Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-p9bg8 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-26T07:59:25.002Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Reshaping US Navy Pacific Response in Mitigating Disaster Risk in South Pacific Island Nations: Adopting Community-Based Disaster Cycle Management

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  23 December 2013

Erik J. Reaves ,
Michael Termini Open the ORCID record for Michael Termini [Opens in a new window]  and
Frederick M. Burkle Jr.
Erik J. Reaves*
Affiliation:
US Naval Medical Research Unit No. 6, Lima, Peru
Michael Termini
Affiliation:
US Naval Health Clinic Hawaii, Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii USA
Frederick M. Burkle Jr.
Affiliation:
Harvard Humanitarian Initiative, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts USA Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, Washington, DC USA
*
Correspondence: Erik J. Reaves, DO, MTM&H US Naval Medical Research Unit No. 6 Unit 3230 Box 337 DPO, AA 34031 Lima, Peru E-mail erikreaves@hotmail.com
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

The US Department of Defense continues to deploy military assets for disaster relief and humanitarian actions around the world. These missions, carried out through geographically located Combatant Commands, represent an evolving role the US military is taking in health diplomacy, designed to enhance disaster preparedness and response capability. Oceania is a unique case, with most island nations experiencing “acute-on-chronic” environmental stresses defined by acute disaster events on top of the consequences of climate change. In all Pacific Island nation-states and territories, the symptoms of this process are seen in both short- and long-term health concerns and a deteriorating public health infrastructure. These factors tend to build on each other. To date, the US military's response to Oceania primarily has been to provide short-term humanitarian projects as part of Pacific Command humanitarian civic assistance missions, such as the annual Pacific Partnership, without necessarily improving local capacity or leaving behind relevant risk-reduction strategies. This report describes the assessment and implications on public health of large-scale humanitarian missions conducted by the US Navy in Oceania. Future opportunities will require the Department of Defense and its Combatant Commands to show meaningful strategies to implement ongoing, long-term, humanitarian activities that will build sustainable, host nation health system capacity and partnerships. This report recommends a community-centric approach that would better assist island nations in reducing disaster risk throughout the traditional disaster management cycle and defines a potential and crucial role of Department of Defense's assets and resources to be a more meaningful partner in disaster risk reduction and community capacity building.

Reaves EJ, Termini M, Burkle FM Jr. Reshaping US Navy Pacific Response in Mitigating Disaster Risk in South Pacific Island Nations: Adopting Community-Based Disaster Cycle Management. Prehosp Disaster Med. 2014;29(1):1-9 .

Keywords

capacity buildingcivil-militarycommunity-based carepublic health emergenciesPacific Islands
Type
Special Report
Information
Prehospital and Disaster Medicine , Volume 29 , Issue 1 , February 2014 , pp. 60 - 68
Copyright
Copyright © World Association for Disaster and Emergency Medicine 2013 

