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 ...

Impact of Facility Damages on Hospital Capacities for Decision Support in Disaster Response Planning for an Earthquake

2009 ◽  
Vol 24 (4) ◽  
pp. 333-341 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jomon Aliyas Paul ◽  
Li Lin
Keyword(s):  
Disaster Response ◽  
Waiting Times ◽  
Parametric Models ◽  
Emergency Relief ◽  
Response Planning ◽  
Hospital Operations ◽  
Emergency Assistance ◽  
Life Saving ◽  
Inaccurate Estimation ◽  
The Impact

AbstractHospitals provide life-saving functions and emergency assistance to communities when disaster strikes. Any damage to hospitals from a disaster, either structural and non-structural, can impair these capabilities. In addition, an inaccurate estimation of the treatment capacities available at hospitals in a disaster-affected region can severely affect the success of emergency relief plans. In this paper, the impact of facility damage on hospital operations is estimated using a generic simulation model. From the simulation results, parametric models are developed for estimating hospitals' capacities and patient waiting times that could be used by emergency response teams in making casualty dispatching/routing decisions.

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.

Evolution in Drug Access

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joia S. Mukherjee
Keyword(s):  
Drug Development ◽  
Medical Care ◽  
Essential Medicines ◽  
Neglected Diseases ◽  
International Treaties ◽  
Drug Availability ◽  
For Profit ◽  
The Poor ◽  
Drug Access ◽  
Life Saving

Treatment and curative medical care often require medication. This chapter focuses on the provision of medications in impoverished settings and the challenges that inhibit access to life-saving drugs. It will review the failure of the for-profit market to increase drug access for the poor. The evolving concept of essential drugs will be explored by reviewing the history the WHO Essential Medicines List (EML) and the fight to expand the list to include new, and often patented medicines. The international treaties and policies that impact drug availability will be highlighted as will novel systems for drug development and distribution. Finally, the chapter will highlight the growing movement to decrease costs, increase supply, and advance development of drugs for neglected diseases affecting impoverished people.

Part II Predominant Security Challenges and International Law, Environmental Security, Ch.31 International Disaster Law

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pronto Arnold N
Keyword(s):  
Disaster Risk Reduction ◽  
Disaster Risk ◽  
Environmental Security ◽  
Humanitarian Assistance ◽  
International Level ◽  
Global Level ◽  
Major Threat ◽  
Security Challenges ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Human Support

This chapter details how disasters, whether widespread or localized, pose a major threat to human security, as their effects place significant strain on human support systems. What is more, disasters invariably have a disproportionately harmful impact on the particularly vulnerable, who typically subsist at the margins of society, usually in harm’s way. For many States, the impact of specific disasters can be measured in terms of setbacks to human development. The imperative to provide aid and assistance following the onset of disasters is increasingly viewed as a key interest of the international community. The United Nations devotes significant resources to the coordination of efforts at the international level aimed at facilitating cooperation in the provision of humanitarian assistance. The organization has also become the central locus for contemplation at the global level on best practices in disaster risk reduction. The chapter then describes the outlines of an emerging international disaster law, motivated in large part by a growing awareness of the role law can play in efforts to reduce vulnerability to, and mitigate the impact of, disasters. Such sentiments are, in turn, driven by an appreciation of the potential deleterious consequences for global security arising from the widespread dislocation brought about by major disasters.

22. NGOs in world politics

2019 ◽  
pp. 349-364
Author(s):  
Jutta Joachim
Keyword(s):  
Security Council ◽  
Policy Making ◽  
World Politics ◽  
United Nations Security Council ◽  
Search And Rescue ◽  
International Level ◽  
Governmental Organizations ◽  
Non Governmental Organizations ◽  
Peace And Security

This chapter examines the role of transnational non-governmental organizations (TNGOs) in world politics. It considers what distinguishes TNGOs from other actors in international politics, what types of influence NGOs exert in international relations, and whether TNGOs contribute to more democratic policy-making at the international level. The chapter also discusses the growing importance of TNGOs and presents two case studies that illustrate how they contribute to the emergence of new norms through their engagement with international governmental organizations (IGOs), provide assistance to those in need, but also highlight the diversity that exists among the organizations. The first is about the adoption of United Nations Security Council resolution 1325 ‘Women, Peace, and Security’ to which TNGOs contributed in a significant manner, while the second is about the search and rescue missions of migrants which TNGOs undertake in the Mediterranean Sea. There is also an Opposing Opinions box that asks whether TNGOs contribute to more democracy at the international level.

Safety at Sea: Improving Search and Rescue (SAR) Operations in the Barents Sea

2013 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tor Einar Berg ◽  
Even Ambros Holte ◽  
Grethe Osborg Ose ◽  
Hilde Færevik
Keyword(s):  
Emergency Preparedness ◽  
Barents Sea ◽  
State Of The Art ◽  
Climatic Conditions ◽  
Search And Rescue ◽  
Protective Equipment ◽  
Safe Haven ◽  
The Barents Sea ◽  
Life Saving ◽  
Future Search

In this paper, we select some of the crucial issues for future search and rescue (SAR) operations in the Barents Sea. The different nations that are involved and the resources necessary to build emergency preparedness due to the climatic conditions are thus important factors. This paper summarizes the state of the art within these areas while also indicating future development needs. The special requirements for life saving equipment on vessels due to the climate and requirement on personal protective equipment related to accidental immersion are also essential and thus presented in this paper. In addition, safe haven designs where the vessel itself is designed to provide shelter for personnel in distress is also a topic chosen to be addressed.

Organizational Commitment Of Afad Istanbul Search And Rescue Unit

2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (Supplement_5) ◽  
Author(s):  
M Karakoç ◽  
Ö Erdoğan ◽  
E Demirbaş
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Organizational Commitment ◽  
Data Collection ◽  
Internal Consistency ◽  
Bachelor's Degree ◽  
Search And Rescue ◽  
The Other ◽  
Public Health Issue ◽  
International Level ◽  
Significant Public Health

Abstract Background Our study is intended to evaluate the Organizational Commitment of the Istanbul AFAD Search and Rescue Unit (AKB) employees operating at national and international level during disasters and to serve as a model for the other organizations that conduct national and international operations in the area of search and rescue. Methods This research was carried out with a total of 75 employees from Istanbul AFAD AKB from 02.11.18 to 01.01.2019. Introductory Information Form and Organizational Commitment Scale were used for data collection. Findings of the study were evaluated via IBM SPSS Statistics 22. Results Among 71 persons who participated in the study, it was determined that 91.5% were male, 50.7% were at the age of 40 or older, 81.7% were married, 67.6% had bachelor's degree, 63.4% were search and rescue technicians, and 50.7% were employed by their current organization for 10 years or less. Regarding the employees, it was found that 25.4% had very good organizational commitment while 54.9% faced issues in relation to the organizational commitment. OCS point average of the employees was 3.07±0.20 and the obtained Cronbach Alfa internal consistency coefficient of the scale was 0.678. OCS points of those employed for 12 years or longer in total were determined to be high at statistically significant level. Also, OCS points of those who did not face any issue in relation to the Organizational Commitment were found to be high at a statistically significant level against those who faced issues. Conclusions It is important to ensure work satisfaction, provide harmonization, and avert chaos and stress for boosting the organizational commitment. Therefore, the managers should conduct activities intended to boost the employee commitment levels within the organization. Key messages Disaster is a significant public health issue and disaster employees are special. The issues faced by the employees that perform search and rescue operations must be considered important and resolved.

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