Need for Assistance Emergency Relief Phase Rehabilitation / Reconstruction International Military Relief “Transition” Point International Civilian Relief Local / National Response Time • Governments & civil organizations have primary responsibility • International Military is in support (security, relief, affected population support, technical assistance & consequence management) UNCLASSIFIED 9

Principles for Military Forces in HA/DR • Last resort • Support to affected state and humanitarian community • Respect sovereignty of the affected state • Legitimacy of the mission • Perception of the impartiality • Respect for culture and custom • Unity of effort UNCLASSIFIED 10

Types of Military Support • Direct Assistance face-to-face distribution of goods and services. • Indirect Assistance one step removed from the population and involves such activities as transporting relief goods or relief personnel. • Infrastructure Support involves providing general services (road repair, airspace management and power generation) that facilitate relief, but are not necessarily visible to or solely for the benefit of the affected population. SECURITY, SECURITY Guidelines for the Use of Military-Civil Defense Assets in Complex Emergencies (2003) UNCLASSIFIED 11

Basic HADR Missions • Military: – Security – Relief – Affected Population Support – Technical Assistance – Consequence Management • Humanitarians – Relief – Recovery – Development UNCLASSIFIED 12

Immediate Tasks • Search & Rescue • Evacuation of stranded victims • Delivery of food & water, medical supplies • Establish / provide communications • Transportation of civilian relief agencies • Security for relief agency personnel UNCLASSIFIED 13

Key Organizational Tasks • Identify all the actors / interlocutors • Locate reports / sources of information • Assess effects of military operations on relief operations • Determine security issues • Determine relief organization requirements • Determine logistics issues • Ascertain & plan for “sensitivity issues” in the local population UNCLASSIFIED 14

Objective • Work your way out of a job as fast & intelligently as possible – What can we do to save lives & mitigate human suffering (reduce overall requirements)? Avoid creating dependencies (give or catch fish) § Make things barely livable but don’t make it comfortable or better than it was before (so that they want to “go home”) § Appropriateness of relief supplies & services § – What can we do to enable the affected state? – What can we do to increase the capacity of the IHC? UNCLASSIFIED 15

Transition Planning • Start it immediately • Based on mission • Consider affected nations’ desires • Military transition - timeline based on the availability of adequate relief capacity • International Organization transition – timeline based on relief to recovery phase • Careful selection of criteria & measures –Only as good as it was before the crisis (not better) UNCLASSIFIED 16

Transition Comments • Transition implies that “military is in control” & there is a hand -off of responsibilities and capabilities – neither is true – Militaries are in support for emergency needs only – As emergency needs are reduced & civil capacity to meet needs increases, the requirements for military support are eliminated – no hand-over of responsibilities or capabilities is required • The only “transition” that occurs is the shift from meeting emergency needs to recovery & development needs which is the sole responsibility of the affected state assisted by donors and the international humanitarian community UNCLASSIFIED 17

Unity of Effort Humanitarian Community Military Unified Action Civil Governmental How Do We Coordinate, Cooperate, Synchronize Efforts? UNCLASSIFIED 18

Discussion UNCLASSIFIED 19