Bioethics in humanitarian disaster relief operations: a military perspective

2021 ◽  
pp. bmjmilitary-2021-001927
Author(s):  
James Davies ◽  
A Brockie ◽  
J Breeze
Keyword(s):  
Military Personnel ◽  
Healthcare Workers ◽  
Disaster Relief ◽  
Ethical Dilemmas ◽  
Special Issue ◽  
Military Health ◽  
Disaster Relief Operations ◽  
Relief Operations ◽  
Military Perspective ◽  
The Military

The ethical dilemmas faced every day by military personnel working within the NHS will potentially be very different to ones that will be faced in the wake of a humanitarian disaster. Allied to this the potentially differing objectives from military personnel when compared with other healthcare workers in these scenarios and a conflict of ethics could arise.Within this paper, the fundamentals of this conflict will be explored and how working within the military framework can affect clinical decisions. This is a paper commissioned as a part of the humanitarian and disaster relief operations special issue of BMJ Military Health.

Protecting the health of responders: Team Health

2020 ◽  
pp. bmjmilitary-2020-001498
Author(s):  
David Ross
Keyword(s):  
Disaster Relief ◽  
Special Issue ◽  
Personal View ◽  
Military Health ◽  
Disaster Relief Operations ◽  
Relief Operations ◽  
Three Phases

The rise in humanitarian disasters has led to more volunteers responding to deploy with humanitarian organisations. Those organisations that use these volunteers have a responsibility for the health of these teams of workers. This personal view outlines the three phases of ‘Team Health’—prepare, sustain and recover. This is a paper commissioned as a part of the Humanitarian and Disaster Relief Operations special issue of BMJ Military Health.

Operation RUMAN: Role 2 Afloat delivering Humanitarian Aid and Disaster Relief operations in the Caribbean

2018 ◽  
Vol 104 (3) ◽  
pp. 159-164
Author(s):  
J J Matthews
Keyword(s):  
Disaster Relief ◽  
Humanitarian Aid ◽  
Affected Area ◽  
Disaster Relief Operations ◽  
The Caribbean ◽  
Relief Operations ◽  
The Military ◽  
Maritime Environment ◽  
Extensive Damage

AbstractIn the autumn of 2017, two Category 5 hurricanes caused extensive damage in the Caribbean. This resulted in the activation of two Role 2 Afloat (R2A) teams in support of Operation RUMAN, the military response to provide Humanitarian Aid and Disaster Relief (HADR) to the affected area. This paper documents the deployment of the R2A capability during Op RUMAN and outlines the main lessons identified in the delivery of HADR in the maritime environment.

Comparison between Defence Healthcare Engagement and humanitarian assistance

2020 ◽  
pp. bmjmilitary-2020-001437 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas Falconer Hall ◽  
S Horne ◽  
D Ross
Keyword(s):  
Ethical Issues ◽  
Humanitarian Assistance ◽  
Ethical Framework ◽  
Medical Services ◽  
Special Issue ◽  
Military Health ◽  
Disaster Relief Operations ◽  
Relief Of Suffering ◽  
Relief Operations ◽  
Building Stability

Humanitarian assistance and Defence Healthcare Engagement have traditionally both been taught on the Medical Humanitarian Stabilisation Operations Course. However, the two activities are distinct. This paper outlines the critical differences between them, focusing on their specific purposes, scope, timescales and ethics. Humanitarian assistance will remain a distinct activity with a focus on the relief of suffering, guided by international norms, while Defence Healthcare Engagement will encompass a broader range of activities, less constrained by internationally agreed principles. This presents an opportunity for the Defence Medical Services to directly contribute to projecting UK influence, preventing conflict and building stability. However, it requires the Defence Medical Services to take responsibility for the ethical issues that Defence Healthcare Engagement raises. This paper recommends the development of an ethical framework that reconciles the strategic aims of Defence Healthcare Engagement with maximising patient welfare at the tactical level. This is a paper commissioned as a part of the Humanitarian and Disaster Relief Operations special issue of BMJ Military Health.

scholarly journals Synchronized Humanitarian, Military and Commercial Logistics: An Evolving Synergistic Partnership

Safety ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 5 (4) ◽  
pp. 67
Author(s):  
Yuste ◽  
Campbell ◽  
Canyon ◽  
Childers ◽  
Ryan
Keyword(s):  
Supply Chains ◽  
Disaster Preparedness ◽  
Disaster Relief ◽  
Humanitarian Assistance ◽  
Humanitarian Supply Chains ◽  
Logistics Systems ◽  
Disaster Relief Operations ◽  
Supply Chain Management System ◽  
Relief Operations ◽  
The Military

