VOLUME 11, ISSUE 2, 2019

LIAISONA JOURNAL OF CIVIL-MILITARY DISASTER MANAGEMENT & HUMANITARIAN RELIEF COLLABORATIONS

Sustainable Solutions Lessons in Coordination from the FRANZ Arrangement

How Pacific Island States Sustain Drinking Water

Pacific ALLIES Program Prepares Leaders for Climate Change CONTENTS

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12 Preparing for Disasters 20 FRANZ Arrangement RedR Australia manages Australia Assists, a program designed Lessons learned from France, Australia, and New Zealand who to deploy technical specialists to help partners prepare for, use the FRANZ Arrangement to coordinate relief efforts from respond to, and recover from natural disasters and conflict. their respective military and civilian means in the aftermath of disasters in the Pacific Islands.

26 New Zealand Defence Force 30 Water for Life Learn how NZDF's Deployable Joint Interagency Task Force Residents of Palau, States in the Federated States of responds to natural and humanitarian disasters and works to Micronesia, and the Marshall Islands apply scientific methods maintain regional peace and security. to build their drinking water resiliency.

ON THE COVER Photo illustration by Rufino E. Ballesteros

2 LIAISON Volume 11, Issue 2 36 42

36 Pacific ALLIES 42 Decisive Space in the Pacific Students assist with a unique geo-location and demographic Learn how the U.S. military, its partner militaries, and survey tool for the first time for the people of Ebeye City its partner non-governmental organizations possess the on Kwajalein Atoll. These types of initiatives will aid in institutional knowledge, operational experience, and improving situational awareness for disaster and health logistical capacity to help secure the Pacific region against an emergencies. increasingly inhospitable natural environment. 50 Essential Coordination 58 Be Prepared, Disasters Happen Discover ways to improve international communication and Learn how using statistics of the most common and most coordination with local authorities, both prior to emergencies severe natural hazards provides organizations and planners and during. with unique insights for focusing regional disaster risk reduction efforts.

Center for Excellence in Disaster Management & Humanitarian Assistance 3 LIAISON VOLUME 11, ISSUE 2, 2019

Editor Theanne Herrmann DEPARTMENTS Graphic Designer Rufino E. Ballesteros Introduction Editorial Board Oceania Dr. Alberto Morales Jr. 10 Dr. Brett Hicks Melissa Aaron Partners Alan Aoki Andrea Ciletti 12 Preparing for Disasters Victoria Hart

Please direct all inquiries to: 20 FRANZ Arrangement Center for Excellence in Disaster Management & Humanitarian Assistance (CFE-DM) Building 76 26 NZ Defence Force 465 Hornet Avenue Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam Hawaii, 96860-3503 Technology Phone: 001-808-472-0518 30 Water for Life Website: https://www.cfe-dmha.org 36 Pacific ALLIES LIAISON is a publication of the Center for Excellence in Disaster Management and Humanitarian Assistance (CFE-DM) and Research & Education serves to inform its diverse audience of current and emerging issues related to civil-military relations across the broad spectrum of disaster 42 Decisive Space relief in order to enhance understanding among civilian and military practitioners and policy makers. 50 Essential Coordination

Content is prepared in accordance with the Associated Press Style Guide. Contributions are 54 Global Health Security welcomed and highly encouraged. The editor reserves the right to make editorial changes to Teaching at CFE-DM any material submitted as deemed necessary. 56

The authors in this issue of LIAISON are entirely 58 Be Prepared responsible for opinions expressed in their articles. These opinions are not to be construed as official views of, or endorsed by, CFE-DM, any of its partners, the Department of Defense, IN EVERY ISSUE or the U.S. Government.

In addition to the editorial staff and 5 The Director’s Letter contributing authors, the editor thanks the following people whose efforts made the 6 Contributors publication possible: Joseph Martin, Doug Wallace, James Kenwolf, Rochelle Naeole- Adams, Ryan McGovern, Jesse Wolfe, Beth 9 Letters to the Editor Gerry, Rod Macalintal, Jenny Caruso, Trevor Monroe, Lloyd Puckett, Ranya Ghadban, 62 Calendar of Events Amy Gorey, Joyce Blanchard, Gregg St. Pierre, Nelson Chang, Stephanie Liu, Sara Briggs, Kate Scanlon, and Jenney Pantenburg. The residents, of Ebeye City, Republic of the Marshall Islands, fish. Photo by Mr. Lorenzo Moscia

4 LIAISON Volume 11, Issue 2 LETTER FROM THE DIRECTOR JOSEPH MARTIN, SES

ceania is a region Arrangement article, page 20, home to some of highlights the lessons learned Othe most beautiful from providing military islands in the world and assistance to the PSIDS after more than 42 million people. a cyclone disaster. It is known for it's tropical, Climate change is not relaxing landscapes but also only making disasters more located in the “Ring of Fire,” intense and less predictable, a path of where the world's but due to rising sea levels, most active volcanoes lie. and prolonged droughts the This area is the most availability of fresh water is disaster-prone region in the limited. The article, Water world containing 75 percent for Life: Enhancing security of the earth’s volcanoes, through science education, while 90 percent of the page 30, is an innovative world’s earthquakes occur in approach to developing a the Pacific Basin. community culture of water “USINDOPACOM is stewardship, conservation, deepening engagement and advocacy to increase with the Pacific Island water self-sufficiency and Countries of Oceania to resiliency for the people of preserve a Free and Open Indo-Pacific region, and Palau, Chuuk and Yap States in the Federated States of we are committed to strengthening the region’s future Micronesia, and the Marshall Islands. security and prosperity with our partners and allies,” Sharing lessons learned and sustainable solutions said U.S. Navy Admiral Philip S. Davidson, U.S. Indo- from experts in the field through the publication of Pacific Command, commander, before the Senate the Liaison is one of the many ways the Center for Armed Services Committee, Feb. 12, 2019. “In close Excellence in Disaster Management and Humanitarian coordination with Australia, Japan, France, and New Assistance provides leading-edge humanitarian assistance Zealand, USINDOPACOM is working to strengthen the and civil-military expertise and insight to U.S. Joint resilience of the PICs by tackling common challenges: Force, allies, and partners. drug trafficking; illegal, unreported, unregulated fishing; I hope this issue serves as a tool to generate the existential threat of rising ocean levels; natural discussions and spark innovative ideas among the disasters; and the heavy debt burdens that threaten their Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief community. sovereign interests.” Many category 4 and 5 tropical cyclones have hit Aloha, the Pacific Small Island Developing States in the last decade. The impact of these disasters exceed the capacity of the affected country to respond on their own and international response is welcomed. The FRANZ

