Intro to Humanitarian Action Quiz

What is the formula for calculating the global hunger index score?

(Percentage undernourished+percentage underweight children+percentage child mortality)/3

Categories of emergencies

1. Free access emergency situations: a short term disasters in which it is easy to get into the country and help 2. Chronic/protracted complex emergencies: long and drawn out and tend to be very political in nature

What are the three pillars of the transformative agenda?

Leadership, coordination, and accountability

Social anthropology

Looks and life and social relations and tries to discover the meaning behind our actions

UN Resolution 2626

Majority of States agreed to provide 0.7% of GDP to lesser developed countries.

ODA

Oversees development aid

What actors does the code of conduct apply to?

The RCRC and NGOs

Neutrality

"In order to continue to enjoy the confidence of all, the Red Cross may not take sides in hostilities or engage at any time in controversies of a political, racial, religious or ideological nature." Requires the organisation to maintain the confidence of all and to not compromise this by taking sides. Organisation should not engage in any discussions of a non-neutral nature.

Impartiality

"It makes no discrimination as to nationality, race, religious beliefs, class or political opinions. It endeavours to relieve the suffering of individuals, being guided solely by their needs, and to give priority to the most urgent cases of distress." Comprises two key concepts: non-discrimination and priority need. Links to international law and human rights.

Independence

"The movement is independent. The National Societies, while auxiliaries in the humanitarian services of their governments and subject to the laws of their respective countries, must always maintain their autonomy so that they may be able at all times to act in accordance with the principles of the Movement." Requires the organization to prioritise its own policies and values over others'. Cannot be subject to interference from outside forces.

Humanity

"To prevent and alleviate human suffering wherever it may be found...to protect life and health and to ensure respect for the human being." No so much a boundary for action as a constant reminder of the objectives of the Movement.

Disaster: two definitions

1. A disaster is a calamitous event resulting in loss of life, great human suffering and distress, and large scale material damage 2. A serious disruption to community life that threatens or causes death or injury in that community and/or damage to property which is beyond the day-to-day capacity of the prescribed statutory authorities and which requires special mobilisation and organisation of resources other than those normally available to those authorities.

Reasons for giving aid

1. Compassion: moral imperative, religious obligation, altruism 2. Change: saves live, improve quality of life, offers economic opportunities 3. Containment: maintain global security, impacts migration

Why is anthropology important for disaster and humanitarian action?

1. Context: anthropologists can help humanitarians to understand the culture of affected people in order to provide effective aid 2. Relevance and appropriateness: anthropologists can help make programs appropriate to the local culture 3. States of exception: anthropologist might be interested in studying how a culture changes during a disaster. Since a disaster is removed from the normal life of people, it may have long-term effects on the culture.

IFRC Mandate

1. Coordinates and directs international humanitarian assistance following natural disasters or man-made disasters in non-conflict situations 2. Facilitates peer learning among national societies 3. International representation 4. Supports capacity building

Different contexts of countries in disasters

1. Emergency situations 2. Rehabilitation/transition/recovery post disaster 3. Development

Four essential characteristics of humanitarian aid

1. Focuses on needs before wants. Apolitical. 2. Addresses the symptoms before addressing the causes or providing action. 3. Provided in the short term more than the long term. 4. Closely linked to response to disasters.

Six building blocks of a good health service system

1. Good health services 2. A well-performing workforce 3. A well-functioning health information system 4. Equitable, cost-effective access to essential products 5. A good health financing system 6. Leadership and governance which is accountable

Parameters for access to water in disasters

1. Having enough water collection points 2. Having the water collection points within easy reach of affected populations 3. Ensuring collection time is kept to a minimum

Six different humanitarian actors

1. Host governments and regional organisations 2. IGOs 3. Red Cross Movement 4. Donor agencies/organisations 5. NGOs 6. CGOs

What four diseases cause most of the morbidity and mortality after a disaster?

1. Malaria 2. Diarrheal diseases 3. Acute respiratory diseases 4. Measles

Five other non-humanitarian actors and their roles

1. Military: peace keeping, protection 2. Private sector: contribute cash or in-kind goods and services 3. Diaspora: remittances, advocacy 4. Religious institutions 5. Media: awareness raising

Types of bilateral treaties

1. Mutual assistance treaties, which are applicable to any kind of disaster 2. Treaties regulating certain types of assistance 3. Treaties for certain areas of a country that might need additional assistance in a disaster

Three mains causes of disasters

1. Natural disasters (earthquake, flood, disease, etc.) 2. Man made (conflict, war) 3. Technological disasters

Excreta disposal options

1. Open defecation or defecation fields 2. Basic pit/VIP latrine 3. Pour flush latrines 4. Sewerage

Periods in the history of humanitarian aid

1. Pre-industrialization/globalization 2. Formative period 3. Storming period 4. Contemporary period

Reasons for the global hunger index

1. Raises awareness 2. Shows progress 3. Highlights successes and failures 4. Provides incentives to act

Frameworks of analysis in international relations

1. Realist 2. Liberal 3. Global politics

Key functioning of a health system

1. Service provision 2. Resource generation 3. Financing 4. Stewardship

Scenarios for people after disasters

1. Stay at home 2. People are displaced and stay in host communities 3. People and displaced and stay in camps

Three temporal classifications of disasters

1. Sudden/rapid onset (flooding, war) 2. Slow onset (drought) 3. Ongoing protracted disasters (HIV/AIDS, long lasting conflicts)

Water sources

1. Surface water sources 2. Ground water sources (wells) 3. Rainwater

Non food items needed in emergencies

1. Tents/plastic sheeting 2. Blankets 3. Jerrycans 4. Disinfection tablets 5. Hygiene kits 6. Mosquito nets 7. Kerosene stoves 8. Clothes

Ten Principle Commitments of the Humanitarian Code of Conduct

1. The humanitarian imperative comes first; 2. Aid is given regardless of the race, creed or nationality of the recipients and without adverse distinction of any kind. Aid priorities are calculated on the basis of need alone; 3. Aid will not be used to further a particular political or religious standpoint; 4. We shall endeavour not to be used as an instrument of government foreign policy; 5. We shall respect culture and custom; 6. We shall attempt to build disaster response on local capacities; 7. Ways shall be found to involve program beneficiaries in the management of relief aid; 8. Relief aid must strive to reduce vulnerabilities to future disaster as well as meeting basic needs; 9. We hold ourselves accountable to both those we seek to assist and those from whom we accept resources; 10. In our information, publicity and advertising activities, we shall recognize disaster victims as dignified human beings, not hopeless objects.

Modes of delivering hygiene education

1. Through mass media 2. Through a people-centered approach

Key behaviors in hygiene promotion

1. Wash hands after defecation 2. Wash hands before preparing or eating food 3. Wash hands after handling children or their feces

What is the overall global hunger index?

12.5

How many deaths per year can be attributed to communicable, reproductive or nutritional conditions?

3 out of every ten

What did the transformative agenda create for accountability?

A common reporting framework. A common programme cycle.

What kind of disaster is most likely to result in an outbreak?

A complex disaster

What is a health system?

A complex system that includes all actors, organisations, institutions and resources whose primary purpose is to improve health

Nutrition securty

A condition when all people at all times consume food of sufficient quantity and quality in terms of variety, diversity, nutrient content and safety to meet their dietary needs and food preferences for an active and healthy life coupled with a sanitary environment, adequate health and care.

What is hidden hunger?

A form of undernutrition that occurs when intake or absorption of vitamins and minerals is too low to sustain good health and development.

System

A group or combination of interrelated, interdependent or interacting elements forming a collective identity

Definition of refugee

A person who crosses and international border and meets the definition of refugee in legal instruments: they must be subject to individual persecution based on a person's category.

What do WASH programs incude?

Access to safe sources of water with good quantity and quality; access to the use of a latrine; and possessing key hygiene behaviors.

Why and after what was the transformative agenda created?

After the Haiti earthquake and the Pakistan floods. UN agents were killed, so the leadership was handicapped. Poor coordination.

Ways anthropologists study disaster

An anthropologist can study disaster in terms of the local culture and provide information to humanitarian workers. Or they can study the humanitarian actors themselves.

