Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-gxg78 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-26T08:37:08.009Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Barriers to Disaster Coordination: Health Sector Coordination in Banda Aceh following the South Asia Tsunami

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 June 2012

Richard M. Zoraster
Richard M. Zoraster*
Affiliation:
Intercommunity Emergency Medical Group, Presbyterian Intercommunity Hospital of Whittier, Whittier, California, USA
*
Richard M. Zoraster, MD, FAAEM Intercommunity Emergency Medical Group, Presbyterian Intercommunity Hospital of Whittier, 12401 East Washington Blvd., Whittier, CA 90602 USA E-mail: rzoraster@yahoo.com
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Ecological disasters impact large populations every year, and hundreds of nongovernmental organizations, thousands of aid workers, and billions of dollars are sent in response. Yet, there have been recurring problems with coordination, leading to wasted efforts and funds. The humanitarian response to the December 2004 Earthquake and Tsunami in Asia was one of the largest ever, and coordination problems were apparent.

The coordination processes and attempts at coordination are discussed in this paper. Specific barriers to cooperation are discussed, such as weak leadership, the absence of accountability, the lack of credentialing, the diverse goals of the responding agencies, and the weaknesses in the coordination process itself.

Keywords

coordinationdisasterhumanitarianinternationalmanagementnon-governmental organization (NGO)relieftsunamiWorld Health Organization (WHO)
Type
Special Report
Information
Prehospital and Disaster Medicine , Volume 21 , supplement S1: Health Aspects of the 2004 Southeast Asia Earthquake and Tsunami , February 2006 , pp. S13 - S18
Copyright
Copyright © World Association for Disaster and Emergency Medicine 2006