Center for Excellence in Disaster Management & Humanitarian Assistance 5 CONTRIBUTORS

Dr. Ethan Allen is an associate professor at the Daniel K. Inouye Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies. Previously, at Pacific Resources for Education and Learning, Dr. Allen oversaw the development and growth of PREL’s Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics education programs throughout Hawaii and the other U.S.-affiliated Pacific Islands. As a central part of this work, Dr. Allen served as Principal Investigator of the National Science Foundation’s Water for Life: Community Education for Water Conservation and Rainwater Harvesting in the United States Affiliated Pacific Islands program. This five-year, $2.6 million project fostered broad community water science learning, improved access to potable water, and enhanced water security and resiliency for residents of Palau, the Marshall Islands, and Chuuk and Yap States in Micronesia. See Article, on Page 30. Dr. Ethan Allen

U.S. Army 1st Lt. Andrew Cook is a 2016 graduate of the United States Military Academy qualified as an infantry officer in 2-25 Infantry Brigade Combat Team (IBCT), 25th Infantry Division in Schofield Barracks, Hawaii. His assignments include Platoon Leader, Company Executive Officer and Battalion Assistant S3, focused on small unit tactics, logistics, and tactical level planning. He is a recent graduate from Regional Leadership Development Program-Pacific 19-03 Cohort. See Article, on Page 42.

1st Lt. Andrew Cook

U.S. Air Force Capt. Kalyn Howard has served for six years as a logistics readiness officer, with experience in deployment operations and contingency planning, transportation, distribution and emergency management. She is currently a logistics PhD candidate at the Air Force Institute of Technology, studying topics related to performance management in humanitarian logistics. See Article, on Page 58.

Capt. Kalyn Howard Dr. Helene Jacot Des Combes is a Climate Change Adaptation and Disaster Risk Management Advisor to the Chief Secretary Office, Republic of the Marshall Islands, and Adjunct Senior Lecturer in Climate Change at the Pacific Centre for Environment and Sustainable Development (PaCE-SD). Born and trained in France, Dr. Helene joined the University of the South Pacific in 2010 as a Research Fellow at PaCE-SD under the Australia- funded Future Climate Leaders Project. She then became a Lecturer in Climate Change under the EU Funded USP-GCCA (Global Climate Change Alliance) project, then a Senior Lecturer under the EU funded PacTVET project (Pacific Technical and Vocational Education and Training), jointly implemented by USP and SPC. At USP, she taught the course on disaster risk management and supervised several MSc and PhD students. Her research topics included: integration of climate change and disaster risk management, climate change and education, and Dr. Helene Jacot Des Combes community-based resilience building. See Article, on Page 20.

6 LIAISON Volume 11, Issue 2 U.S. Army Captain Jacky Kwan has served as an Army Aviator on the AH-64D for eight years and is currently assigned to United States Army Pacific Headquarters as an Operational Planner. He has experience as a planner on the Joint Operational Planning Team for Tinian and Saipan during Hurricane Yutu, Personnel Accountability Evacuation Operations in Eastern Pacific, and Crisis Planning Management for USARPAC. He is a recent graduate of the Regional Leadership Develop Program-Pacific 19-03 Cohort and a graduate of the United States Military Academy. See Article, on Page 42.

Capt. Jacky Kwan

U.S. Army Capt. Jeremy Madany has served as an Army Aviator for over six years. Madany gained firsthand knowledge into the nuances and challenges of conducting disaster response operations during his time as an Aviation Task Force logistics officer during Hurricane Harvey Response and Hurricane Maria Response. He is currently assigned to U.S. Army Japan's Aviation Battalion; he is responsible for integrating his organization into exercises throughout Japan and Asia, focusing on Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Response. He is a recent graduate of the Regional Leadership Develop Program-Pacific 19-03 Cohort. See Article, on Page 42. Capt. Jeremy Madany

Capt. Elliott O’Brien is a staff officer at the New Zealand Defence Force’s Headquarters Deployable Joint Interagency Task Force. He has previously published analysis on climate change adaptation issues in the Andes and contributed to multi-national interagency planning for military responses to climate change issues in the Pacific region. Elliott has previously worked advising New Zealand Members of Parliament and within the NGO sector. He has a Bachelor of Arts in politics from Washington and Lee University, and a post graduate certificate in Defence Studies from Massey University. See Article, on Page 26.

