[INSIGHT] Disaster Amid a Pandemic: Activating Remote Support – Opinion

We have read many articles and listened to countless webinars on humanitarian operations amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Humanitarian workers continue to reflect on how coordination would work in the event of a natural disaster during a pandemic, given the constraints within and across countries.

Prior to COVID-19, international aid workers would travel to the affected country to meet with relevant stakeholders to discuss and plan the best way forward during the emergency. We used to be physically present and meet with our peers to solve complex problems. As the epidemic continues to spread, is that still possible?

It appears that COVID-19 has forced us to find new ways to coordinate without risking our lives. Hence, the conversation is about how to coordinate in the new era of remote support for emergency response operations. As easy as it may sound, do we really know how humanitarian aid coordination will work during this pandemic?

Basically, coordination as a process is the entire effort to achieve common goals, from engaging with humanitarian actors, building trust, sharing information and planning strategies, to achieving the end result. To achieve this, it is essential to meet and discuss with various stakeholders on a regular basis, especially since information is dynamic and limited in times of emergency. For example, during the Central Sulawesi earthquake and tsunami in 2018, humanitarian workers, including the Indonesian government, were busy attending meetings of various groups nearly every day.

As a structure, the format aims to clarify the complex elements and show how they are synergistic. Before COVID-19, most countries had a coordination structure to determine who made the decision and how decisions would be implemented. However, the game plan has changed with the pandemic. Countries have created ad hoc coordination structures specifically designed to tackle COVID-19.

How will this new ad hoc structure work with existing national / local coordination structures for natural disaster response?

In Indonesia, for example, the National Agency for Disaster Mitigation (BNPB) leads the National Task Force for COVID-19, which includes about 49 government institutions. Meanwhile, the BNPB is also seated nationally to coordinate the emergency response in a non-pandemic environment.

In Malaysia, the coordinating agency in a non-epidemiological situation is the National Disaster Management Agency (NADMA). However, in light of the current situation, the Ministry of Health is taking the lead because the disaster is a pandemic, while NADMA plays the coordinating role by coordinating with the relevant institutions in compliance with the advice and steps taken by the ministry.

Looking at these examples, do we all fully understand how these structures would work together when disaster strikes amid a pandemic? Will the ad hoc task force be responsible, or will the natural disaster coordination structure be the main player?

At the local level, it will also be interesting to see the dynamics, in particular how national authorities can support local efforts, taking into account travel restrictions as well as the dedicated local staff that may be present.

Now let’s talk about the physical place, or the space that all actors come together to collaborate and collaborate with each other. In the past, this space could have been tents or office spaces near damaged sites. Because of the epidemic, no such space could exist. This is the time for us to talk about how we can turn our face-to-face meetings into virtual ones to support humanitarian coordination.

We must ensure that we have adequate infrastructure and that all stakeholders are aware of these platforms and trust them.

If the purpose of coordination is to facilitate communication and exchange of information, in order to provide relief assistance to affected people, it is best to do so in advance, before our hands are bound in the emergency response. Yes, the investment in preparedness efforts becomes more evident, and it must be done in a targeted manner particularly during this pandemic situation.

If we used to put together meetings during a disaster, we might be able to do so now and discuss what the plan would be like in the event of a disaster. It is the right time for us to identify the resources available in the country, their capabilities and the best way to cooperate. If there are no clear structures, we can improve the situation by intensifying resources within the country, including their ability to make the most of virtual platforms.

While there is still time, it is best if we use that time to create the infrastructure, systems and platforms, and even conduct training, to facilitate a fruitful and targeted meeting online. By doing this, we may be able to help reduce the infection rate, empower local leadership and ensure a more efficient and targeted response.

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Preparedness and Response Officer at the ASEAN Coordination Center for Humanitarian Assistance in Disaster Management (AHA Center)

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