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. Burkle, FM Jr, Greenough, PG. Impact of public health emergencies on modern disaster taxonomy, planning, and response. Disaster Med Public Health Prep. 2008;2(3):192-199.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
2. Burkle FM Jr. The Decade of the Community: Identifying A Model Framework for Development and Capacity Building. Keynote Address: Presented at the South East Asia Security Assistance Conference. University of Hawaii and the US Pacific Command. Honolulu; 2012.Google Scholar
3. Pacific Catastrophe Risk Assessment and Financing Initiative. Country risk profile: Papua New Guinea. 2011. http://pcrafi.sopac.org. Accessed February 11, 2013.Google Scholar
4. Pacific Catastrophe Risk Assessment and Financing Initiative. Country risk profile: Palau. 2011. http://pcrafi.sopac.org. Accessed February 11, 2013.Google Scholar
5. World Health Organization. Kiribati: Health Profile. 2005. http://www.who.int/gho/countries/kir.pdf. Accessed August 4, 2012.Google Scholar
6. United Nations. Population Distribution, Urbanization, Internal Migration and Development: An International Perspective. Department of Economic and Social Affairs 2011. http://www.un.org/esa/population/publications/PopDistribUrbanization/PopulationDistributionUrbanization.pdf. Accessed August 4, 2012.Google Scholar
7. World Health Organization. Western Pacific Country Health Information Profiles. 2011. http://www.wpro.who.int/health_information_evidence/documents/CHIPS2011.pdf. Accessed August 4, 2012.Google Scholar
8. Office of Minority Health. Cultural Competency in Disaster Response: A Review of Current Concepts, Policies and Practices. US Department of Health and Human Services 2008; 191. https://www.thinkculturalhealth.hhs.gov/pdfs/DisasterPersonneEnvironmentalScan.pdf. Accessed February 12, 2013.Google Scholar
9. Lagan B. Kiribati: A nation going under. Samoa Observer. Thursday, April 18, 2013. http://www.samoaobserver.ws/home/pacific-region/79-regional-news/4473-kiribati-a-nation-going-under. Accessed April 21, 2013.Google Scholar
10. Metcalfe, V, Hayson, S, Gordon, S. Trends and challenges in humanitarian civil-military coordination: a review of the literature. Humanitarian Working Group Working Paper, Overseas Development Institute. May, 2012.Google Scholar
11. Guidelines on the Use of Foreign Military and Civil Defense Assets in Disaster Relief: “Oslo Guidelines”. Revision 1.1 November 2007. http://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/8706B7B69BD77E00C1257233004F0570-OCHA-Nov2006.pdf. Accessed April 11, 2013.Google Scholar
12. World Health Organization. The Cluster Approach. Humanitarian Health Action. Annex 7. Geneva, Switzerland. http://www.who.int/hac/techguidance/tools/manuals/who_field_handbook/annex_7/en/index.html. Accessed April 9, 2013.Google Scholar
13. Burkle, FM, Walker, P. Doctor, lawyer and…aid worker?: making the case for professionalization. InterAction. Monday Developments. 2013;31(3):18-20.Google Scholar
14. Foster, H. Interactive hazard preparation strategy efficacy: considerations for future community engagement programs. Aus J EM. 2013;28(1):8-14.Google Scholar
15. United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction. Hyogo Framework for Action 2005-2015: Building the Resilience of Nations and Communities to Disasters. International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (ISDR). http://www.unisdr.org/2005/wcdr/intergover/official-doc/L-docs/Hyogo-framework-for-action-english.pdf. Accessed March 14, 2013.Google Scholar
16. Bessler, M, Seki, K. Civil-military relations in armed conflicts: a humanitarian perspective. Liaison. 2006;3(3). http://coe-dmha.org/Liasison/Vol_3No_3/Depto1.htm. Accessed April 2, 2013.Google Scholar
17. United Nations. Global Assessment Report on Diaster Risk Reduction. United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Reduction Secretariat (UNISDR) 2009. http://www.preventionweb.net/english/hyogo/gar/report/index.php?id=9413&pid:34&pil:1. Accessed March 6, 2013.Google Scholar
18. Department of Defense. US Department of Defense Instruction (DoDI) 3000.05 for Stability Operations. 2009. http://www.dtic.mil/whs/directives/corres/pdf/300005p.pdf. Accessed August 14, 2012.Google Scholar
19. Department of Defense. Foreign Humanitarian Assistance. Chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff 2009. http://www.dtic.mil/doctrine/new_pubs/jp3_29.pdf. Accessed August 14, 2012.Google Scholar
20. Department of Defense. Department of Defense Instruction (DoDI) 6000.16 for Military Health Support for Stability Operations. 2010. http://www.dtic.mil/whs/directives/corres/pdf/600016p.pdf. Accessed August 14, 2012.Google Scholar
21. Department of Defense. US Department of Defense Instruction (DoDI) 2205.02 for Humanitarian and Civic Assistance (HCA) Activities. 2008. http://www.dtic.mil/whs/directives/corres/pdf/220502p.pdf. Accessed August 14, 2012.Google Scholar
22. Department of State. US Agency for International Development (USAID) Strategic Plan FY 2007-2012. 2007; 23. http://www.state.gov/documents/organization/86291.pdf. Accessed August 14, 2012.Google Scholar
23. The National Military Strategy of the United States of America 2011. Redefining America's Military Leadership. 2011. http://www.jcs.mil/content/files/2011-02/020811084800_2011_NMS_-_08_FEB_2011.pdf. Accessed August 14, 2012.Google Scholar
24. Department of Defense. Quadrennial Defense Review (QDR) Report. 2010. http://www.defense.gov/qdr/images/QDR_as_of_12Feb10_1000.pdf. Accessed August 14, 2012.Google Scholar
25. Department of Defense. US Department of Defense Directive (DoDD) 5100.46 for Foreign Disaster Relief (FDR). 2012. http://www.dtic.mil/whs/directives/corres/pdf/510046p.pdf. Accessed August 14, 2012.Google Scholar
26. Department of Defense. NTTP 3-57.3. Navy Humanitarian and Civic Operations. Naval Warfare Development Command (NWDC) 2009. http://www.public.navy.mil/necc/mcast/Documents/TSC_HANDBOOK.pdf. Accessed August 14, 2012.Google Scholar