What was Japan's triple disaster of 2011?

An earthquake followed by a tsunami followed by a nuclear incident

International Disaster Law

An underdeveloped area of law that includes rules and standards that describe the role of the States and other relevant actors in the response to a recovery from natural or human-made disasters as well as in the area of disaster risk reduction

Humanitarian Crisis definition

Any situation where there is an exceptional and widespread threat to life, health, or basic subsistence which is beyond the coping capacity of individuals and the community.

What are the top ten priorities in any emergency phase situation involving refugees?

Assessment of situation, measles immunization, water/sanitation, food/nutrition, shelter/site planning, health care, control of communicable diseases, public health surveillance, human resources and training, camp management

Principles

Based on logic and show why we act the way we do

Stunting and its complications

Being too small for a child's age as a result of chronic under-nutrition. Increases risk of death and reduces cognitive development.

Where did the humanitarian principles arise?

Came form the Red Cross Movement in 1965.

What is Plan's main mode of aid?

Child sponsorship, which works really well because it is sustainable.

Realist framework

Claim to be objective. Every State for itself; must defend itself and the interests of its citizens. States are engaged in a struggle for power and may not always be able to behave morally. No universal moral code; HA efforts always lead to total war.

Liberal framework

Claim we can have cooperation. Believe States can cooperate. Believe that States prefer cooperation over conflict. States justified in being concerned with citizens of other States.

Role of international law in humanitarian action

Clarifies the role of humanitarian actors. Law provides a greater efficiency and effectiveness by removing beauracratic obstacles to aid. Law bestows certain rights to vulnerable persons.

Guidelines for internally displaced people

Come from the Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement. Reflect and are consistent with international law. Apply to internal displacement regardless of cause. Directed towards all actors. Six main recommendations: 1. Prohibits arbitrary displacement 2. States should specially protect against displacement those with a dependence on their lands 3. Right to liberty of movement 4. Right to know fate of missing relatives 5. Right to respect for family life 6. Duty to establish conditions conducive to return

International treaties/mechanisms

Contain norms concerning the prevention of and response to certain specific kinds of disasters or norms concerning specific aspects of disaster assistance.

International Federation of the Red Cross responsiblities

Coordinates the efforts of national societies in disasters.

International Humanitarian Law

Core principle: parties to an armed conflict must not target civilians. Imposes duties on states and warring parties to this end. Imposes limitations on use of Red Cross/Red Crescent emblem.

International Humanitarian System

Created one leader for a region for disaster response. Created clusters.

International Committee of the Red Cross responsibilities

Deals with war situations and keeping laws.

Outcomes of gender in disaster

Differential death ratios between males and females; families left without primary caregivers; increased number of female headed households with many of these being internally displaced

Two ways to classify disasters

Disasters can either be classified by their causes or the temporal nature of the disaster

What are some issues faced in the ebola outbreak?

Disbelief of ebola, lack of confidence in government, lack of personnel, lack of PPEs, not enough diagnosis facilities, high illiteracy rate, patients ferried in public transport, slow response from the international community

Ways to address hidden hunger

Diversify diets, fortify commercial foods, biofortify foods, and supplement

Acts of God in relation to disasters: views and impacts

Divine retribution? Part of God's plan? Divine intervention to save lives? The impact is fatalism, the attitude that the supernatural is responsible.

Diseases which are carried in human feces

Dysentery, cholera, and typhoid

What factors cause a country to make progress in the global hunger index?

Economic growth, government commitment, and funding toward interventions

Definition and role of the Red Cross

Encompasses the Red Cross and Red Crescent movements of each country. 187 national societies. Spending exceeded $1 billion in 2010, making it one of the bigger actors in humanitarian work.

Level 3 emergencies

Exceptional in scale, complexity, urgency, capacity, and reputational risk. Has mostly been conflicts since definition was introduced.

Food security

Exists when all people at all times have physical and economic access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food to meet their dietary needs and food preferences for an active and healthy life.

Definition and role of host governments and regional organisations

Governments of affected countries; DG humanitarian aid and civil protection

Informal soft law instruments

Guidelines established by various bodies that provide standards for disaster response. Examples include the Sphere Project or the RCRC movement's code of conduct. Not binding.

