Risk Wise

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bling block in emergency response operations. Government-to-govern-

ment relationships take time to develop. NGOs are generally small and

do not have the resources of the governments, international NGOs or

intergovernmental organizations. On the other hand, their smallness

allows for greater mobility and adaptability, and their personnel are

usually made up of specialized generalists. Therefore, the solution for

NGOs in a disaster is alliances – alignment and cooperation with like-

minded NGOs that share similar goals and vision. Continuous

engagement during peacetime can only build goodwill, understanding,

cooperation, and lead to easier access and greater efficiency when it

comes to risk reduction before and after a disaster strikes.

NGOs generally have a long and intimate history with various

communities in the country. They are close to and familiar with the

challenges faced on the ground by the communities they serve, as

well as the challenges faced by groups working on the ground. They

have developed working networks within the community and are

familiar with the system of governance in the host country.

Poverty increases vulnerability. Poorer communities are more

vulnerable to natural disasters as they do not have the means to

prepare themselves against them. Mud houses tend to crumble easily

even with lower Richter quakes. The damage to the mud structures,

if it does not cause death by impact, may suffocate the victims

instead. Peacetime development work not only increases the capac-

ity of the local communities, it also enables the implementing

organization to build rapport and goodwill with the local commu-

nities, partners and authorities for future cooperation.

The experiences of Mercy Relief and ADRA in the case studies

above highlighted the importance of existing good work and will

which enabled early and timely response.

Recommendations

In a region where 70 per cent of the natural disasters

take place, NGOs play a crucial role. It is even more

pertinent that a civilian alliance dedicated to humani-

tarian assistance working with both government and

military is built. Asian NGOs have the ability to open

doors and cultivate relations. With the track record of

disasters in Asia, developing working relationships in

the region during peacetime has to take top priority in

any risk reduction strategy. The small steps taken to

develop working relationships will have a big impact on

goals to minimize the risks pre- and post-disaster.

Based on the experiences in Myanmar, Sichuan and

Indonesia, and as part of risk management when a disas-

ter hits, social assets in the form of institutional

interactions and alliances are equally if not more impor-

tant than technological, physical and operational assets

and capabilities. When a disaster hits, the people who

need assistance and the providers of assistance are all

involved. It is crucial that the dialogue and engagement

starts before the disasters hit.

Peacetime community capacity building

Peacetime is when trust and confidence can and should

be built, to ensure that when a disaster strikes there is

greater chance of reducing the suffering and further loss

of lives because timely and necessary assistance can be

accessed and implemented based on the relationships

built. Risk reduction is often seen in physical, techno-

logical, structural and environmental terms. Risk

reduction strategy must also take into account capacity

building, community development and poverty allevia-

tion – all of which is about enabling people to help

themselves, to build their own risk reduction methods.

An example of an informal community building that

worked and saved lives and only came to light after the

tsunami is the people of Simeulue, an island off Sumatra.

Humanitarian disaster response

The UN has the Office for Coordination of Humanitarian

Affairs (OCHA) as its coordinating office for information.

Perhaps there is a need for a working office to coordinate

operations for coalitions of NGOs responding directly to

disasters in Asia. Effective coordination will contribute

to more effective and efficient deployment of resources.

The ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) has included human-

itarian affairs in its mandate, with regular exercises.

Governments hitherto have underestimated or ignored

the possible impact of NGOs in actual delivery of human-

itarian aid in natural disasters. The IFRC’s Code of

Conduct for NGOs in Disaster Relief includes a section on

recommendations to intergovernmental organizations.

Mercy Relief is planning for a possible coalition of

NGOs and corporate bodies in Asia, which share

resources and network and have regular engagements

and exercises. It would involve the heads of respective

national disaster preparedness and response agencies.

When the alliance of Asian NGOs crystallizes, the issue

of civil-military coordination requires address.

Image: Terence Teo