Capt. Elliott O'Brien

Dr. Benjamin J. Ryan is an Associate Professor at Daniel K. Inouye Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies, Honolulu, Hawaii. His areas of focus at APCSS are community resilience, global health, regional disaster coordination, and Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR). Dr. Ryan has led workshops, training, lectures, and activities in his areas of focus across the Indo-Pacific, Europe, and North America. This includes engagement with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) on HADR, responding to natural disasters and disease outbreaks (including Ebola and Dengue), leading health sector preparations for the G20 Finance Ministers meetings held in Australia, managing projects in Australian Indigenous communities and facilitating delivery of health services to asylum seekers. He has worked at local, state, federal and executive levels of government in Australia. See Article, on Page 56. Dr. Benjamin Ryan

Center for Excellence in Disaster Management & Humanitarian Assistance 7 Robin Peak served in the U.S. Navy from 2013-2020. He recently served as a media liaison and crisis communications spokesperson for Flag and General Officers for U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, resulting in placements with Wall Street Journal, The Associated Press, NBC, and Defense News. Peak is now a civilian working as a strategic communicator specializing in Social Media Strategy, Content Strategy, Public Affairs, Community Outreach, Crisis Management, and Media Relations and Analysis. He has a bachelor’s degree from the University of California at Davis, and a master’s in Strategic Public Relations from the George Washington University. See Article, on Page 36 and 54.

Robin Peak

Aleyda Valdes is a development and humanitarian worker with experience in complex humanitarian settings, natural disasters and global health emergencies. She is currently working in Palau with the United Nation Development Programme, (UNDP) as a Country Project Coordinator. In the past, she worked with UNICEF, UNOCHA and UNFPA in different roles in coordination, preparedness and emergency response, and advocacy and communication, based in different locations at field, country and regional levels in Latin America, the Caribbean, West and Central-East Africa, and the Pacific. She has two masters in Development Studies and Creative Documentary, and a postgraduate degree in Humanitarian Action and Conflict. See Article, on Page 50. Aleyda Valdes

Heidi Winder is currently the Pacific Regional Manager for RedR Australia based in Suva, Fiji, implementing the Australia Assists program funded by the Australian Government. Prior to working at RedR Australia, she spent 3 years in Qatar working as a Project Specialist for the Qatar Foundation Combating Human Trafficking. In this role she designed projects aimed at combating human trafficking throughout the Middle East, including the Arab Initiative for Building National Capacities to Combat Human Trafficking co-managed with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). Her Pacific experience includes management of the Pacific Technical Assistance Mechanism (PACTAM) and coordination of the Economic Governance Program for the Regional Assistance Mission to the Solomon Islands (RAMSI) Governance Support Facility for GRM International. She holds a Masters of Social Science and Bachelor degrees in Economics and Asian Studies. RedR Australia would like to acknowledge Heidi Winder the support of the Australian Government in enabling the delivery of humanitarian support to the Pacific from RedR’s Humanitarian Roster. See Article, on Page 12.

U.S. Air Force Capt. Carl Zunker has served for 22 years as an aircraft electrical/ environmental specialist, attaining the rank of Technical Sergeant before commissioning as an aircraft maintenance officer. He has experience with F-117, F-15E, F-16, HH-60, and B-1 aircraft, and is currently a PhD candidate in logistics at the Air Force Institute of Technology. His research concentration is Behavioral Supply Chain Management, focusing on the impact of leadership on firm heterogeneity, performance, and competitive advantage. See Article, on Page 58.

Capt. Carl Zunker

8 LIAISON Volume 11, Issue 2 LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

LIAISON provides an open forum for stimulating discussion, exchange of ideas and lessons learned – both academic and pragmatic– and invites active participation from its readers. If you would like to address issues relevant to the disaster management and humanitarian assistance community, or share comments or thoughts on articles from past issues, please submit them to [email protected]. Specify which article, author and issue to which you are referring. LIAISON reserves the right to edit submissions for clarity, language, and accuracy.

LIAISON welcomes article submissions

This publication is a Format - Email submissions in partners of the disaster management and an unformatted Microsoft Word file. humanitarian community. journal of civil-military Footnotes are the preferred method of Copyrights or licenses - All work disaster management citation, if applicable. Email images remains the property of the author or separate from the word document as JPG photographer. Submission of an article and humanitarian relief files. or photograph to LIAISON magazine collaborations and aims Provide original research - We implies authorization to publish with prefer original submissions, but if your proper attribution. to engage and inform article or paper is being considered Supporting imagery - Original readers on the most current for publication elsewhere, please note imagery supporting any and all articles research, collaborations that with the submission. Previously is welcome. Ensure the images are published articles will be considered if high-resolution and can be credited and lessons learned they are relevant to the issue topic. to the photographer without license available. If you are Clarity and scope - Avoid technical infringement. Images should be attached acronyms and language. The majority of to the submission separately, not interested in submitting an LIAISON readers are from the Asia- embedded within the Microsoft Word article for consideration, Pacific nations and articles should be document. addressed to an international audience. Biography and photo - When email your story idea to Articles should also be applicable to submitting an article, include a short [email protected] partners in organizations or nations biography and high-resolution photo of beyond that of the author. The aim yourself for the contributor's section. is for successful cases to aid other

Center for Excellence in Disaster Management & Humanitarian Assistance 9 Oceania is home to more than 42 million people geographically separated across the islands of the Pacific. 14 Countries: Australia, Papua New Guinea, New Zealand, Fiji, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, Samoa, Kiribati, Micronesia, Tonga, Marshall Islands, Palau, Tuvalu, and Nauru. 11 Territories: New Caledonia, French Polynesia, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, American Samoa, Cook Islands, Wallis, Futuna, Niue, Pitcairn Island, and Tokelau. “The story of the Indo-Pacific in recent decades is the story of what is possible when people take ownership of their future ... this region has emerged as a beautiful constellation of nations, each its own bright star, satellites to none." - United States President Donald J. Trump, speech at the APEC CEO Summit, November 10, 2017

