5. Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Response

2020 ◽  
pp. 139-157
Keyword(s):  
Disaster Response ◽  
Humanitarian Assistance

Hospital Ships Adrift? Part 1: A Systematic Literature Review Characterizing US Navy Hospital Ship Humanitarian and Disaster Response, 2004-2012

2013 ◽  
Vol 28 (3) ◽  
pp. 230-238 ◽  
Author(s):  
Derek Licina
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Policy ◽  
Literature Review ◽  
Private Sector ◽  
Systematic Literature Review ◽  
Disaster Response ◽  
Grey Literature ◽  
Humanitarian Assistance ◽  
Us Navy ◽  
Hospital Ships ◽  
The Impact

AbstractBackgroundUnited States foreign policy is tied extensively to health initiatives, many related to the use of military assets. Despite substantial resource investment by the US Department of Defense (DoD) in hospital ship humanitarian assistance and disaster response missions, the impact of this investment is unclear.MethodsA systematic literature review of both peer-reviewed and grey literature using eight databases representing the international community and multiple sectors was conducted. Data on the characteristics of missions directly related to US Navy hospital ship humanitarian assistance and disaster response from 2004-2012 were extracted and documented.ResultsOf the 1445 sources reviewed, a total of 43 publications met criteria for review. Six (13.9%) met empirical documentation criteria and 37 (86.0%) were considered nonempirical expert opinions and anecdotal accounts that were primarily descriptive in nature. Overall, disaster response accounted for 67.4% (29/43) and humanitarian assistance 25.6% (11/43). Public and private sector participants produced 79.0% (34/43) and 20.9% (9/43) of the publications respectively. Of private sector publications, 88.9% (8/9) focused on disaster response compared to 61.8% (21/34) from the public sector. Of all publications meeting inclusion criteria, 81.4% (35/43) focused on medical care, 9.3% (4/43) discussed partnerships, 4.7% (2/43) training, and 4.7% (2/43) medical ethics and strategic utilization. No primary author publications from the diplomatic, development, or participating host nations were identified. One (2.3%) of the 43 publications was from a partner nation participant.DiscussionWithout rigorous research methods yielding valid and reliable data-based information pertaining to Navy hospital ship mission impact, policy makers are left with anecdotal reports to influence their decision-making processes. This is inadequate considering the frequency of hospital ship deployments used as a foreign policy tool and the considerable funding that is involved in each mission. Future research efforts should study empirically the short- and long-term impacts of hospital ship missions in building regional and civil-military partnerships while meeting the humanitarian and disaster response needs of host nation populations.LicinaD. Hospital ships adrift? Part 1: a systematic literature review characterizing US Navy hospital ship humanitarian and disaster response, 2004-2012. Prehosp Disaster Med.2013;28(3):1–10..

scholarly journals Can legal frameworks for disaster response be improved?

2011 ◽  
pp. 35-39
Author(s):  
Dug Cubie
Keyword(s):  
Medical Care ◽  
Disaster Response ◽  
Humanitarian Assistance ◽  
Search And Rescue ◽  
International Level ◽  
Emergency Assistance ◽  
Life Saving ◽  
Red Tape ◽  
Legal Frameworks

We are all familiar with images of search and rescue teams, medics, and engineers arriving to help after a disaster, such as following the March 2011 Japanese earthquake and tsunami or the massive floods in Pakistan in July 2010. In recognition of the devastating impact natural or human-made disasters can have on individuals and communities, an estimated US $7billion was spent globally in 2008 on emergency assistance including food, shelter and medical care. The mere words “Pompeii”, “Krakatoa” or “Chernobyl” conjure up scenes of death and destruction. So how can lawyers assist in disaster responses? Cynics may say that things always get more complicated when lawyers become involved. Rules, regulations and red tape – surely all of these legal tools only delay vital life saving assistance? Yet legal practitioners at a national and international level are increasingly aware that we have a lot to contribute to ensure that humanitarian assistance ...

