Someone has to draw the line on Landmines

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APC - MADROMilitary Assistance to Disaster
ReliefEmergency Response Assisting Nations
Perspective
Major General Michael G. Smith AO (Retd) CEO
AUSTCARE Former Deputy Commander UN
Peacekeeping Force in East Timor Grand Copthorne
Waterfront Hotel, Singapore 27 October 2006
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SCOPE

• 1. Why how do nations assist?
• 2. Nature of emergency?
• 3. Coordination?
• 4. Doing things better?

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1. Why do nation states assist in Disaster Relief?

• Perceived national interest
• Humanitarian reasons
• Capacity to respond

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2. Nature of Emergencies?
Both
Conflict
Natural

• Human suffering occurs in conflict and/or
  natural disaster
• Chaos prevails so CMCoord is critical
• But, CMCoord remains under-developed
• Highly politicised and often highly militarised
  environments
• Convergence of humanitarian space and battle
  space

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Good News and Bad News

• Bad many more disasters will be happening in
  the Asia-Pacific
• Good we can do something about it
• Make Poverty History!

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Cyclic Disasters
Response tends to be short term
But disasters can be protracted
Donor fatigue next crisis?
Donors and affected populations often have
different perspectives
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3. Civil Military Coordination ?
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Degrees of Coordination
Coexistence
Competition
Conflict
Cooperation
In any humanitarian emergency the potential for
positive civil-military relations varies
depending on objectives, conditions
personalities. Principles apply, but not
templates!
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CIMIC Actors
Donors
Foreign Govts
UN Agencies
Therefore the military cannot work in isolation!
Foreign Military
NGOs
Local Population
Host Govt
Int Orgs
Religious Groups
Business
Media
Competing Interests! Cooperation or Chaos?
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Do the Actors speak the same language ?

• Civil Affairs
• Civil-Military Affairs (CMA)
• Civil-Military Cooperation (CIMIC)
• Civil-Military Co-ordination (CMCoord)
• Different or no doctrine?

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OBJECTIVES OF MILITARY AND HUMANITARIAN ACTORS

• Civil and military endstates may not always be
  the same.
• Military actions are driven by political
  objectives national security.
• Humanitarian actions are driven by concern for
  the population human security.
• When human rights is a key political objective,
  potential for cooperation is highest.
• Cooperation is easier in response to natural
  disasters in a non-conflict situation.

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Emergency Response works best when

• A secure environment exists.
• Civil authority predominates.
• International legitimacy for intervention is
  apparent and non-ambiguous.
• Donors are in support of a capable host
  government that remains in control.
• The host-population is supportive.
• But such situations are rare!

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Can militaries work with NGOs?

• I am serious about making sure we have the
  best relationship with the NGOs who are such a
  force multiplier for us, such an important part
  of our combat team. We are all committed to the
  same, singular purpose to help every man and
  woman in need, who is hungry, who is without
  hope, to help every one of them fill a belly, get
  a roof over their heads, educate their children,
  have hope.
• Secretary of State Colin Powell to NGO
  Leaders,
• 26 October 2001

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4. Doing things better?
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Better Coordination Mechanisms

• OCHA improve capacity
• UN Agencies better cooperation
• Contributing States and Humanitarian Actors
  improve understanding and doctrine
• Donors build/augment host country capacity
• Improved pre-deployment planning, preparation and
  training
• Establish joint/combined operations centres when
  deployed
• Ensure good liaison, communications and public
  information
• Proper exit strategy no dependencies

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UN Civil Police
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Post-Conflict Reconstruction
Poverty Reduction
Building Civil Society
Peace Building
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Summary of Key Messages (1)

• CMCoord is a two-way street - the military is one
  of many actors
• CMCoord is fundamental to all military
  operations, including disaster response
• Emergency response to Natural Disasters is
  normally easier than conflict-related disasters
  - but chaos will be ever present
• Most military and civil actors are under-prepared
  to conduct disaster response but improving

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Summary of Key Messages (2)

• More learning and training is required to improve
  CMCoord, particularly in the area of risk
  management and disaster prevention within host
  communities
• UN OCHA doctrine should be developed further and
  applied by all civil and military agencies
  (including UN)
• Personalities and leadership will always
  influence/determine the outcome
• The people MOST affected must be more empowered
  to make decisions
• We will have more disasters in the Asia-Pacific
  so lets prepare!

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