10 LIAISON Volume 11, Issue 2 Center for Excellence in Disaster Management & Humanitarian Assistance 11 SOUTH PACIFIC: Preparing for Disasters By Heidi Winder edR Australia (RedR) is a forty-year- old federation, a leading international Rhumanitarian organisation that has worked in the Pacific for over a decade supporting Pacific Island Nations to prepare, respond and recover from emergencies. During this time, RedR has supported over 26 organisations, deploying humanitarian specialists from our roster, and providing ‘just-in-time’ training programs in the lead up to cyclone season. RedR manages the Australia Assists program, funded by the Australian Government. Australia Assists is the Australian Government’s humanitarian civilian deployment program, deploying technical specialists to help partners prepare for, respond to, and recover from natural disasters and conflict. Since the start of the program in 2017, RedR has deployed more than 60 Anggie Burchill specialists, across 8 countries in the Pacific to support provides relief materials in preparing the region to respond to disasters when to a woman in Papua New Guinea Dec. they occur. The Pacific is one of the world’s most 13, 2018. Protection natural disaster prone regions, facing threats of disasters support is reinforced with distribution of with enormous economic, social, and environmental dignity kits, solar lights, consequences. This can be seen when looking at the reproductive health, and other essential protection impact of disasters in the recent past including Tropical and hygiene items. Cyclones Pam, Winston, Gita and Donna; the earthquake Photo by RedR Australia

12 LIAISON Volume 11, Issue 2 PARTNERS in Hela Province in PNG; and volcanic eruptions in Ambae, Vanuatu, and Mt. Manam in PNG. This context highlights how susceptible Pacific island states are to frequent natural disasters and underscores the importance of preparedness work, especially given that, in this region, disasters are more localised, with high frequency and low intensity. As a result everyone needs to be prepared. Strong partnerships with multiple stakeholders in the Pacific are critical, as no one entity has the funding, mandate or reach to effectively manage the frequency of disasters. RedR is increasingly investing resources towards disaster risk reduction (DRR) initiatives in the Pacific, pre-positioning technical specialists in National Disaster Management Offices Australia Assists deployee and Regional Disaster Risk Management (NDMOs), and placing strategic regional specialists in Specialist for Pacific Community Gina Jones works alongside her organisations such as The Pacific Community (SPC) colleague Emily in the PIEMA project offices Nov. 22, 2018 at Pacific Community, in Fiji. Photo by Ian Parish, RedR Australia and the International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF) to provide consistent regional advice to multiple (SPC) by providing a Disaster Risk Management stakeholders. Specialist, Gina Jones, to its Geoscience, Energy RedR occupies a unique position within the Pacific. and Maritime Division (GEM). SPC is the largest It does not directly implement humanitarian programs, development organisation in the Pacific and the peak but rather provides a multi-sectoral spread of technical scientific and technical agency utilising expertise specialists and training programs to support a range of to create solutions to some of the region’s greatest humanitarian organisations globally. RedR is the only challenges such as climate change and preparing for Stand-by-Partner (SBP) to the United Nations in the natural disasters. Southern hemisphere and Asia Pacific who has built In her deployment, Gina is providing advice and partnerships with government ministries and regional assistance on emergency management policies and organisations in the region. As a neutral player, RedR systems. Through her role, Gina supports SPC’s work is able to observe, influence, and problem solve with its in strengthening regional coordination of disaster partners. Some of the emerging themes of discussion preparedness and response. The majority of Gina’s with partners are; ‘how can regional initiatives work has focused on the Pacific Islands Emergency contribute to Disaster Risk Reduction’, ‘striving for Management Alliance (PIEMA) project – an investment gender equality’, ‘finding time to respond to slow-onset supported jointly by Australia’s Department of Foreign disasters’ and ‘localisation with limited capacity’. This Affairs and Trade (DFAT) and New Zealand’s Ministry article provides some insight into current discussions and of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT). Gina’s decade- important examples of progress, particularly since the long career with the New South Wales State Emergency Grand Bargain in 2016. Service has proven to be an asset to the project and more broadly for SPC, including her formal training in incident How can regional initiatives contribute to management. Disaster Risk Reduction? “I come from an emergency management background, Australia Assists is supporting The Pacific Community so I have a good understanding of how emergency

14 LIAISON Volume 11, Issue 2 “Coordination really The Deputy Director of Community and Disaster Resilience at SPC, Rhonda Robinson, has already seen is the key to getting an the benefits of Gina’s work. “It’s great having Gina emergency response on board,” said Rhonda. “She’s come at a time which is really quite important for SPC’s program. This right. Pacific countries are deployment is really about emergency management and the interoperability between fire, police, and disaster at different stages with management offices, so the Australia Assists placement, emergency management, through RedR Australia, has been a welcome intervention for us. It’s quite timely too, given where we are going but the intention is to and where we want to be.” For Gina, the key measure of success for her regionally build capacity deployment will be facilitating and building good coordination. “Coordination really is the key to getting an so Pacific Island Countries emergency response right,” said Gina. “Pacific countries can support each other, are at different stages with emergency management, but the intention is to regionally build capacity so Pacific and not need to rely on Island Countries can support each other, and not need to international assistance.” rely on international assistance.” - Gina Jones Striving for gender equality in the Pacific Australia Assists deployee Global evidence well documents the disproportionate services work in Australia,” said Gina. “Under the impact of emergencies upon women, girls, and sexual and PIEMA project, there are existing arrangements between gender minorities, in situations of conflict, peacebuilding, the Australian and New Zealand Emergency Services natural disaster and climate change. This is reflected, and the Pacific Islands countries, so I am here to assist for example in the 58th CSW Resolution on GEEW in that partnership to function and provide expertise where Natural Disasters which recognised that not only did required.” disasters have a more direct and adverse impact on PIEMA was established in 2013 and is a coordinating women and girls, but that natural disasters can increase mechanism that engages directly with Pacific countries to the likelihood of rape and sexual exploitation, domestic improve resilience and create ‘excellence in emergency violence, unwanted pregnancies, sexually transmitted management for safer Pacific communities’. It is an infections, and complications regarding sexual and alliance of national disaster management authorities, fire, reproductive health, including for pregnant women, who and police services, and other emergency services across face heightened risks from interrupted access to sexual 15 Pacific Island Countries and Territories (PICTs). and reproductive health care. “The aim of the PIEMA project is to build teamwork, “Given that the national violence against women leadership, and trust among the key emergency response prevalence studies conducted in most Pacific Island agencies in each country, so the objective is to get them countries reveal some of the highest rates of domestic working together to build a strong relationship that can violence in the world, the impact upon women and be leveraged for emergency response in the future,” girls and more particularly for women with disability said Gina. “There are a lot of players regionally and is catastrophic” says Alexandra Robinson, Gender nationally, so the key challenge for me is to ensure all Technical Adviser for the United Nations Population those actors are considered.” Fund (UNFPA) in the Pacific Sub-regional office.