What are the top killers in terms of infectious diseases?

HIV/AIDS, TB, malaria, diarrhoea, lower respiratory infections, and measles

The holistic approach to the reasons for disasters

Hazards, vulnerabilities, and risks lead to disaster. However, the religious element is marginalised in this approach.

Four overarching humanitarian principles

Humanity, neutrality, impartiality, and independence

What does international relations do?

Identify trends. Understand power relations between actors and regime strength in international politics.

Ethnography

Immersion of the researcher in the local culture; the long-term approach. The main methodological approach for modern anthropologists.

International Human Rights Law

Imposes obligations on states and non-state actors. Applies in all circumstances, including disasters. Give people civil and political rights, i.e. freedom from state interference. Also gives them economic, social, and cultural rights which are positive obligations on states.

What are some things that can be done to decrease child mortality that aren't vaccinations?

Improve nutrition, improve housing, and improve water and sanitation

What is the intervention that has the biggest effect on preventing diarrheal diseases?

Improving hand washing

What are some oversight gaps in the provision of effective disaster response?

Inappropriate items, disregard for standards, poor coordination, corruption, rights violations/discrimination in the provision of assistance

What are some legal barriers to effective disaster response?

Initiation, visas, customs, taxes, specialised equipment, professional qualifications, registration, transport, liability

Definition and role of IGOs

Intergovernmental organisations are organisations that span multiple countries, such as the eleven clusters of the UN.

What was the change in leadership in the transformative agenda?

It created a roster of people that can take leadership roles if needed. Changed attitude that someone shouldn't be replaced if there is someone better qualified. Created leaders for clusters.

What is the problem with participation in the IHS?

It is voluntary.

Knock-on effects of ebola

Lack of general healthcare, fear of attending clinics, unsafe births, closed schools, increased food prices, orphans

Plan's Modus Operandi

Long-term development, humanitarian work, child sponsorship, work with government, aligned to country strategic plans, community based, partnership model, few expats

Underlying problems of stunting

Low diversity of foods, maize based diets, lack of micronutrients, poor breastfeeding practices, and weak decision making powers amongst women

Categories of countries in the global hunger index

Low, moderate, serious, alarming, extremely alarming

What underlying issue increases the risk of death from measles?

Malnutrition

Who provides most of the funding for humanitarian work?

Most funding comes from donor governments.

Characteristics and events of the storming period

Occurred from 1990-2005. Saw huge increase in wars globally; mostly intra-state. International community adopted a peace paradigm. Creation of departments focused on humanitarian aid instead of development. Increase in NGOs, and new actors came into the field; massive issues with politicization of aid. Created new codes and standards to cope. End of the period saw a decrease in wars but an increase in natural disasters.

Characteristics and events of the formative period

Occurred from the mid-19th to mid-20th century. Advances in technology and communication resulted in improvement. First signs of systematic state support evidenced between industrialising countries and their colonies. First humanitarian organization in the Red Cross. First attempt at global governance system--League of Nations. First NGO--Save the Children.

Characteristics and events of the normative period

Occurred from the mid-20th century to 1990. Period of law making because of the Cold War. The UN was introduced to prevent another event like WWII. Establishment of many of the major conventions and rights declarations; still form the basis of international legal system. Wars tended to be inter-state and linked to colonialism. Other major events: formation of Humanitarian Principles, increase in number of NGOs, ratification of 0.7% GNP.

Percentage of ODA going to humanitarian causes

Only 2% in the 1990s, but currently about 10%.

What is one way to increase survival rates from ebola infection?

Oral rehydration solutions

Politics of indifference

People die because they didn't receive the right kind of intervention in time.

What are some causes of hidden hunger?

Poor diet, infections and disease, ore increased but unmet micronutrient needs

Characteritics of the pre-industralization/globalization period

Population size was relatively stable. The population was vulnerable to its environment. Humanitarian work was largely the purvey of religious institutions.

Gender based programming

Programming to combat gender based violence

Gender sensitive programming

Programming which considers gender and the different needs of men and women

The Humanitarian Code of Conduct Origins

Ratified in 1994. A code which humanitarian organisations can choose to sign up for; voluntary. Seeks to maintain a standard.

