The Role of the United Nations and

UN/OCHA in HA/DR Operations

William H. Lyerly, Jr., LTC, USAR (Ret)

Director, Office of WMD Operations and Incident Management

Science and Technology Directorate, Department of Homeland Security

Senior Advisor / Consultant

United Nations

NATO

WHO NASA

U. S. AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

USAID is an independent federal agency that conducts foreign assistance and humanitarian aid to advance the political and economic interests of

the United States.

Served as Technical Advisor to two NGOs:

IMC(International Medical

Corps, Angola)

CIHC(Center for International Health and Cooperation)

Worked for two NGOs:

AMREF and ISTI

(African Medical & Research Foundation

and the

International Science and Technology

Institute)

Civil – Military Alliance to Combat HIV and AIDS

And

Civil – Military Alliance for Crisis Prevention and Response

NGO Co-Founder

The Response Triad

THE MAJOR PLAYERS ARE THE INTERNATIONAL CIVILIAN

ORGANIZATIONS• United Nations

– UNOCHA– UNHCR– UNICEF– WFP– WHO

• International/Non-Governmental– ICRC

– The Federation (IFRC)

– CARE

– MSF

• Host Nation– Government

– Regional/Local authority

– Tribal / traditional leaders

– Business

– Victims

• Donor Governments– Government

– Military

– Foreign vs. Individual

– Religious

United Nations Charter

Article 1: The Purposes of the United Nations are:

1. To maintain international peace and security,… 2. To develop friendly relations among nations …

3. To achieve international co-operation in solving international problems of an economic, social, cultural, or humanitarian character, and in promoting and encouraging respect for human rights and for fundamental freedoms for all without distinction as to race, sex, language, or religion; and

4. To be a centre for harmonizing the actions of nations in the attainment of these common ends.

United Nations SystemUnited Nations System

International Court of Justice

General Assembl

y

Economic and Social

Council

Security

Council

Trusteeship Council

Secretariat

6 Principal Organs of the United Nations6 Principal Organs of the United Nations

UNITED NATIONS -SYSTEM

InternationalCourt ofJustice

GeneralAssembly

Economic&

SocialCommittee

SecurityCouncil Secretariat Trusteeship

Council

• UNDPUNDP• UNHCRUNHCR• UNEPUNEP• etc.etc.

• WFPWFP• ITCITC• etc.etc.

• CommissionCommission on Humanon Human RightsRights• etc.etc.

• FAOFAO• WHOWHO• UNESCOUNESCO• IMFIMF• etcetc.

MilitaryMilitaryStaff ComStaff Com

PeacekeepingPeacekeepingOperations:Operations:• UNTACUNTAC• UNOSOMUNOSOM• UNPROFORUNPROFOR• etc.etc.

New YorkNew YorkUN HeadquartersUNDPUNFPAUNICEF

MontrealMontrealICAO

WashingtonWashingtonIMFWorld Bank Group

IBRDIDAIFCMIGA

Santo DomingoSanto DomingoINSTRAW

SantiagoSantiagoECLAC

LondonLondonIMO

The HagueThe HagueICJ

BernBernUPU

ViennaViennaIAEAUNIDOODCCP

RomeFAOIFADWFP

BeirutESCWA

GazaUNRWA

TokyoUNU

BangkokESCAP

NairobiUNCHSUNEP

Addis AbabaECAGenevaGeneva

ECEILOITUOHCHRUNCTADUNHCRWHOWIPOWMO

United Nations Offices

United Nations programmes and organs (representative list only)

Specialized agencies and other autonomous organizations within the system

Other commissions, committees and ad hoc and related bodies

* Not part of the United Nations system although has cooperating arrangements and practices with the Organization

OSGOffice for the Secretary General

OIOSOffice of Internal Oversight Services

OLAOffice of Legal Affairs

DPADepartment of Political Affairs

DDADepartment for Disarmament Affairs

DPKODepartment of Peacekeeping Operations

OCHAOCHAOffice for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

DESADepartment of Economic and Social Affairs

DGAACSDepartment of General Assembly Affairs and Conference Services

DPIDepartment of Public Information

DMDepartment of Management

UNSECOORDOffice for the United Nations Security Coordinator

UNOGUnited Nations Office at Geneva

UNOVUnited Nations Office at Vienna

UNONUnited Nations Office at Nairobi

Secretariat

OCHA Mission Statement “ To mobilize and coordinate the collective efforts

of the international community, in particular those of the UN system, to meet in a coherent and timely manner the needs of those exposed to human suffering and material destruction in disasters and emergencies. This involves reducing vulnerability, promoting solutions to root causes and facilitating the smooth transition from relief to rehabilitation and development.”

International & Interagency“C4I”

(Coordination, Cooperation, Concensus, Communication

and Information)

“Herding Squirrels”

vs.

“Herding Cats”

No “Unity of Command”

Best Case Scenario – “Unity of Effort”

UNITED NATIONS -COORDINATION

• UNOCHA - designated as the coordinator for the humanitarian assistance but has no authority over the agencies– single focal point of contact for humanitarian

assistance in an emergency• information

• funding

• accreditation

– has coordination role with NGOs/IOs

Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA)

Office of the USG for Humanitarian AffairsExecutive

OfficeIASC - ECHA

Unit

Policy, Advocacy, Information Division Director - Geneva

Policy Development and Advocacy

Branch

Information Management

Services Branch

Emergency Liaison Branch

Secretariat of ISDR

Response Coordination

Branch

Emergency Services Branch

Finance &

Administration

IASC Liaison

Information Analysis

Unit

Information Technologies

Unit

Advocacy and External

Relations Unit

Policy Development

Unit

New York Geneva

New York Geneva

• The affected population• Local and national government• UN Res. Rep. and UNDMT• MCDA Providers• The United Nations Agencies• National/International NGOs• Donor Governments

Partners in Coordination

OCHA involvement in natural disasters and environmental emergencies in 2001

In response to 68 disasters in 47 countries:

• launched 28 international appeals

• issued 216 situation reports

• recorded over US$ 369 million in cash and in-kind contributions by donors

• channelled US$ 7 million of contributions

• dispatched 11 United Nations Disaster Assessment and Coordination (UNDAC) missions

• mobilized 12 interventions of military and/or civil defence assets

• shipped 952 metric tonnes of relief goods from OCHA Brindisi warehouse

Regional Regional DesksDesks

Americas Americas and and

CarribeanCarribean

AfricaAfrica

Europe and the Europe and the Newly Newly

Independent Independent StatesStates

Asia and PacificAsia and Pacific

Regional Desks

• The Regional Desks are the core The Regional Desks are the core

of the RCB response system.of the RCB response system.

• The primary function of Regional The primary function of Regional

Desks is the management of the Desks is the management of the

Emergency Response SystemEmergency Response System

The UNDAC System• Regional Teams in Europe, Latin America,

Pacific Region and Caribbean

• System components include:– experienced emerg. managers– Basic team equipment– team deployment procedures– training and methodology– Support Modules (from 5 member states)

MCDU - The Military and Civil Defence Unit

• CORE FUNCTIONS

Focal Point in UN System Requests for MCDA

Oslo Guidelines Process & Field Handbook

UNJLC Interface

• UN CMCoord TRAINING 12/year Facilitation of Regional Courses CIMIC

Centres

• EXERCISES

4/year, 4 regions Clearing House From Planning Conferences to Exercise Incorporation of UN roles

• CENTRAL REGISTER & ADVANCED TECHNOLOGIES

TimeTime

IntensityIntensity

Military and Civil Defense AssetsMilitary and Civil Defense Assets

InternationalInternationalResponseResponse

National ResponseNational Response Reconstruction

MCDU

DPR 213/3 MCDADPR 213/3 MCDAOSLO OSLO GUIDELINESGUIDELINES

• General Principles:• Complimentarity

• Provided in response to request

• Provided at no cost to receiving state

• Unarmed, but in national uniforms

• Predefined legal status

The Duty System

• Operational 24 Operational 24 hours/day, 365 hours/day, 365 days/yeardays/year

• Coordination CentreCoordination Centre• Emergency Telephone Emergency Telephone

no.:no.:(+41-22) 917 20 10

For more information...• www.reliefweb.int• OCHA online• Emergency Response and Relief

Coordination

OCHA Geneva Disaster Response Branch

24

United NationsMilitary and Civil

Defence Unit

UN/OCHA Summary

• OCHA is an office in the UN Secretariat

• Primary Locations New York and Geneva

• MCDU is one of the primary emergency response tools for major international humanitarian emergencies

• OCHA and MCDU are supported by a 24/7 days a week readiness system

Take Home MessageUN, along with NGOs, and IOs

remain the solution to the

Military End-State in HA/DR Ops!