Center for Excellence in Disaster Management & Humanitarian Assistance 15 Australia Assists deployee and Gender Based Violence Specialist with International Planned Parenthood Federation, Petra Letter, at a Sexual Gender Based Violence Fundamentals training in Tonga. Petra has been involved in delivering the training across a number of Pacific Island Countries, which is designed to strengthen the capacity of IPPF's Member Associations to provide first-line support to SGBV survivors. Photo by RedR Australia UNFPA, in partnership with other UN Agencies, long-term development. IPPF are one of the world’s Government ministries, International Planned Parenthood largest providers of sexual and reproductive healthcare in Federation (IPPF), Pacific Disability Forum (PDF) emergencies. and with technical support from RedR are working to Gender Specialist Petra Letter has been working ensure the best possible preparedness actions, policies to build local capacity in responding to gender-based and partnerships are in place at a regional, national, and violence as part of essential sexual and reproductive local level to mitigate the impact of natural disaster on health needs in times of emergency. Based in Suva, Fiji, women, including women with disability. RedR Australia Petra has designed a training package that has so far been currently has a Humanitarian Coordinator at UNFPA delivered to frontline IPPF Member Associations staff, in Fiji, Lindsay Sales, who is working on increasing across four Pacific Island countries. access to sexual and reproductive health services for Before developing the training, Petra conducted young people in the Pacific during an emergency. extensive mapping of gender-based violence (GBV) legal Further, Nimarta Khuman and Anggia Anggraini have and policy structures available within different Pacific been deployed as Gender Equality and Social Inclusion nations. She also ran a Knowledge, Attitude and Practices specialists to support UN Women in Vanuatu and the (KAP) survey across Member Association staff to gauge Solomon Islands respectively. skill levels and identify gaps, and mapped gender and The Australia Assists program has also supported protection training programs conducted by other UN deployments to IPPF in the Pacific, to support effective Agencies and NGOs in the region. monitoring and evaluation, and gender and protection “Mapping other programs ensures we are not work in both stable and emergency contexts. IPPF’s replicating what other agencies are doing. There has Humanitarian Programme provides a distinct model been significant work in gender-based violence response. for sexual and reproductive health and rights in crises, Mapping and navigating the work from multiple connecting key elements of humanitarian action with stakeholders was essential as a key part of ensuring

16 LIAISON Volume 11, Issue 2 IPPF’s services are purposeful and targeted,” says Petra. Government to manage the CRB threat through the Partnerships that promote collaborative approaches to deployment of CRB Strategic Coordinator, Pamela enhancing gender equality in the Pacific are increasing George. in number and depth. This includes UN Agencies, Since February 2019, Pamela has been embedded in Government Ministries, regional organisations, National the Department of Biosecurity within the Government’s Crisis Centres and the Pacific Disability Forum with Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock. In her role, which RedR recently developed a partnership and will Pamela has been working with the Department to control shortly deploy a Humanitarian Trainer to support their the target strain, which caused the government to declare inclusion programs throughout the Pacific. Female a national state of emergency. leaders such as Shamima Ali, Merilyn Tahi, Ofa “With the current level of destruction, people are not Guttenbeil-Likiliki, Nalini Singh, Pionie Boso, Lily able to buy or sell fresh coconuts and they are not able De'Boer, and Teretia Tokam are working tirelessly to to provide coconuts for the oil and copra industries. This ensure Pacific women’s leadership in humanitarian action is impacting people’s ability to send their children to is recognised and facilitated.1 school, buy sufficient food, and have access to medical care,” says Pamela. Finding time to respond to slow-onset disasters As well as daily coordination of the CRB response, DRR and preparedness for slow-onset disasters in a major undertaking of Pamela’s has been assisting in the region does not receive the level of attention and the development of the Three-Year Strategic Plan for investment it needs. The thin layer of expertise dedicated the management of CRB. The Plan allows the three to preparedness work and the lack of resources available main constituents – the Solomon Islands Government, results in almost all attention being focused on cyclone primarily the Department of Biosecurity, the private and tsunami threats. Whilst investment and focus is sector, and the donor community – to be able to increasingly being turned to the effects of climate change understand the current response and what is being and El Nino, little effort is focused on the threat of pests planned. and pathogens which can have a devastating impact Pamela explains that eradication of the pest is on economic development, food security, health and impossible given the breadth of the incursions into the livelihoods. Provinces. However, there are two key control measures The Solomon Islands is currently facing the spread of for the pest: good coconut plantation maintenance Oryctes rhinoceros, commonly known as the Coconut practices, and the identification of improved biological Rhinoceros Beetle (CRB) strain which is threatening control measures. major industry and the livelihoods of thousands of “Good coconut plantation measures include ensuring communities. The beetle is a major pest of coconut palms and is causing serious damage to trees across Honiara and Guadalcanal, and spreading to other provinces. Because coconut palms are a vital part of the Solomon Islands economy and hold cultural significance, the spread of the pest is threatening livelihoods across the Islands. RedR, through Australia Assists, is supporting Coconut Rhinoceros Beetle the Solomon Islands

Center for Excellence in Disaster Management & Humanitarian Assistance 17 with a surveillance unit with provincial offices,” Pamela says. “The aim is to work out a new structure within the department to enable faster and more effective action."

