UNHCR Handbook for Emergencies - UNHCR eCentre

44
for details of how to access UNHCR emergency
response resources. With the government, the
resources of other UN organizations, particularly
UNICEF and WFP, and of the NGO sector
must be mobilized within the framework of a
plan for immediate action.
Protection
20.
Unless the refugees’ right to asylum is
assured there can be no assistance programme.
Action must be taken to this end, and to ensure
their security and fundamental human
rights. The importance of a UNHCR presence
where the refugees are located has been
stressed. Specific measures may be needed, for
example to meet the special protection problems
and needs of groups at risk (unaccompanied
children, single young girls, minorities,
etc.), and to protect the refugees against arbitrary
actions of outsiders and against groups
within their own number who may pose a
threat to their safety.
Organizational Considerations
21. UNHCR must establish a presence where
the refugees are, with assured communications
with the main office and with Headquarters.
The organization of the necessary logistical
capacity to deliver the assistance will be
of critical importance.
22. The priority, once problems and needs
have been assessed, will be to provide vital
assistance wherever the refugees are located.
There will also, however, be key organizational
or planning decisions to take, some of which
may determine the future shape of the whole
operation. These often include the points summarized
below; decisions on them should be
seen as a part of the immediate response.
If such decisions go by default or are wrong
they will be very difficult to correct later.
Protection and Material Assistance
The Location of the Refugees
23. This will have a major influence on protection
and all sectors of assistance. If the refugees
have spontaneously settled in a scattered manner,
they should not be brought together
unless there are compelling reasons for breaking
their present settlement pattern. If they are
already in sites which are judged to be unsatis-
factory, move them. The difficulty in moving
refugees from an unsuitable site increases
markedly with time. Even if those already there
cannot be moved, divert new arrivals elsewhere
(see chapter 12 on site planning).
Control at the Sites
24. Determine the optimum population in
advance and plan for new sites accordingly.
Keep careful control of actual occupation of
the site as refugees arrive, so that sections
prepared in advance are filled in an orderly
manner.
Numbers and Registration
25. An accurate estimate of numbers is a prerequisite
for effective protection and assistance.
Efficient delivery of help to all in need will
require at least family registration which should
be organized as soon as possible. Nevertheless
the initial provision of assistance may have to
be based on a population estimation rather
than full registration (see chapters 11 and 13 on
registration and commodity distribution).
Urgent Survival Needs
26. Meet the most urgent survival needs:
food, water, emergency shelter, health care
and sanitation, ensuring fair distribution:
i. Involve the refugees and promote their
self-reliance from the start. If this is not
done the effectiveness of the emergency
assistance will be severely reduced, and an
early opportunity to help the refugees to
start to recover from the psychological
effects of their ordeal may be missed;
ii. Food. Ensure that at least the minimum
need for energy is met; a full ration can
follow. Set up special feeding programmes
if there are clear indications of malnutrition.
Establish storage facilities;
iii. Water. Protect existing water sources from
pollution and establish maximum storage
capacity with the simplest available means.
Transport water to the site if the need
cannot otherwise be met;
iv. Emergency shelter. Meet the need for roofing
and other materials from local sources
if possible. Request outside supplies (e.g.
plastic sheeting) if necessary;
v. Health care. Provide the necessary organizational
assistance, health personnel and
basic drugs and equipment in close consultation
with the national health authorities.