Unfolding challenges of Humanitarian Crisis during disasters

Title of the workshop: Unfolding challenges of Humanitarian Crisis during disasters

Date of workshop: 16th August 2023

Time: 2:00 pm- 5:15 pm followed by high tea

World Humanitarian Day is held on August 19th of every year. Its purpose is to remember people who are suffering due to poverty, hunger, natural disasters and violence and to encourage global participation in efforts to provide relief for these individuals through volunteerism, charity and empowering local communities. IIHMR Delhi organised a half day workshop to commemorate this day. The agenda of the workshop is as follows:

Dr. Nidhi Yadav welcome to chair of the workshop Shri Rajender Ratnoo, Executive Director of NIDM and thanked him for agreeing to chair the workshop. She also welcomed Director of IIHMR Delhi Dr. Sutapa B. Neogi for all the support to conduct the workshop. Then the speakers of the workshop were introduced and welcomed which included Dr. Santosh Kumar, Senior Advisor, NIDM, Dr. Abbas Ostad (Tehran), Associate Professor and Head, Department of Disaster Public Health, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Dr. Shaheen Ansari (CRY, India), Education Specialist, Child Rights and You and Ms. Ipshita Shee, Registered nurse, Stoke Mandeville Hospital (United Kingdom)

Dr. Nidhi invited the Director IIHMR for her Inaugural, welcome and introduction speech, where she welcomed the session chair and experts and inaugurated the workshop. Saplings were given to session chair and speakers as a token of respect. The workshop began, with introductory and welcome address by the director of IIHMR Delhi. She told about the academic research and training programmes of the institution and the strength areas in which IIHMR is working. 

Dr. Nidhi introduced the topic in presented her views on the subject matter, she told about the history of WHD and its importance in the current situations. She also shared the statistics in terms of world population affected due to climate and non-climate emergencies soliciting humanitarian aid. She also thrusted on an ever-increasing need for humanitarian aid and aid workers in the recent times due to unprecedented increase in disaster events all around the world.

After introducing the topic, she invited the session chair ED, NIDM for his key note address on the topic. ED shared his vivid experience about disaster management while specially referring to the Tsunami in 2004 and highlighted the unique nature of disaster events. He also thrusted on the need for unique type of solutions for the problems arising during a particular disaster situation. He narrated the importance of coordination with agencies at various levels and discussed the dynamic and variable nature of community needs. He suggested web-based community mapping for long term livelihood restoration purposes of the affected community. His discussion left the audience with thoughts on inclusive and participatory approach for community rehabilitation during the post disaster period.

Professor Santosh Kumar delivered his talk on “saving life and limbs ethically: the basic premise. He started his session with a proactive approach on disaster management and an ex- antae outlook for overall recovery and rehabilitation during the post disaster period. He insisted on the depth of social and cultural system while providing humanitarian aid to the affected community. The heterogeneous nature of victims and complex reality with respect to their different vulnerability plays a key role in providing humanitarian aid. 

Dr. Abbas Ostad (Tehran), Associate Professor and Head, Department of Disaster Public Health, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences presented his views on “Disasters and social Justice: A case presentation from Iran”. He spoke about various approaches to disaster risk management and its domains including institutional, economic, social, physical and cultural domain. He also highlighted the social determinants of disaster management and trusted the lack of social justice component among those determinants. He explained the definition of social justice and thrusted on the lack of a unified national plan in line with the definition of social justice. He also trusted the culture bound issues to be addressed during disaster to ensure it ethical disaster management. 

Dr. Shaheen Ansari, spoke on “Human rights, disasters and children: A reciprocal relationship”. He explained the various components of human rights and its implications in case of children. In very simple terms and in interactive manner he explained the Right to Survival, Development, Protection and participation for children. He lucidly explained the national education policy and right to education for children. He emphasised on engaging children in DRR activity to build resilience.

Ms. Ipshita Shee, presented her views on “Disasters an opportunity for the opportunists”. She is spoke from the providers point of view and highlighted how disaster situation catalyse opportunistic activities and increase the incidence of human trafficking, child abuse and gender-based violence. She also highlighted that the disaster management plan should be inclusive of gender-based violence related activities. She presented examples of various disasters across the Caribbean and United States where in activities related to human trafficking have seen share price in the post disaster situation. 

In the end the executive director, NIDM concluded the workshop with his final words in which she summarised the key points and take home message presented by the expert speakers for the workshop. He lead emphasis on the importance of humanitarian aid workers and an ever increasing need of humanitarian aid in the wake of increasing natural and manmade disasters in the past decade.

The workshop ended with vote of thanks by Dr. Nidhi