Localisation with limited capacity The World Humanitarian Summit in 2016 gave the Pacific a mandate to push for the realisation of the localisation agenda. The Framework for Resilient Development (FRDP) endorsed by the Pacific Island Forum Leaders in 2017 sets the agenda for a localised regional approach to address climate change, disaster risk management and community resilience. Pacific actors developed their own definition of localisation: it is a process of recognising, respecting and strengthening the independence of leadership and decision-making by national actors in humanitarian action, in order to better address the needs of affected populations.2 Overall, evidence suggests that the international community are heading in the right direction, albeit Australia Assists deployee Pamela George is stationed with the slowly. The value of local actors in humanitarian Department of Biosecurity in the Solomon Islands as Coconut Rhinoceros Beetle Strategic Coordinator. Here Pamela is working response efforts is increasingly being recognised, on a three-year timeline to implement the Strategic Plan with Max but there needs to be an escalation from advocacy to Kolubalona, Senior Quarantine Officer at the Department, who is leading the CRB-G response. Photo by RedR Australia implementation from the international community. A key finding identified from the Humanitarian Advisory all dead palms are destroyed rather than being left to rot Group’s research on localisation is that in some countries and ensuring chicken manure – the primary breeding there is strong evidence of action to support a shift ground of CRB – is turned over regularly,” says Pamela. towards national actors leading on humanitarian action.3 “There’s also ongoing work in the Solomon Islands, RedR Australia is committed to diversifying its Australia and New Zealand to identify improved strains roster and encouraging Pacific Islanders to deploy to of virus and fungus that can be introduced into the neighbouring islands when disaster strikes whenever population as a control measure for CRB-G and spread possible. Pacific Islanders should be encouraged via breeding.” and supported to lead surge responses across the Pamela says her primary focus moving forward will Pacific, as they have the knowledge and experience to be on coordinating the response to the CRB-G, but also deliver effective solutions to Pacific Island problems. identifying the lessons learned from the response and An example of how the Pacific is moving forward adopting a more refined approach for the inevitable in localising humanitarian response, is that Fiji’s future incursions for other Pacific Island nations also, Emergency Medical Assistance Team (FEMAT) was such as Vanuatu. Detection of other biosecurity threats recently certified by WHO to deploy regionally in an such as African Swine Fever not that far away in Timor- emergency. Leste means that improved standard operating procedures RedR, through the Australia Assists program, is at custom ports is paramount. focused on strengthening relationships with Pacific “We are looking at establishing an internal quarantine governments and regional agencies, in order to establish unit within the Department of Biosecurity and aligning it agreements with local actors before disaster strikes. RedR

18 LIAISON Volume 11, Issue 2 has opened an office in Suva employing local staff and bigger – we did so well.” is providing increasingly longer-term deployments to its Another focus for Michael has been working with partners in order to increase sustainability. Deployments NEMO to review and modify its plans and documents for are strategically positioned to reinforce local leadership the Emergency Operations Centre, ensuring they align and coordination. The deployment of Gender and with existing international standards. Protection Specialist Nimarta Khuman to the Department “Since the earlier part of the year (cyclone season), of Women’s Affairs in Vanuatu is illustrative of this we’ve been focusing on training and preparedness, approach, where she leads from behind supporting her following a needs analysis I conducted, discovering that local counterpart. NEMO didn’t have an assets register in place for their However, the ongoing issue faced by Pacific Island large stock of equipment and other materials,” he said. nations is the limited local technical expertise, so sharing On a national level, steps are being taken to address a resource from one country to respond to an emergency the threats of natural disasters and climate change, with in another country can leave substantial human resource the Tonga Government releasing a second joint National gaps. There have been successful examples of Pacific-to- Action Plan on Climate Change and Disaster Risk Pacific exchanges of senior disaster management staff, Management, and previously, a Tonga Climate Change such as Loti Yates, Director of the NDMO in Solomon Policy in 2016. In addition, the Australia Assists program Islands, deploying to Tonga during the TC Gita response. is designed to support and supplement local expertise However, NDMOs tend to regularly receive international when requested. assistance to supplement national capacities to prepare RedR supports the philosophy of being 'as local for and respond to disasters. as possible and as international as necessary.' Pacific If you look to the example in Tonga at the National Islanders should be able to make the determination to Emergency Management Office (NEMO), where request international support to complement local efforts Australia Assists deployee Michael Osborne has been rather than overwhelm local structures. RedR encourages working to bolster disaster risk management capacity, international technical advisers to play a supportive, it is evident that these international specialists assist in rather than a leadership role, and to not bypass national delivering key services for the government in relation to leadership structures. They provide targeted capacity disaster preparedness and management. strengthening support to key local staff to reduce reliance “We ran a consultation seminar with a number of on international surge in the future. They are trained Government departments, particularly the Department of to look for opportunities in the region to connect — Statistics, and as a result of that, we were able to collect organisations, programs, initiatives, and people. That metadata from across a number of Ministries, which inter-connectedness and coordination will ultimately assisted us in establishing a baseline,” Michael said. make the difference in a disaster. “This data has since been verified and uploaded in If you are interested in joining the RedR roster go to the Sendai Framework database, establishing Tonga as the RedR Australia website https://www.redr.org.au/ being one of the first countries in the world to do so – humanitarian-roster/join-as-a-skilled-professional/ the metadata includes damages to buildings, injuries, Notes mortalities and a host of other data pertaining to disasters 1 See a more comprehensive list from SPC, 70 Inspiring Pacific Women dating back to 2001.” https://www.spc.int/sdp/70-inspiring-pacific-women The Director of the NEMO reported “I was in Geneva 2 IFRC, Localised Humanitarian Response in the Pacific, Tropical Cy- clone Gita 2019 http://media.ifrc.org/grand_bargain_localisation/wp- this May and I was very proud when I saw that Tonga content/uploads/sites/12/2019/09/IFRC-2019-Localised-Humanitarian- was one of the only countries on the record validating our Response-in-the-Pacific.pdf Sendai data. Even though we are a very tiny country and 3 Humanitarian Advisory Group https://humanitarianadviso- rygroup.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/Tonga-baseline-report_Fi- there are so many who have more than us and they are nal_110719_electronic.pdf

