Framework for Joint Assessments for Disaster Response - Vietnam

Today disaster management is on the agenda of several organizations. When a disaster strikes we see many more players in this field doing relief and response, search and rescue, short-term and long-term reconstruction work. Damage and needs assessment is done independently by many organizations at the same time using different frameworks depending on the mandate of the organization. More often than not different appeals are sent to donors asking for relief items to the disaster stricken population. This is often both wasteful and unproductive. To overcome these uncoordinated efforts to disaster response, several organizations in Vietnam have joined hands for carrying out joint assessment for disaster response. A framework on joint assessments for disaster response and common tools for needs assessment has been developed by the disaster management working group members.

The objectives of joint assessment framework are to:

Provide supplementary information for rapid disaster response which clarifies, amplifies, and complements existing source
Reduce the burden of multiple situation assessments on disaster affected communities
Increase coordination and experience sharing between disaster management actors
Provide a comprehensive picture of the disaster situation in order to improve advocacy for appropriate donor, government, and community, and agency response.

The joint assessment team members are: Disaster Management Centre (MARD), Save the Children Alliance, Catholic Relief Services, Oxfam GB, CECI, Oxfam Hong Kong, Care in Vietnam, World Vision Vietnam, IFRC, VNRC, UNICEF, UNDP, NDM-Partnership Secretariat.

To learn more about the “Framework on Joint Assessments for Disaster Response” visit the NDM Partnerships Website or write to Dr. Kuberan at: ndm-partnership@undp.org.vn

Disaster ABC's

Risk - The probability of harmful consequences, or expected losses (deaths, injuries, property, livelihoods, economic activity disrupted or environment damaged) resulting from interactions between natural or human induced hazards and vulnerable conditions. Conventionally risk is expressed by the notation Risk = Hazards x Vulnerability .

Disaster Risk Reduction - The conceptual framework of elements considered with the possibilities to minimize vulnerabilities and disaster risks throughout a society, to avoid (prevention) or to limit (mitigation and preparedness) the adverse impacts of hazards, within the broad context of sustainable development.

Risk Assessment / Analysis - A process to determine the nature and extent of risk by analyzing potential hazards and evaluating existing conditions of vulnerability that could pose a potential threat or harm to people, property, livelihoods and the environment on which they depend.

(UNISDR)

Disaster Trivia: Baguio City Earthquake (1990)

It was exactly 4:26 p.m. on Monday, 16 July 1990, that a killer earthquake unexpectedly hit and extensively devastated the City of Baguio in Northern Philippines. The powerful temblor measured 7.7 in the Richter scale and lasted for 45 seconds. It was said to be the most destructive earthquake on record within that region of the country. There were numerous aftershocks that followed and the strongest, which occured two days later on July 18, measured 5.3 on the richter scale. The city suffered in terms of destruction to properties and numerous deaths. Many commercial and government buildings, hotels, inns, and residences were heavily damaged. The death toll continued to rise as rescuers pulled more bodies from the rubbles. It was estimated that as many as 1,000 people were trapped and killed in damaged buildings. Fearing for their lives, many of Baguio's 120,000 people slept outdoors on that fateful night. Thousands of residents of the city huddled in tattered tents and makeshift shelters in parks and streets. The city's five-star hotels collapsed, causing much casualty. The University of Baguio (UB), initially reported that 23 people, mostly students, were killed when the supporting structure of the college building gave way. There were many other buildings and familiar landmarks of Baguio which were damaged and classified as hazards. Because of the extensive devastation, Baguio City was described to be a virtual "war zone." Also, the city and its survivors suffered from lack of water, fuel, food, and other basic necessities including much-needed medicines for the injured and sick people. Rescue crews and relief supplies began to trickle into Baguio even as hope faded for hundreds of people believed trapped under collapsed buildings as a result of the devastating earthquake.

Elements and Features of Community Based Disaster Risk Management

Whether a disaster is major or minor, of national or local proportion, it is the people at the community who suffer most its adverse effects. They use coping and survival strategies to face and respond to the situation long before outside help from NGOs or the government arrives. Having experienced damage and loss, they are interested to protect themselves from harm and suffering through community based disaster preparedness and mitigation.

The following key elements of CBDM can be derived from practice in CBDM in the Philippines (which generally parallels experiences in other countries):


People’s participation - community members are the main actors and propellers; while sustaining the CBDM process, they also directly share in the benefits of disaster preparedness, mitigation and development.

Priority for the most vulnerable groups, families, and people in the community – in the urban areas the most vulnerable sectors are generally the urban poor and informal sector while in the rural areas, these are the subsistence farmers, fisher folk and indigenous people; also more vulnerable are the elderly, the differently abled, children and women (because of their care giving and social function roles.