HA/DR with a Security Component vs.

Peacekeeping with an HA/DR Component

________________

Conflict and Terrorism Link“Freedom Fighter” vs “Terrorist”

• Spillover countries: Uganda, Kenya, Zimbabwe

• Post conflict: Mozambique, CAR, Nigeria, Rwanda/Burundi

• Struggling: Angola, DROC, Guinea Bissau, Liberia

• Internal war: Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sudan

The Emerging The Emerging Humanitarian Humanitarian Environment is Environment is

GlobalGlobal.

Threats to Our Security are No Longer

“Over There”

Economic and Political Economic and Political InstabilityInstability

Unconventional Weapon Unconventional Weapon AccountabilityAccountability

Terrorists and other Non-State Actors

“The gravest danger to freedom lies at the crossroads of radicalism and technology. When the spread of

chemical and biological and nuclear weapons, along with ballistic missile technology—when that occurs,

even weak states and small groups could attain a catastrophic power to strike great nations. Our enemies have declared this very intention, and have been caught

seeking these terrible weapons. They want the capability to blackmail us, or to harm us, or to harm our friends—and we will oppose them with all our power.”

President BushWest Point, New York

June 1, 2002

“Weapons of Mass Destruction”

Mustard GasBio WeaponSmall Pox

Toyko Sarin Incident

Can it happen again?

IRAQ

GULF WAR TOKYOCOL Mike Smith, USAR

The Department of Homeland Security Was Established

By Public Law and Executive Order on January 24, 2003

Thomas Joseph Ridge was Sworn-In as the first Secretary of Homeland Security by the President and the Vice President during a Ceremony at the White House

The White House, January 24, 2003

Department of Homeland Security

One Department:

- whose primary mission is to protect the American homeland;

- to secure our borders, transportation sector, ports, and critical infrastructure;

- to synthesize and analyze homeland security intelligence from multiple sources;

- to coordinate communications with state and local governments, private industry, and the American people about threats and preparedness;

- to coordinate our efforts to protect the American people against bioterrorism and other weapons of mass destruction;

- to help train and equip for first responders; and

- to manage federal emergency response activities.

The Organization of the Department of Homeland Security

A clear and efficient organizational structure with four main Directorates (each led by an Under Secretary):

Border and Transportation Security

Emergency Preparedness and Response

Science and Technology(Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Countermeasures)

Information Analysis & Infrastructure Protection

Border and Transportation Security - Customs Service

- Border Patrol

- Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS)

- Inspectors of the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA)

- the recently created Transportation Security Administration (TSA)

Emergency Preparedness and Response

- Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)

- NDMS, MMRS, and National Pharmaceutical Stockpile (HHS).

- OPCON the Nuclear Emergency Search Team (DOE) and the

Science and Technology

- Unify the Chem-Bio Defense and Nuclear Assessment Programs of the DOE National Nuclear Security Administration (LLNL, LANL, SNL) .

Information Analysis and Infrastructure Protection- All source info – CIA, NSA, FBI, INS, DEA, DOE, Customs, DOT,

CDC, APHIS, and state/local public health, law enforcement, emergency mgmt.

DHS – A Merger of 22 Agencies and 180,000 Personnel

Other Key Components

State/Local Government & Private Sector Coordination.

Secret Service.

Coast Guard

Non-Homeland Security Functions.

Non-Homeland Security Functions

A number of functions that are not directly related to securing the homeland against terrorism:

- For instance, through FEMA, it will be responsible for mitigating the effects of natural disasters.

- Through the Coast Guard, it will be responsible for search and rescue and other maritime functions.

- Several other border functions, such as drug interdiction operations and naturalization.

Thank You

William H. Lyerly, Jr.

Director, Office of WMD Operations and Incident Management

Science and Technology Directorate

Department of Homeland Security

Washington, DC 20528 

Phone: (202) 786-0088

Cell: (301) 252-9513

E-mail: William.Lyerly@DHS.gov

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