The increasing complexity and often transboundary scope of complex emergencies are exceeding the capacity of humanitarian logistics systems. The military plays a growing role in supplementing and even leading humanitarian assistance and disaster relief logistics. However, issues relating to military involvement such as sovereignty and cost have refocused the conversation onto capabilities and capacities of commercial logistics providers, who have not been fully engaged and integrated into disaster preparedness, response, and recovery activities. The commercial sector is part of the larger supply chain management system that includes contracting, procurement, storage, and transportation of food, water, medicine, and other supplies, as well as human resources, and necessary machinery and equipment. Military and commercial logistics share many of these elements and tasks daily. The most effective and efficient response combines key elements from humanitarian, military, and commercial logistics systems. Such trilateral cooperation represents the next step in an evolving partnership paradigm that is truly synergistic. We present a Synchronized Disaster Relief Model, as well as multiple examples of how military, commercial, and humanitarian supply chains each bring unique capabilities to disaster relief operations, and how these three supply chains can complement each other in a synergistic manner, through synchronized action.

Lessons from the humanitarian disaster logistics management

2020 ◽  
Vol 27 (4) ◽  
pp. 1455-1473 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohammad Asif Salam ◽  
Sami A. Khan
Keyword(s):  
Disaster Relief ◽  
Humanitarian Logistics ◽  
Logistics Management ◽  
Military Establishment ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Disaster Relief Operations ◽  
Disaster Logistics ◽  
Relief Operations ◽  
The Military

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to draw lessons for logistics management in humanitarian disasters, using the earthquake in Haiti as a case study. In Haiti, there were problems with the logistical response. This study investigates the humanitarian logistics challenges faced by various stakeholders in Haiti during the disaster-relief operations.Design/methodology/approachIn this exploratory case study, the central methodology used was data triangulation. Data triangulation involved interviews with respondents grouped into three categories, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), the military establishment and the governmental agencies. Prominence is given to the common themes expressed by each group. These common themes are then compared to the themes of other groups to identify opportunities and problems for future disaster relief operations.FindingsThe study indicates that there is a clear gap in terms of how the humanitarian efforts were coordinated between different actors. Lack of civil–military cooperation and coordination was one of the findings from the interviews, and many of the resources and initiatives were overlapping or redundant. Timeliness and efficiency need to be at the forefront of all planning and would result in more saved lives and reduced human suffering. The key goal of humanitarian logistics stipulates is to form connections and relationships, which was well illustrated through the informants' interviews. It was found that organizing different stakeholders/actors to work together by sharing processes and distribution channels demands a vision that goes beyond logistics management. Government agencies, the military establishment, NGOs, locals and victims need to collaborate to create a synergy in generating solutions that are tailored to the shock of the disaster in the first place.Research limitations/implicationsThe current study relies on a single case study approach as disaster scenarios are unique in terms of their impact, magnitude, timing and location. Despite these limitations, this study provides a detailed account of the logistical challenges in dealing with the disaster that took place in Haiti. The logistics-related lessons learned from this case study should be carefully applied in other settings, taken into consideration contextual differences.Practical implicationsOne important aspect of measuring efficiency for any commercial logistics system is key performance indicators (KPIs) that indicate how well the firm is doing in managing its inbound and outbound operations. From a practical standpoint, the Haiti case raised a challenging concern with regard to how to measure the performance of humanitarian disaster logistics. This is a starting point to understand the dynamics of disaster system efficiency and logistics interplay and offers a few lessons to improve the resource availability in the case of future emergencies.Originality/valueThis study lays the groundwork for future researchers to explore and debrief on the topic once disaster relief draws to a close and time has allowed logisticians and relief workers to analyze the response mechanisms used in disasters.

scholarly journals Saving lives with fewer discussions - coordination between military and non-military organisations during disaster relief operations

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 109
Author(s):  
Johan Stevens ◽  
Janjaap Semeijn ◽  
Cees Johannes Gelderman
Keyword(s):  
Disaster Relief ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Military Organization ◽  
Coordination Problems ◽  
Military Organizations ◽  
Disaster Relief Operations ◽  
Relief Operations ◽  
The Military ◽  
Relief Organizations

Purpose: This study focusses on the coordination required between military and non-military organisations during humanitarian disasters. Design / Research methods: An in-depth case study was conducted of the disaster relief operation after hurricane Matthew on Haiti in October 2016. We investigated the support of the Dutch military organization and its coordination with the non-military relief organizations. We examined coordination issues at operational, tactical, and strategic levels. Findings: The study shows that no coordination problems occurred at operational level. At the tactical level, cultural differences between military and non-military organizations resulted in coordination problems and deviant perspectives on urgency. At the strategic level, there was a disagreement between the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Dutch Ministry of Defence regarding the Oslo Guidelines. A minority agreed that the guidelines actually apply to military organizations during disaster relief operations. Practical implications: The coordination between the military organization and the non-military relief organization during disaster relief operations can be improved by promoting common and mutual respect and defining a clear tasks and role fulfilments. A first step to improve the coordination is to get familiarity and clarity on the Oslo Guidelines. Another step for improvement is for the military organization to accept that it has no leading but an assistance role during disaster relief operations. Research limitations/implications: A single case study limits the external validity of the results, although useful insights were gained. Future research could address the role of the Oslo Guidelines during disaster relief operations. Are these guidelines still valid, should they be updated, and are the sufficiently known by all relief organizations, including the military? Originality/value of the article: The world is faced with an increasing occurrence of disasters affecting human lives. More lives could be saved when military and non-military organizations would work together more effectively. This is one of the first studies to explore the terms of engagement at the start of relief operations.