Risk reduction measures are community-specific and are identified after an analysis of the community’s disaster risk (hazards, vulnerabilities and capacities and consideration of varying perceptions of disaster risk)

Existing coping mechanisms and capacities are recognized - CBDM builds upon and strengthens existing coping strategies and capacities; most common social/ organizational values and mechanism are bayanihan, family and neighborhood supports, community/people’s organizations, and local knowledge and resources; the aim is to reduce vulnerabilities by strengthening capacities; the goal is building safe, disaster resilient and developed communities.

Links disaster risk reduction with development - addresses vulnerable conditions and causes of vulnerabilities; subscribes to people-centered development.

Outsiders have supporting and facilitating role - NGOs have supporting, facilitating and catalytic role; government’s role is integral to the community to enable and institutionalize the CBDM process; partnerships with less vulnerable groups and other communities.

This article was written by Lorna P. Victoria is Director, Center for Disaster Preparedness, Philippines. She can be contacted at oyvictoria@yahoo.com

Basic Guidelines When Working with Survivors of a Disaster

DO's when working with individuals affected by a disaster:

Maintain confideniality
Listen attentively
Be accepting
Be emphatic
Be patient
Be supportive
Be flexible
Do consider the emotional impact of all disaster related decisions
Do allow for own self care
Do refer people with stress reactions beyond your level of training to a mental health professional

DONT's when working with individuals affected by a disaster:

Don't be judgmental
Don't impart your values on others' thoughts and emotions
Don't over pathologize (interpret people as being sick
Don't devalue or belittle an individual's reaction to stress
Don't believe that talking with a mental health professional means someone is "sick", "crazy", or "mad"

From David Meyer, Disaster Mental Health Institute, The University of South Dakota, USA. David can be contacted at dmeyer@usd.edu

RedR Training Opportunities

Training of Trainers in SPHERE, 18-23 January 2004, Bangkok, Thailand
The Sphere Project was launched in 1997 by a group of humanitarian NGOs and the Red Cross and Red Crescent movement. A two-year process of inter-agency collaboration saw Sphere frame a Humanitarian Charter and identify Minimum Standards to be attained in disaster assistance, in each of five key sectors (water supply and sanitation, nutrition, food aid, shelter, and health services). Critical to the dissemination of the SPHERE Project is global training, reinforced by a series of global Training of Trainers workshops in key regions. This course sees the introduction of SPHERE to key trainers from Asia and the Pacific, as a preamble to their return and replication of such training in their home countries.

SPHERE Trainers Summit, 24-25 January 2004, Bangkok Thailand
Following the success of the Bowral SPHERE Training of Trainers conference in 2002, RedR Australia is holding a two day trainers SUMMIT as a follow up and opportunity to share lessons learnt and build on existing skills and networks. This will provide an opportunity for trainers from around the globe to share practice. Deadline for submission of applications will be 5 December 2003.

For more information on these SPHERE initiatives, please contact: Ms. Virginia Gough at vgough@redr.org.au or training@redr.org.au or visit the RedR Website

Public Health and Emergency Management Courses
The Public Health in Emergencies (PHCE) team of the Asian Disaster Preparedness Center (ADPC) partners with various health organizations to organize the following health-related disaster management courses:

Course on Public Health in Complex Emergencies (PHCE), 19-31 January 2004, Bangkok, Thailand
In partnership with the World Education Inc. (WEI), Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health and the International Rescue Committee (IRC), ADPC will organize this course which is aimed at enhancing the capacity of humanitarian assistance workers and their organizations to respond to the health needs of refugees and internally displaced persons affected by these emergencies. Detailed information and application form regarding this course can be downloaded at the IRC website or at the ADPC website.

LEADERS Course in Asia, 29 March-10 April 2004, Bangkok, Thailand
This is an international course on Development and Disasters with special focus on health. The World Health Organization (WHO) and its Southeast Asia Regional Office will tailor the English-language LEADERS Course held last February 2003 in Jamaica, and present it to a global audience, primarily Asia, with support from the Asian Disaster Preparedness Center (ADPC). For more information on the LEADERS course, visit the WHO website.

The Fourth Inter-regional Training Course on Public Health and Emergency Management in Asia and the Pacific (PHEMAP-4), 19 April-1 May 2004, Bangkok, Thailand
In collaboration with WHO, ADPC will organize this course to help countries of the region develop more effective policy procedures, plans, guidelines and standards of best practices for health sector emergency management.

For more information on the above courses, please contact Janette Ugsang, PHCE Course Manager at janette@adpc.net