Chapter 8: International Disaster
Management
Disaster - answerAdverse event that overwhelms an individual, agency, or jurisdiction's
capacity to respond
International Disaster - answerWhen the response capacity of an entire nation's emergency
management structure is overwhelmed
Complex Humanitarian Emergencies: - answerCivil conflict- ethnic, tribal and religious
animosities
Deteriorating government control
Mass movements/displacements due to food shortages
Decline in food security resulting in starvation
Dislocation of economic system-hyperinflation
International Disaster Response - answerUsually caused by three types of emergencies:1.
Natural Disasters
2. Technological Disasters
3. Complex humanitarian emergencies
Issues International Disaster Response: - answer1. Coordination Challenges:
-Multiple agencies on an international scale
-UN usually coordinated, upon request only
2. Sovereignty of the State:
-Interceding nations must obtain consent of home nation
3. Equality in Relief Distribution:
-Cultural Discrimination
4. Capacity Building/Linking Relief with Development
-Responding agencies should not use a bandage approach
-Utilize the opportunity to improve infrastructure and educate about mitigation
The United Nations (1945) (192 Current Members) - answer-Not a government body, cannot
compel decisions or actions on a sovereign state
-UN performs disaster mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery
United Nationals International Strategy for Disaster Reduction: - answer-Promoted necessity
of disaster reduction and risk mitigation
-Seeks to enable global resilience to natural hazards in order to reduce losses through the
following:
-Obtaining commitment from public authorities
-Simulating partnerships and expanding risk reduction networks
UN Children's Fund - answer-Humanitarian and Development assistance to children and
mothers in developing countries
UN Development Programme - answer-Started to investigate private investment in
developing countries, explore natural resources and train population in development work
UNDP Recovery Unit - answer-Primary role during the "early recovery phase"
Management
Disaster - answerAdverse event that overwhelms an individual, agency, or jurisdiction's
capacity to respond
International Disaster - answerWhen the response capacity of an entire nation's emergency
management structure is overwhelmed
Complex Humanitarian Emergencies: - answerCivil conflict- ethnic, tribal and religious
animosities
Deteriorating government control
Mass movements/displacements due to food shortages
Decline in food security resulting in starvation
Dislocation of economic system-hyperinflation
International Disaster Response - answerUsually caused by three types of emergencies:1.
Natural Disasters
2. Technological Disasters
3. Complex humanitarian emergencies
Issues International Disaster Response: - answer1. Coordination Challenges:
-Multiple agencies on an international scale
-UN usually coordinated, upon request only
2. Sovereignty of the State:
-Interceding nations must obtain consent of home nation
3. Equality in Relief Distribution:
-Cultural Discrimination
4. Capacity Building/Linking Relief with Development
-Responding agencies should not use a bandage approach
-Utilize the opportunity to improve infrastructure and educate about mitigation
The United Nations (1945) (192 Current Members) - answer-Not a government body, cannot
compel decisions or actions on a sovereign state
-UN performs disaster mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery
United Nationals International Strategy for Disaster Reduction: - answer-Promoted necessity
of disaster reduction and risk mitigation
-Seeks to enable global resilience to natural hazards in order to reduce losses through the
following:
-Obtaining commitment from public authorities
-Simulating partnerships and expanding risk reduction networks
UN Children's Fund - answer-Humanitarian and Development assistance to children and
mothers in developing countries
UN Development Programme - answer-Started to investigate private investment in
developing countries, explore natural resources and train population in development work
UNDP Recovery Unit - answer-Primary role during the "early recovery phase"