Center for Excellence in Disaster Management & Humanitarian Assistance 19 The "Ring of Fire," a path of where the world's most active volcanoes lie. This area is the most disaster-prone region in the world containing 75 percent of the earth’s volcanoes, while 90 percent of the world’s earthquakes occur in the Pacific Basin. Art illustration by Rufino E. Ballesteros

20 LIAISON Volume 11, Issue 2 FRANZ ARRANGEMENT Military Participation in Cyclone Responses: Lessons Learned and Perspectives By Dr. Helene Jacot Des Combes

he Pacific islands are extremely exposed to geological and climate- Trelated hazards due to their location on the Pacific Ring of Fire and in a cyclogenesis region. Among the disasters caused by these hazards, several tropical cyclones/typhoons were recorded in many of the Pacific Small Island Developing States (PSIDS) in the last decade. In the recent years, several category 4 and 5 tropical cyclones/typhoons1 have affected the PSIDS, for example tropical cyclones (TC): • 2010 TC Tomas in Fiji

• 2012 TC Evan in Samoa

• 2012 TC Bopha in Palau and Federated States of Micronesia

• 2015 TC Pam in Vanuatu

• 2016 TC Winston in Fiji

• 2018 TC Gita in Tonga For PSIDS, the consequences of these disasters can FRANZ Agreement, to coordinate relief efforts from their be substantial, both in terms of fatalities and economic respective military and civilian means in the aftermath of losses, as highlighted by the three most recent category disasters in the Pacific Islands. The main missions under 4 and 5 cyclones. TC Pam affected 65,000 who were the FRANZ Arrangement include: aerial reconnaissance, displaced from their homes, including 11 fatalities, transport of relief supplies and specialized personnel and the impacts on crops compromised the livelihoods in country and to the affected areas, medical support, of at least 80% of Vanuatu’s rural population GDP. debris removal on roads, in schools and hospitals, shelter In addition, damages from TC Pam were estimated preparation, and deployment of a liaison officer to at US$449.4 million, representing 64.1% of the 2013 support the local disaster management office. Vanuatu GDP.2 In Fiji, approximately 540,400 people, The FRANZ Arrangement is a “common declaration equivalent to 62 percent of the country’s total population regarding cooperation for assistance after disaster in the were affected by TC Winston, including 45 fatalities, South Pacific” and was signed in Wellington in 1992. and impacts on crops affected the livelihoods of almost The FRANZ Chair and Secretariat rotate every two 60% of Fiji’s population. TC Winston generated years between the three countries. After a disaster, the US$0.9 billion damages in Fiji, about 20% of the 2014 three countries exchange information and decide and Fiji GDP.3 In Tonga, about 80,000 were affected, coordinate the deployment of the military material and corresponding to about 80% of the total population. In personnel, in collaboration with the affected country. On addition, TC Gita was responsible for damages estimated the ground, the military forces are coordinated through at US$164.1 million, equivalent to 37.8% of Tonga 2017 the local disaster/emergency management office which GDP.4 decides the deployment of the available material and Disasters of this scale strongly exceed the capacity personnel depending on needs. of the affected countries to respond on their own and Under the FRANZ Arrangement, armed forces from international humanitarian response helped these France, Australian, and New Zealand, supported the countries address the needs arising from these cyclones. Government and population of Vanuatu after TC Pam by Among the aid received during the response and carrying out aerial reconnaissance of the affected areas recovery phases, armed forces from different countries and by transporting humanitarian response and recovery provided support. France, Australia, and New Zealand personnel and equipment by plane, helicopter, and boat. use the FRANZ Arrangement, also known as the More specifically, under the FRANZ Arrangement, France conducted damage assessments, and provided medical support (consultations and medical evacuations), deployed engineers and technicians to repair critical

22 LIAISON Volume 11, Issue 2 infrastructure, and brought in 17 tons of supplies. proportion of severe cyclones (categories 4 and 5) in Australia and New Zealand provided transport and the annual number of cyclones, although there is low logistic support and humanitarian aid for up to 5,000 confidence in this trend. There is medium confidence that people. this proportion will continue to increase even under a 2°C After TC Winston, the FRANZ Arrangement also global temperature increase. There is medium confidence provided support to Fiji, leading to the deployment of that the average intensity of tropical cyclones/typhoons specialized personnel such as engineers, firefighters, will increase as well as the rainfall associated with and medical personnel. Military transports, including tropical cyclones, leading to higher risk of inundation.5 ships, helicopters and planes brought relief supplies to However, there is low confidence in the increase of the the country and then helped with distribution in less frequency of tropical cyclones/typhoons accessible areas. Planes and helicopters were also used to The change in the characteristics of tropical cyclones/ survey the damages after the cyclone. France deployed a typhoons is not the only cause of projected increased liaison officer and transported 86 tons of supplies to the damages from these hazards. A major risk identified in country and provided logistics to transport freight to outer the recent Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change islands by plane and ship. Australia deployed almost (IPCC) Special Report on the Ocean and Cryosphere in 1,000 personnel, including medical personnel managing a a Changing Climate (SROCC) report is the increase in medical facility and transported 89 tons of supplies. the frequency and intensity of extreme sea level events, After TC Gita, the FRANZ Arrangement was also caused for example, by a combination of an increase activated and military transports (planes and ships) were in sea level and stronger storm surge. The SROCC used to transport relief supplies to Tonga. FRANZ also report indicates that there is high confidence that in supported the Logistics and Coordination Cluster. France many locations, in particular in the tropical regions, rare supported Tonga with 18 tons of supplies and deployed a extreme sea level events (occurring once in a century) liaison officer. New Zealand provided approximately 38 could become annual by 2050 under all greenhouse tons of supplies and conducted aerial reconnaissance of gas emission scenarios. This projection is expected to the damaged areas. have significant consequences on future disasters in the PSIDS. For example, during TC Winston in Fiji, Koro Future projections Island was devastated by a storm surge and some areas of Climate change is projected to have an impact on the southern coast of Vanua Levu were inundated almost hazards, including tropical cyclones/typhoons generated in PSIDS. Observations over the recent decades have shown emerging evidence of an increase of the