27. Sustaining US Global Leadership: Priorities for 21st Century Defense. 2012. http://www.defense.gov/news/Defense_Strategic_Guidance.pdf. Accessed August 14, 2012.Google Scholar
28. Michaud, J, Moss, K, Kates, J. US Global Health Policy: The US Department of Defense and Global Health. The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation 2012;1-45. http://www.kff.org/globalhealth/upload/8358.pdf. Accessed August 14, 2012.Google Scholar
29. A Cooperative Strategy for 21st Century Seapower (CS21). 2007. http://www.navy.mil/maritime/Maritimestrategy.pdf. Accessed August 14, 2012.Google Scholar
30. Reaves, EJ, Schor, KW, Burkle, FM Jr. Implementation of evidence-based humanitarian programs in military-led missions: part I. Qualitative gap analysis of current military and international aid programs. Disaster Med Public Health Prep. 2008;2(4):230-236.Google Scholar
31. Burkle, FM. Throwing the baby out with the bathwater: can the military's role in global health crises be redeemed? Prehosp Disaster Med. 2013;28(3):1-3.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
32. Patrick, S, Brown, K. The pentagon and global development: Making sense of the DoD's expanding role. 2007. http://ssrn.com/abstract=1101526. Accessed February 2, 2013.Google Scholar
33. United Nations. The Millenium Development Goals Report 2011. 2011. http://www.un.org/millenniumgoals/11_MDG%20Report_EN.pdf. Accessed April 29, 2013.Google Scholar
34. Department of Defense Medical Resources Plans and Policy Division OPNAV (N931). Monitoring and Evaluation Principles for Cooperative Health Engagement Missions: Bureau of Medicine and Surgery. 2012.Google Scholar
35. World Health Organization. Aid Effectiveness and Health. 2007; http://www.who.int/hdp/publications/aid.pdf. Accessed August, 2012.Google Scholar
36. Webb, NJ, Richter, A. Strategy at the crossroads: The case of the navy hospital ships. 2009. http://mpra.ub.uni-muenchen.de/14752/. Accessed February 2, 2013.Google Scholar
37. Waller, SG, Ward, JB, Montalvo, M, Cunliffe, C, Beadling, C, Riley, K. A new paradigm for military humanitarian medical operations: mission-generic metrics. Mil Med. 2011;176(8):845-851.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
38. Licina, D. Hospital ships adrift? Part 1: a systematic literature review characterizing US Navy hospital ship humanitarian and disaster response, 2004-2012. Prehosp Disaster Med. 2013;28(3):1-10.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
39. Drifmeyer, J, Llewellyn, C. Toward more effective humanitarian assistance. Mil Med. 2004;169(3):161-168.Google Scholar
40. Hayson, S. Civil-military coordination: the state of the debate. Humanitarian Practice Network. Humanitarian Exchange.. 2004;56:3-7.Google Scholar
41. Burkle, FM Jr. The changing face of disaster management: implications for healthcare providers in the Pacific Islands. Pac Health Dialog. 2002;9(1):55-57.Google Scholar
42. Levine, S, Pain, A, Bailey, , Fan, L. The relevance of ‘resilience’? Humanitarian Policy group. HPG Policy Brief 49. September 2012:1-4. http://www.odi.org.uk/sites/odi.org.uk/files/odi-assets/publications-opinion-files/7818.pdf. Accessed April 14, 2013.Google Scholar
43. Burkle, FM Jr. The limits to our capacity: reflections on resiliency, community engagement, and recovery in 21st-century crises. Disaster Med Public Health Prep. 2011;5(Suppl 2):S176-S181.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
44. Allenby, B, Fink, J. Toward inherently secure and resilient societies. Science. 2005;309(5737):1034-1036.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
45. Ortu, G, Mounier-Jack, S, Coker, R. Pandemic influenza preparedness in Africa is a profound challenge for an already distressed region: analysis of national preparedness plans. Health Policy Plan. 2008;23:161-169.Google Scholar
46. Burkle, FM Jr. Do pandemic preparedness planning systems ignore critical community- and local-level operational challenges? Disaster Med Public Health Prep. 2010;4(1):24-29.Google Scholar
47. Johnson, MM, Bone, EA, Pready, GN. Taking care of the sick and scared: a local response in pandemic preparedness. Can J Public Health. 2005;96:412-414.Google Scholar
48. Rogers, P. Development of resilient Australia: enhancing the PPRR approach with anticipation, assessment and registration of risks. Aus J Emerg Management. 2011;26(1):54-58; http://www.em.gov.au/Documents/Rogers.PDF. Accessed April 20, 2013.Google Scholar
49. Callaway, DW, Yim, ES, Stack, C, Burkle, FM Jr. Integrating the disaster cycle model into traditional disaster diplomacy concepts. Disaster Med Public Health Prep. 2012;6(1):53-59.Google Scholar
50. Warfield, C. The disaster management cycle. 2008. http://www.gdrc.org/uem/disasters/1-dm_cycle.html. Accessed April 10, 2013.Google Scholar
51. Jones, R. In search of the ‘prepared community’: the way ahead for Australia? Aus J EM. 2013;28(1):15-19.Google Scholar
52. United Nations. Report of the International Meeting to Review the Implementation of the Programme of Action for the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States. 2005. http://www.un.org/ga/search/view_doc.asp?symbol=A/CONF.207/11. Accessed April 29, 2013.Google Scholar
53. Burkle, FM Jr, Nickerson, JW, von Schreeb, J, et al. Emergency surgery data and documentation reporting forms for sudden-onset humanitarian crises, natural disasters and the existing burden of surgical disease. Prehosp Disaster Med. 2012;27(6):577-582.Google Scholar
54. Reaves, EJ, Schor, KW, Burkle, FM Jr. Implementation of evidence-based humanitarian programs in military-led missions: part II. The impact assessment model. Disaster Med Public Health Prep. 2008;2(4):237-244.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
55. Bhutta, ZA, Reddy, KS. Achieving equity in global health: so near and yet so far. JAMA. 2012;307(19):2035-2036.Google Scholar