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

1.HH Aga Khan, S: Improving the Disaster Management Capability of the United Nations. United Nations Management and Decision Making Project UNAUSA, United Nations Association of the United States of America, January, 1987.Google Scholar
2.Pan-American Health Organization/World Health Organization (PAHO/World Health Organization): Evaluation of preparedness and response to Hurricanes Georges and Mitch: Conclusions and recommendations. Prehosp Disast Med 1999;14(2):21–33.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
3.Guill, CK, Shandera, WX: The effects of Hurricane Mitch on a community in Northern Honduras. Prehosp Diast Med 2001;16(3)166–171.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
4.Altntas, KH, Delooz, H: The problems faced by three government disaster response teams of Ankara city during the Marmara earthquake–1999 response. Eur J Emergency Med 2004(2):95–101.Google Scholar
5.Bradt, D, Crummond, C: From complex emergencies to terrorism–New tools for health sector coordination in conflict-associated disasters. Prehosp Disast Med 2003;18(3):263–271.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
6.Bremer, R: Policy development in disaster preparedness and management: Lessons learned from the January 2001 earthquake in Gujarat, India. Prehosp Disast Med 2003;18(4):370–382.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
7.Connolly, M, Gayer, M, Ryan, M, et al. : Communicable diseases in complex emergencies: Impact and challenges. Lancet 2004;364:1974–1983.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
8.Watts, J: Bali bombing offers lessons for disaster relief. Lancet 2002;360:1401. Letter.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
9.Emergency medical aid is not for amateurs. Lancet 1996;348(9039):1393. Editorial.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
10.Sundnes, K, Birnbaum, M (eds): Health Disaster Management: Guidelines for Evaluation and Research in the Utstein Style Prehosp Disast Med 2002;17(Suppl 3):1–127.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
11.Speigel, P, Burkle, F, Dey, C, Salama, P: Developing public health indicators in complex emergency response. Prehosp Disast Med 2001;16(4):281–285.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
12.Hallam, A: Evaluating humanitarian assistance programs in complex emergencies. Good Practice Review 1998;7:1–27Google Scholar
13.Burkle, FM, McGrady, KA, Newett, SL, et al. : Complex, humanitarian emergencies: III. Measures of effectiveness. Prehosp Disast Med 1995;10(1):48–56.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
14.Spiegel, P: Session 3.2: How can we do better? Measuring results of health interventions in disasters. World Health Organization Conference on the Health Aspects of the Tsunamic Disaster in Asia, Phuket, Thailand, 04–06 May, 2005. Accessed at http://www.World Health Organization.int/haac/events/tsunamiconference/presentation/en/inde x.html. Accessed 29 July 2005.Google Scholar
15.Luna, JM, Zwade, D, Canagarathnam, N, et al. : Contribution of non-governmental actors. Prehosp Disast Med 2005;20(6):446–449.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
16.Emerson, N, Pesigan, A, Sarana, L, et al. : First 30 days: Organizing rapid response. Prehosp Disast Med 2005;20(6):420–422.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
17.Terry, F: The limits and risks or regulation mechanisms for humanitarian action Humanitarian Exchange October 2000:20–12Google Scholar
18.Waldman, RJ: Public health in times of war and famine:What can be done? What should be done? JAMA 2001:286(5):588–590.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
19.Burkholder, B, Toole, M: Evolution of complex disasters. Lancet 1995;346:1012–1015.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
20.Kunii, O, Wakai, S, Honda, T, Tsujimoto, K: Role of external medical volunteers after disasters. Lancet 1996;347:1411.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
21.Yoosuf, A: Tsunami Disaster, Republic of Maldives. World Health Organization Conference on the Health Aspects of the Tsunamic Disaster in Asia, Phuket, Thailand, 04–06 May, 2005. Accessed at http://www.World Health Organization.int/haac/events/tsunamiconference/ presentation/en/index.html. Accessed 29 July 2005.Google Scholar
22.Bradt, DA, Drummond, CM, Richman, M: Complex emergencies in Indonesia. Prehosp Disast Med 2001;16(4):294–301CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
23. Asian Disaster Resource Center, Country Report 2003 Indonesia. Available at http://www.adrc.or.jp/countryreport/IDN/2003/page.html. Accessed 29 July 2005.Google Scholar
24. Transparency International Corruptions: Perception Index 1994. Available at http://www.transparency.org/pressreleases_archive/2004/2004.10.20.cpi.en. html. Accessed 29 July 2005.Google Scholar
25.Eaton, D: Safety of aid workers in Indonesia not guaranteed. Available at http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf. Accessed 29 July 2005. AllDocsByUNID/ab93c14d5d442c76c1256f86003032b7.Accessed 29 July 2005.Google Scholar
26.McCulloch, L: Aceh, Then and Now, Minority Rights Group International, Available at http://www.minorityrights.org/admin/download/pdf/mrgachereport. pdg. Accessed 29 July 2005.Google Scholar
27. Core Health Indicators: Comparison on core health indicator within World Health Organization region. Available at http://www3.who.int/whosis/country/compare.cfm?language=english//World Health Organization.int.globalatlas/DataQuery/default.asp. Accessed 29 July 2005.Google Scholar
29.Widiatmoko, D, Gani, A: International Relations within Indonesia's Hospital Sector, World Health Organization. Accessed at http://www.who.int/trade/en/THpart3chap9.pdf. Accessed 29 July 2005.Google Scholar
30.Singh, PK, Ofrin, R, Ravindran, P, et al. : National health perspectives of the Tsunami crisis. Prehosp Disast Med 2005;20(6):382–384.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
31. Form obtained at UN headquarters, February, 2005.Google Scholar
32. World Health Organization Situation Report #36, 4 February 2005:Available at http://w3.whosea.org/EN/Section23/Section1108/section1835/section1851/Se ction1867_8738.htm. Accessed 29 July 2005.Google Scholar
33.The Sphere Project: Humanitarian Charter and Minimal Standards in Disaster Response, 2004 Edition. The Sphere Project. Accessed at http://www.sphereproject. org/handbook/hdbkpdf/hdbk_c5.pdf. Accessed 29 July 2005.Google Scholar
34.World Health Organization: Situation Report #3, 28 December, 2004. Available at http://w3.whosea.org/EN/Section23/Section1108/Section1835/ Section1862_8314.htm#INO. Accessed 29 July 2005.Google Scholar
35.World Health Organization: Situation Report of 02 January, 2005. Available at http://w3.whosea.org/EN/Section23/Section1108/Section1835/ Section1862_8319.htm. Accessed 29 July 2005.Google Scholar
36.World Health Organization: Situation Report of 05 January 2005. Available at http://w3.whosea.org/EN/Section23/Section1108/Section1835/ Section1862_8316.htm. Accessed 29 July 2005.Google Scholar
37.World Health Organization: Situation Report of 07 January, 2005. Available at http://w3.whosea.org/EN/Section23/Section1108/Section1835/ Section1862_8361.htm. Accessed 29 July 2005.Google Scholar
38.World Health Organization: Situation Report #38; 22 February 2005.Available at http://w3.whosea.org/EN/Section23/Section1108/Section1835/Section1862_88 12.htm. Accessed 29 July 2005.Google Scholar
39.World Health Organization: Situation Report #18, 16 January 2005: Available at http://w3.whosea.org/EN/Section23/Section1108/Section1835/ Section1862_8484.htm. Accessed 29 July 2005.Google Scholar
40.United Nations Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs: Situation Report No. 32–Indonesia–Earthquake and Tsunami. 7 March 2005. Available at www.cidi.org/disaster/ix1104.html. Accessed 29 July 2005.Google Scholar
41.World Health Organization Situation Report #40, 4 March, 2005. Available at http://w3.whosea.org/EN/Section23/Section1108/Section1835/Section1862_8812.htm. Accessed 29 July 2005.Google Scholar
42. Jakarta Post, 03 January 2005 “Oxygen shortage kills some survivors” 03 January 2005 Accessed at http://indonesia-house.org/Humanitarian/2005/01/ 010305Oxygen, and personal observation February, 2005.Google Scholar
43. Personal Observation.Google Scholar
44.World Health Organization: Situation Report #38, 08 February 2005.Available at http://w3.whosea.org/EN/Section23/Section1108/Section1835/Section1862_87 39.htm. Accessed 29 July 2005.Google Scholar
45. Personal Observation.Google Scholar
46. The IASC Emergency Team Leadership Programme: A Proposal from the IASC Task Force on Training, 25 October 2004, Interagency Standing Committee. Accessed at http://www.humanitarininfo.org/iasc/WG-meetings/ WG59/TF%20Training%20-%20ETLP%20original.doc. Accessed 29 July 2005.Google Scholar
47.Mignone, T, Davidson, R: Public health response actions and the use of emergency operations centers. Prehosp Disast Med 2003;18(3):217–219.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
48.Auf der Heide, E: Disaster planning, Part II. Emer Med Clin N Amer 1996;14: 453–480.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
49.Nabarro, D: Putting it together: Stronger public health capacity within disaster management systems. Prehosp Disast Med 2005;20(6):483–485CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
50.Hansch, S: Reconstruction of Relief: A Historical Review of Life-Saving Humanitarian Aid. Accessed at World Health Organization Conference on the Health Aspects of the Tsunamic Disaster in Asia, Phuket, Thailand, 04–06 May, 2005. Available at http://www.World Health Organization.int/haac/events/tsunamiconference/presentation/en/index.html. Accessed 29 July 2005.Google Scholar
51.Gordon, M, Poncelet, JL, Dubouloz, M, Briceno, S: The health sector contribution to disaster reduction. Prehosp Disast Med 2005;20(6):439–441.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed