Humanitarian and emergency assistance

Responding to humanitarian need, whether arising from natural disasters or conflict is one of New Zealand's obligations
as a good international citizen. It is also a vital aspect of NZAID's role and everyday work. Over the past decade or so,

NZAID supplies ready for distribution in Munda

A large tent supplied to the Pacific by NZAID.
Source: AusAID June 2007

natural disasters have increased in number, frequency and severity, and an increasing number of civilians have been affected by armed conflict.

NZAID has a particular role to play in addressing humanitarian needs in our own Pacific neighbourhood. Beyond the Pacific New Zealand's response is generally part of a broader international effort with support provided through United Nations (UN) multilateral agencies specialising in humanitarian assistance, the Red Cross Movement and New Zealand non-government organisations (NGOs) with partners in the affected country.

NZAID's role includes providing advice to Ministers on issues such as the type and appropriate level of response to specific humanitarian emergencies in developing countries. New Zealand 's response is based on a number of considerations, particularly whether a request for assistance has been received from the affected country's government and/or by recognised international agencies. The scale of the crisis and its human impact, the availability of resources, other donor responses and existing New Zealand partnerships are also important considerations.

In addition, NZAID provides annual core funding to key international humanitarian agencies which enables them to more effectively resource agency strategic priorities.

Members of the public wanting to provide assistance in a disaster or emergency should read the 'How you can help' page.

Natural disasters

In recent years, an unprecedented number of large-scale tsunamis, earthquakes, floods, droughts, storms and landslides have disrupted the lives and livelihoods of hundreds of thousands of people. The effects of these and other major disasters are felt for many years as people rebuild shattered lives and livelihoods.

While the threats from these hazards vary from country to country, nowhere is immune to their damaging environmental and social impacts. Planning for disaster risk reduction has become an increasingly important focus for governments and organisations involved in humanitarian action. A United States study of natural disaster management has calculated that every dollar spent on disaster risk reduction saves $4 in future response.

Emergencies and armed conflict

The nature of emergencies and armed conflict has changed since the end of the Cold War. Increasingly it takes place within, rather than between, states and often involves the targeting of civilians, despite the protections afforded by international humanitarian and human rights law.

Humanitarian emergencies involving violent conflict are often ‘complex' encompassing multiple issues such as poverty, health threats and human rights abuses including sexual and gender-based violence, human trafficking and inequity.

Pacific response

One of the large tents supplied by NZAID | Source AusAID June 2007

One of the large tents supplied by NZAID.
Source: AusAID June 2007

Islands in the Pacific are particularly vulnerable to the impacts of natural disasters including from cyclones, floods, volcanic eruptions, earthquakes and tsunamis. Natural disasters can have a disproportionately large impact on Pacific island economies and livelihoods, overwhelming both government capacity and traditional coping mechanisms.

New Zealand's commitment to the Pacific in terms of humanitarian assistance is strong, particularly in the area of disaster preparedness, response and recovery.

NZAID takes a hands-on, whole of government approach when responding to disasters in the Pacific. The safety of people is the first priority, followed by meeting basic needs such as food, water and shelter. NZAID coordinates New Zealand 's Emergency Task Force (ETF) response which can include reconnaissance and emergency supply flights, the provision of relief supplies and technical and specialist assistance. It may also involve direct funding to partner governments and response agencies including non-governmental organisations (NGOs), the Red Cross and multilateral agencies.

In responding to crises in the Pacific, NZAID acts in partnership with the governments of the country or countries involved and also with a range of other countries and organisations. A key government-to-government crisis response mechanism in the Pacific is the French, Australia New Zealand (FRANZ) arrangement, which provides for joint action between the three countries.

Depending on the situation and circumstances, NZAID may also work closely with agencies including the Red Cross, relevant United Nations bodies, and civil society organisations. NZAID considers that collaboration with civil society and community-based groups is vital for successful recovery from any humanitarian crisis.

Beyond the Pacific

In Asia or further afield, NZAID's response is generally part of a broader international effort. NZAID's practical assistance is likely to be channelled through UN humanitarian agencies, the Red Cross Movement, and national, international or New Zealand NGOs.

In the 2008/2009 financial year New Zealand 's assistance included contributions to:

assist Myanmar in the aftermath of Cyclone Nargis through contributions to the World Food Programme (WFP) and UN Development Programme (UNDP)
provide water-sanitation facilities, hospital support and emergency food, and assisting displaced people in Iraq through the International Committee of Red Cross (ICRC) and UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)
provide emergency food, water and shelter as well as health services in Sudan through the WFP and ICRC
provide health services, water-sanitation facilities, child protection, emergency food and co-ordination in the occupied Palestinian territories through the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), UNICEF and ICRC
assist with emergency food supplies and water and sanitation in Zimbabwe through the International Federation of Red Cross (IFRC)
assist people displaced from their homes as a result of the fighting in the Democratic Republic of Congo through the UNHCR
distribute food to those affected by the food crisis in the Horn of Africa and Afghanistan through the WFP
the ICRC is working to help those in Somalia facing life threatening food and water shortages as a result of escalating armed conflict combined with drought, runaway national inflation and the rise in commodity prices worldwide
assist flood victims in Nepal and India through the IFRC Disaster Relief Emergency Fund
improve food security in Timor Leste through the Food and Agriculture Organisation.

New Zealand also provides an annual contribution to the Central Emergency Response Fund. This is a fund established by the UN to enable more timely and reliable humanitarian assistance to victims of natural disasters and armed conflicts.

Multilateral humanitarian agency annual support

NZAID also provides annual core funding assistance to multilateral partners. Providing core funding better enables humanitarian agencies to plan and strategise their future activities. It also enables NZAID to engage in governance, policy and evaluation processes.

NZAID has provided core funding to:

United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)
World Food Programme (WFP)
Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA)
United Nations International Children's Fund (UNICEF)
UN Relief and Words Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA)
International Committee of Red Cross (ICRC)
International Federation of Red Cross (IFRC)

Core support to United Nations development agencies, such as the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), and the World Bank also helps to ensure they have the necessary capacity to play effective roles in humanitarian crisis situations.

Humanitarian Action Fund for New Zealand NGO's

In building an effective agency response to emergency situations, NZAID recognises the importance of supporting NGOs to work at the grassroots. NZAID's Humanitarian Action Fund (HAF) is a contestable fund open to accredited New Zealand-based NGOs that are partnered with developing country counterpart organisations for emergency and disaster relief, rehabilitation and preparedness/mitigation activities.

The KOHA-PICD Programme Management Committee with the addition of the vice-chair of the NGO Disaster Relief Forum (NDRF, a committee of the New Zealand NGO umbrella organisation, the Council for International Development, for those NGOs involved in humanitarian assistance work), makes funding recommendations to the senior management of NZAID.