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Humanitarian Coordination in the Pacific

Humanitarian Coordination in the Pacific Peter Muller, Regional Disaster Response Adviser, OCHA Pacific CID Forum “Disaster Relief in the Pacific 7 June 2012 www.unocha.org. (INTER)NATIONAL HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE.

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Humanitarian Coordination in the Pacific

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  1. Humanitarian Coordination in the Pacific Peter Muller, Regional Disaster Response Adviser, OCHA Pacific CID Forum “Disaster Relief in the Pacific 7 June 2012 www.unocha.org

  2. (INTER)NATIONAL HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE Upon request the UN and internatio-nal organizations assist governments in humanitarian assistance when the scale of the disaster exceeds the national capacity.

  3. Pacific Humanitarian Team (PHT) • Formed in 2008 • Partnerships:Composed of all humanitarian response organizations that operate in the Pacific region, including UN, NGOs, International Federation of the Red Cross and National Societies, Donors • Oversight :UN Resident Coordinator, w/ OCHA support • Predictability:Decision-making, coordination and operations through PHT: • Heads of Agency Group (cluster lead agencies) • Inter-Cluster Coordination Group • Clusters • Accountability:UN Resident Coordinator is accountable to the UN Under Secretary General for Humanitarian Affairs for the success of the international humanitarian operation and the achievement of its goals

  4. Clusters, Cluster Leads/Convenors 8 ‘Clusters’ (sectoral working groups with predefined structure and accountability) Can be rolled out in affected areas immediately if needed Inter-ClusterCoordination

  5. Three levels of coordination

  6. Linking with National Coordination mechanisms International Humanitarian Community National Disaster Response Structure STRATEGIC OPERATIONAL CROSS SECTORAL COORDINATION SECTORSPECIFIC COORDINATION Cluster Approach (Predictable responseAccountable to Resident Coord.) National Ministries RESPONSIBLE for response, Accountable to population

  7. Emergencies supported by the PHT since 2008 2008 High Sea Swells: PNG, Solomon Islands, RMI, FSM (Dec) 2009 Fiji Floods (Jan) Guadalcanal floods (Feb) Ambrym Volcano and Flood (Apr) Samoa & Tonga Tsunami (Sep/Oct) Gaua Volcano (Dec – 2010) TC Mick in Fiji (Dec) 2010 Rendova Tsunami - Solomon Islands (Jan) TC Pat in Aitutaki – Cooks (Feb) TC Tomas in Fiji (Mar) TC Ului in Solomon Islands (Mar) 2011 TC Vania in Vanuatu (Jan) TC Atu in Vanuatu (Feb) Drought Response Planning in Kiribati (Feb) Drought response Tuvalu 2012 Floods in Fiji (Jan) VHT - TC Jasmine in Vanuatu (Feb) Floods in Fiji (April)

  8. Levels of Response by PHT Depending on the scale of the disaster, and based on needs and request for assistance by the affected Government, the PHT can support in one of the following ways: • Level 1: In-country or agency capacity • Response is entirely managed with in-country capacity. Humanitarian organisations coordinate with each other and in partnership with National Authorities • Level 2: Additional capacity is required, activation of ‘cluster approach’ • Response is largely managed by in-country partners, but response requires extra capacity in the form of coordination and/or program staff deployed to the affected country from a regional capacity. • Level 3: National capacities are overwhelmed • Response is largely managed by staff who are not from the affected country; Many staff are deployed from abroad, organizing themselves using a cluster approach; support is requested from global capacities. National partners are coordinated with, and kept informed

  9. Ok, but really, what is the PHT The PHT is a group of approx 900 people working for development/humanitarian agencies, donors, national governments and inter-government organizations how stand by to participate in humanitarian action in the Pacific region.

  10. Pacific Humanitarian Team and national coordination ERC UNRC OCHA Pacific Humanitarian Team (& regional clusters) ER Education Health Logistics Protection WASH Food Shelter Vanuatu Humanitarian Team Samoa C C C Solomon Island NDMO/Clusters C C C C

  11. Emergency Coordination Actions Establish, confirm and support/maintain appropriate coordination structure Collect relevant information, conduct/support assessment Disseminate information to target audiences, set up website • Public information – inform the media • 3W – Who does what where? Etc. Humanitarian Action Planning, Flash Appeal, Resource mobilization Joint PHT Response Evaluation

  12. To get a better humanitarian action, we need improved: Accountability Predictability Effective coordination Improved partnerships So…. Structure, Coordination, Responsibilization, Information Sharing And: • Coordination is only required when there are multiple actors. • Additional coordination is needed when there are multiple NEW actors.

  13. Links with CMC • Participate in and support established coordination structures and tools (meetings, HAP, clusters, etc.) that support ownership, inclusiveness, etc. • Exchange information, participate in joint assessments, aerial surveys, etc. and support info management • Support relevant focal points/counterparts: logistics, etc. • Share information on local FRANZ arrangements, when these exist • Consistency of approach, support to overall humanitarian strategy

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