Children in a disaster: health protection and intervention

2022 ◽  
pp. e002010
Author(s):  
Conor Reid ◽  
C Hillman
Keyword(s):  
Healthcare Workers ◽  
Primary Role ◽  
Military Health ◽  
Disaster Relief Operations ◽  
Legal Duty ◽  
Different Populations ◽  
Relief Operations ◽  
Relief Efforts ◽  
Individual Healthcare

Children are disproportionately affected by disasters. They have greater physiological, psychological and sociological vulnerabilities, often exacerbated by the fact that their unique needs can be overlooked during relief efforts. This article provides an overview of disasters, including how they are categorised, and the factors that need to be considered by military and civilian healthcare teams that respond to them. Information is drawn from a variety of previous disasters, with the effects considered across a range of different populations and communities. The lessons learnt from previous disasters need to inform the ongoing discussions around how to best train and supply both individual healthcare workers and the wider teams that will be expected to respond to future disasters. The importance of role-specific training incorporating caring for children, consideration of paediatric casualties during planning exercises and teaching scenarios, and the requirement for paediatric equipment and medications cannot be overemphasised. While provision of paediatric care may not be the primary role of an individual healthcare worker or their broader team, it still remains their ethical and often legal duty to plan for and deliver care for children when responding to a disaster. This is a paper commissioned as part of the Humanitarian and Disaster Relief Operations special issue of BMJ Military Health.

scholarly journals Helminth infections in the US military: from strongyloidiasis to schistosomiasis

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alyssa R Lindrose ◽  
Indrani Mitra ◽  
Jamie Fraser ◽  
Edward Mitre ◽  
Patrick W Hickey
Keyword(s):  
Military Personnel ◽  
International Classification Of Diseases ◽  
Data Repository ◽  
Military Health ◽  
Intestinal Nematode ◽  
Us Military ◽  
Helminth Infections ◽  
The Us ◽  
East And Southeast Asia ◽  
The Military

Abstract Background Helminth infections caused by parasitic worms, including nematodes (roundworms), cestodes (tapeworms) and trematodes (flukes), can cause chronic symptoms and serious clinical outcomes if left untreated. The US military frequently conducts activities in helminth-endemic regions, particularly Africa, the Middle East and Southeast Asia. However, the military does not currently screen for these infections, and to date, no comprehensive surveillance studies have been completed to assess the frequency of helminth diagnoses in the military personnel and their families. Methods To determine the burden of helminth infections in the US Military Health System (MHS), we conducted a retrospective analysis of International Classification of Diseases (ICD)-9/10 diagnosis codes from all medical encounters in the MHS Data Repository (MDR) from fiscal years (FY) 2012 to 2018. Chart reviews were conducted to assign ICD diagnoses as incorrect, suspected, probable or confirmed based on the laboratory results and symptoms. Results Abstraction of MHS data revealed over 50 000 helminth diagnoses between FY 2012 and FY 2018. Of these, 38 445 of diagnoses were amongst unique subjects. After chart review, we found there were 34 425 validated helminth infections diagnosed amongst the unique subjects of US military personnel, retirees and dependents. Nearly 4000 of these cases represented infections other than enterobiasis. There were 351 validated strongyloidiasis diagnoses, 317 schistosomiasis diagnoses and 191 diagnoses of cysticercosis during the study period. Incidence of intestinal nematode infection diagnoses showed an upward trend, whilst the incidence of cestode infection diagnoses decreased. Conclusions The results of this study demonstrate that helminth infections capable of causing severe morbidity are often diagnosed in the US military. As helminth infections are often asymptomatic or go undiagnosed, the true burden of helminth infections in US military personnel and dependents may be higher than observed here. Prospective studies of US military personnel deployed to helminth-endemic areas may be indicated to determine if post-deployment screening and/or empirical treatment are warranted.

scholarly journals Evolutionary optimization for disaster relief operations: A survey

2015 ◽  
Vol 27 ◽  
pp. 553-566 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yu-Jun Zheng ◽  
Sheng-Yong Chen ◽  
Hai-Feng Ling
Keyword(s):  
Disaster Relief ◽  
Evolutionary Optimization ◽  
Disaster Relief Operations ◽  
Relief Operations
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