1
International Federation
of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies
The role of foreign militaries in disaster response
International Federation
of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies
Foreign military assets in disaster
Militaries are often among ‘first responders’ in Asia and the
Militaries are often among first responders in Asia and the
Pacific in large scale disaster situations.
They can provide essential resources and support to the
affected country/region, population or humanitarian actors:
General manpower
General manpower
Specialized experts (e.g. bridge/road engineers)
Heavy lift transport: aircraft, vehicles, ships
Logistics systems
Relief items & equipment
2
International Federation
of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies
Military and civil defence assets in disaster relief
Intensity
Intensity
Military and Civil Defense Assets
Military and Civil Defense Assets
I t
ti
l R
I t
ti
l R
Intensity
Intensity
Time
Time
National Response
National Response
International Response
International Response
International Federation
of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies
Differences between military and civilian approaches
Information Sharing
g
•
Intelligence versus Information
•
Classification versus Transparency
Task Sharing
•
Design of Military versus Civilian Units
•
Availability versus Duration of Emergencies
Joint Planning
•
Compatibility of Tools
•
Planning Processes and Cultures.
3
International Federation
of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies
Some key issues
International Federation
of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies
Some major international guidelines
The “Guidelines on the Use of Military and Civil Defence
Assets in Disaster Relief” (Oslo Guidelines), 1994 – revised
2006
Civil Military Relationship in Complex Emergencies June
Civil-Military Relationship in Complex Emergencies, June
2004
UN Civil-Military Coordination Concept, March 2005
4
International Federation
of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies
Oslo Guidelines
Adopted in 1994 following Rwanda Crisis, revised 2006
Non-binding guidelines for States and a Model Agreement
Natural, technological and environmental disasters
Natural, technological and environmental disasters
In times of peace, assuming a stable state or government
International Federation
of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies
Oslo Guidelines
Cover the “use of military and civil defence resources requested by
Cover the use of military and civil defence resources requested by
the UN humanitarian agencies and deployed under the UN control
specifically to support humanitarian activities.”
They “could also be used …when considering the use of military
and civil defence assets to provide assistance to civilian populations
and civil defence assets to provide assistance to civilian populations
in natural and technological or environmental emergencies in times
of peace”.
5
International Federation
of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies
Principles on the use of MCDA
A
h
f
i h h
f h
9
At the request of, or with the consent of, the
receiving state
9
At no cost to the receiving state
9
In support of local emergency management
N
d b
d
t l
d i
ti l
9
Needs-based, neutral and impartial
9
Unarmed and in national uniform
International Federation
of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies
Principles on the use of MCDA
Complementarity
Complementarity
Military and civil defence assets should complement
existing relief mechanisms
Provide specific support to specific requirements
In response to acknowledged humanitarian gap in
disaster needs/resources
6
International Federation
of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies
Other developments in Asia Pacific
APC-MADRO
ARF- SOPS
ARF – Model agreements
APC-MADRO,
Guidelines
MPAT, MNF-SOPS
ASEAN, SASOPS
US Bilateral
Agreements
International Federation
of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies
Red Cross / Red
Crescent and
the Use of
the Use of
Military Assets in
Disaster
7
International Federation
of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies
Guiding documents
International Federation
of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies
“The use of military assets by a component of the Movement –
RC Council of Delegates Decision, 2005
f
y
y
p
f
particularly in countries affected by armed conflict and/or strife or
other violence –
should be a last resort
: it can be justified only by the
serious and urgent need for life saving humanitarian action and when
there is no alternative means of taking that action.
Such a serious decision must be
taken by the senior leadership of
the organisation concerned.
Any use of military assets should
be prompted by needs rather than
availability.”
8
International Federation
of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies
Preserving Neutral and Independent Humanitarian Action (NIHA)
International Federation
of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies
NIHA and Civil Military Cooperation
Armed forces
conduct combat
and relief
operations at the
same time, using
the same materials
Other actors use
materials which are
similar to those
used for conducting
combat operations
Civilian and military
actors are operational
at the same place and
time for combat and
relief operations with
similar materials
9
International Federation
of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies
Federation POV on Relations with the Military