Developing the role of emergency physicians in humanitarian assistance and disaster response

2010 ◽  
Vol 27 (Suppl 1) ◽  
pp. A7.3-A8
Author(s):  
Najeeb Rahman
Keyword(s):  
Emergency Medicine ◽  
Disaster Response ◽  
Ad Hoc ◽  
Skills Training ◽  
Humanitarian Assistance ◽  
Emergency Physicians ◽  
Medical Response ◽  
Health Response ◽  
Response Team

ObjectiveTo review and summarise information from Reliefweb (information website hosted by the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs) regarding medical response during the first 2 weeks following Pakistan Earthquake of 2005, and the Haiti Earthquake of 2010. This information, used in conjunction with personal experiences, will demonstrate the value that emergency physicians can contribute as part of a disaster response team during humanitarian aid efforts.MethodsAll situation reports authored by the WHO (who have lead responsibility in coordinating the health response during a disaster) which were published on Reliefweb during the first 2 weeks following the relevant earthquakes were selected. These reports were screened for information relating to numbers of deaths, injuries and illness, as well as number of non-governmental organisations (NGOs)/aid groups participating in efforts, in addition to operational health facilities and capacities.ResultsSummary of the reports demonstrate the rapid increase in patient numbers and NGO participation, as well as the challenges of coordination, communication, resourcing and planning, in addition to appropriate patient management. These findings help to outline the skills required to participate and respond to such crises, many of which constitute part of emergency medicine practice.ConclusionVolunteer participation by doctors during the first few weeks following such disasters continues. However, such participation occurs in an ad-hoc fashion, with many working through a variety of NGOs, but without appropriate coordination and relevant basic training.The College of Emergency Medicine is well placed to support such efforts. This could initially be done by establishing a working group under the auspices of the College, whose role would be support the skills training of doctors wishing to volunteer, as well as work with other associations, colleges, NGOs and Government, so as to better respond to such disasters in the future, with a consolidated role for emergency physicians.

Remotely Piloted Life-Saving Effort vehicles and emergency management: An analysis on revolutionizing humanitarian assistance in Pakistan

2018 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. 7
Author(s):  
Ali Bin Nadeem, MSc ◽  
YSA Chandna
Keyword(s):  
Emergency Management ◽  
Disaster Response ◽  
Unmanned Vehicles ◽  
Humanitarian Assistance ◽  
Response Strategy ◽  
Humanitarian Response ◽  
Research Article ◽  
Life Saving ◽  
History Of ◽  
Functional Capacities

The majority of the Pakistani public has known little of the unmanned aerial vehicles, also known for their onomatopoeically inspired name “drones,” except the fact that it regularly rains Hellfire missiles in Pakistan, claiming the lives of many innocent Pakistanis settled in the western provinces. In actuality, in addition to their destructive capacities, these remotely piloted vehicles have been used since the turn of the century in a variety of live-saving and risk-reducing roles. This research article primarily addresses the third stage of Emergency management response, with Pakistan being the primary region of research. This research article will first begin by diagnosing and accurately delineating the types of humanitarian crisis that grip Pakistan, devastating its land, exhausting its limited resources in its weak, and now almost archaic, disaster response strategy that results in the prolongation of its citizens’ plight. Subsequently, this article will describe the history of the usage of unmanned vehicles, its multi-functional capacities, and its relevance in aiding humanitarian response efforts in disaster-stricken areas. Finally, this article will propose the introduction of Remotely Piloted Life-Saving Effort (RELIEF) vehicles in performing analysis and surveillance roles in Pakistan's disaster-prone and disaster-struck areas and its capacity to dramatically improve and expedite the existing relief supply delivery systems in place.

EMDR Humanitarian Assistance Programs: 20 Years and Counting

2014 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
pp. 196-204 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert Gelbach
Keyword(s):  
Disaster Response ◽  
Training Programs ◽  
Terrorist Attack ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
The United States ◽  
Humanitarian Assistance ◽  
Trauma Recovery ◽  
Assistance Programs ◽  
Pro Bono ◽  
Disaster Aid

EMDR Humanitarian Assistance Programs (HAP) was created in 1995 by EMDR clinicians who had offered pro bono care and training for therapists in Oklahoma City after a terrorist attack. HAP set its mission to bring evidence-based trauma therapy to communities that were underserved or that had suffered disasters. HAP’s training programs, which are low-cost, are provided by volunteers and target clinicians in public or nonprofit agencies. HAP currently reaches about 2,000 trainees annually. Similar HAP training programs in developing countries reach about 200 clinicians annually and aim to build local communities of practice that are sustainable. HAP has responded to disasters worldwide, with both training and treatment, but increasingly directs most disaster aid to the United States as new sister organizations appear and respond to disasters in other regions of the world. In recent years, HAP has aimed to promote emergence of its Trauma Recovery Network (TRN)—local voluntary teams of clinicians who stress preparedness as a key component of disaster response. Three TRN chapters in 2010 had grown to 20 in 2013 and will soon double, providing new options for service to HAP’s more than 1,500 registered clinician volunteers.

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