Humanitarian Aid

Saving lives, alleviating suffering, and allowing people to live with dignity through the provision of basic goods and services. Rooted in compassion.

Characteristics and events of the contemporary period

Saw a lot of focus on increasing the coordination and effectiveness of aid. Established clusters. Established new guidelines for disaster response. UN established Transformative Agenda. Humanitarian system has failed to keep pace with increasing demands. Belief is now that humanitarian action needs to focus more on resilience and risk management.

Geo politics framework

See the people of the world as connect. Believe that we are living in a post-State era. States will be unlikely to be concerned with suffering in other States.

SPHERE Project

Started by a group of NGOs and the Red Cross in 1997. Sought to improve standards in the delivery of humanitarian aid. Comprises the Humanitarian Charter and the Minimum Standards. The Charter links action to relevant international law. The Standards offer guidance/standards on the provision of humanitarian assistance.

What is the role of the ICRC in conflic situations as defined in the Geneva Conventions?

The Red Cross has a special obligation to provide relief, act as a mediator between sides, care for those injured in conflict, visit prisoners of war, and provide an intermediary for the application of humanitarian law.

Acts of nature in relation to disasters

The attitude that nature causes disasters. The impact is a technological response: the extremes of nature alone are responsible.

Acts of man in relation to disasters

The attitude that we put ourselves in harms way. The impact is the opinion that humans are purely responsible for disasters.

Authoritative allocation of values

The central problem of politics. Who gets what, when and how. Who decides and why. Understanding human behaviour.

What are some characteristics of faith-based organizations?

The mission statement demonstrates an evangelical focus. The tie of the organization to a particular religious organizations or theologies. Their staff policies and the composition of their staff. Is not humanitarian if their primary mission is converting.

Values

The reasons why we behave the way we do

Core principle of international law

The right to non-refoulement; a person who is fleeing a disaster should not be returned to the site of the disaster

What determines water quality? How is it determined?

The type of source, the protection of the source, and the treatment of the water supply. Determined by physical characteristics, chemical characteristics, and microbiological characteristics.

Definition, classification and role of NGOs

There are three major types of NGOs: international non-governmental organisations, non-governmental organisations, and local non-governmental organisations. INGOs are the largest actor. Primarily have Christian origins. Five INGOs spent 38% of total INGO spending.

Derogation from human rights law in emergencies

There are three preconditions that allow a state to deviate from human rights law: public emergency, threat to the life of the nation, or official proclamation. The consequences of these preconditions are a deviation from a limited number of human rights obligations. There are three limitations in deviation: 1. Can only deviate to the extent strictly required by the exigencies of the situation 2. Cannot violate other international law 3. Cannot discriminate

Have regional places overall become better or worse at dealing with disasters?

They have become better. Affected governments are developing disaster risk management plans. Regional organisations have strengthened their capacities.

UNHCR mandate for refugees

Three options for refugees: 1. Grant people refugee status in new country 2. Return to home country when safe 3. Resettle in new country or create conditions in old country such that they can return

What is the main mode of transmission of ebola?

Through dead bodies that have died from ebola. Traditional burial methods involve a lot of touching of the dead bodies.

Key principle of excreta disposal

To contain or remove excreta and break the chain of disease transmission.

Bilateral treaties

Treaties made between States that describe types of assistance to one another in the case of a disaster. Part of international disaster law.

Regional treaties/mechanisms

Treaties or mechanisms in which States in a certain region come together to cooperate on an issue. Forms of cooperation include political dialogue, information exchange, harmonisation, training/research, funds/insurance, rulemaking, offers, and joint operations.

What dimensions are considered in the global hunger index?

Undernourishment, child underweight, and child mortality

Definition and role of donor agencies/organisations

Usually refers to organisations of states that provide funds to humanitarian initiatives.

Three Red Cross-specific principles

Voluntary service, unity, universality

What are some WASH interventions for reducing mortality?

Water supply, excreta disposal, hygiene promotion, liquid and solid waste management, vector control, shelter and settlement planning, and control of pollution