Devastation during Tropical Cyclone Pam in Vanuatu March 14, 2015. Photo by Graham Crumb 200 meters inland. Such inundation would worsen with typhoons in the PSIDS. For these countries with small a higher sea level, as would the damages observed in the communities isolated on outer islands away from the affected areas. capital and with limited human resources, support At present coastal ecosystems, and in particular from the military, in particular the logistics and trained coral reefs in the PSIDS, help to limit erosion and specialized personnel is very beneficial. The support coastal inundation by reducing the height and energy of the military was recognized during TC Winston of the waves before they reach the coast. There is high by overcoming the challenges of reaching isolated confidence that climate change impacts on the coral communities in the highlands of the main islands and reef ecosystems, especially ocean warming and ocean outer islands.6 acidification, will threaten their health and the services However, difficulties exist, including coordination they provide, including coastal protection against strong between the different humanitarian actors in a country wave events.4 severely affected by the disaster, different interest from These different ways climate change is projected to the different actors, and limited accommodation facilities worsen disaster impacts from cyclones/typhoons will add that limit the deployment of large number of personnel. up to significantly increase the risks faced by PSIDS. As a result, a judicious selection of the most relevant However, the more frequent inundation events will also personnel is needed before the deployment. have significant impacts on people’s livelihood. As early Lessons learned from response to TC Pam in Vanuatu as 2009, the Global Risk Assessment report indicated that include the need to strengthen the protocol of deployment most damages to housing, infrastructures, and livelihoods and use of military assets after the disaster and to ensure were generated by high-frequency, low-intensity events this information is available to all clusters. Military rather than by low-frequency, high intensity disasters. forces have strict guidelines on how and when to use their The annual repetition of what was previously one-in-a- assets and all partners willing to use these assets need century events is expected to take a great toll on coastal to be aware of the guidelines. The role of the National communities and PSIDS and to affect their capacity to Disaster Management Office as the coordinator between respond to low-frequency, high intensity disasters such the military and the civilian humanitarian partners needs as those caused by more intense cyclones/typhoons. The to be strengthened. Moreover, there is a need to build this economic development of these countries may also be capacity at sub-national level to manage response and affected, increasing their vulnerability to other hazards. operation including civilian-military cooperation.7 The result of this situation could lead to more frequent National defense forces in several countries are and longer intervention and an increased need for aware of the implications of climate change on security humanitarian support in the aftermath of a disaster. issues and on the extreme events, such as cyclones and floods. Projected impacts on climate change are Lessons learned and perspectives expected to lead to an increased demand on military The FRANZ Arrangement is well known by the forces to provide support for humanitarian response of PSIDS who do not hesitate to activate it in the aftermath to maintain security. This is specifically important for of a disaster with precise request for material and the Pacific where leaders of the PSIDS have identified specialist support. Under this Arrangement, Australia, climate change as “the single greatest threat to the New Zealand and France are the only countries to livelihood, security and wellbeing of Pacific people” systematically deploy their armed forces after a disaster. (Boe Declaration, Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat, The readiness, competency and experience of their 2018). With the impacts of climate change, in particular personnel as well as the logistic support for aerial on cyclones, the humanitarian response is expected to reconnaissance and air and sea transport are widely become more complex for two main reasons. The higher appreciated by the PSIDS and the other humanitarian number of category 4 and 5 cyclones in the annual actors such as UNOCHA. total number of cyclone implies a shorter recovery Support from armed forces has proven essential time between events, reducing the assets available for in response to disasters caused by tropical cyclones/ response and increasing the demand for external aid,

24 LIAISON Volume 11, Issue 2 including from the military forces. It is also expected that the distribution of cyclones will expand, with new locations becoming affected in the future thus leading to a stretch of available response resources.8 As a result, more deployment may occur, sometimes concurrently. It also needs to be mentioned that the military forces also respond to disasters caused by geological hazards, that are also common in the region. For example, French army forces based in New Caledonia supported the evacuation of Ambaé Island in Vanuatu after a volcanic eruption in 2017. The conditions of deployment may also become more difficult, for example with the occurrence of heatwaves and health risks. This will require additional training to ensure the health and well-being of deployed personnel. The U.S. Army The FRANZ Arrangement was signed in 1992 to coordinate French, Australian and New recognizes the potential of more Zealand assistance for Pacific island nations during natural disasters. It has emerged as a very deployments in the future due to the effective tool, as the frequency and intensity of disasters are increasing as a result of climate increase of extreme events.9 change. Courtesy photo continue to support countries in the Pacific to respond to Conclusions disasters in the future. The participation of military forces in response to disasters caused by cyclones in the Pacific is widely Notes appreciated. The qualification of deployed personnel 1 Cyclones and typhoons are the same phenomenon that have different and the significant logistical support helped the names in different regions of the world. countries transport and distribute relief supplies and 2 Government of Vanuatu, 2015, TC Pam Post-Disaster Needs Assess- ment. provide services to isolated communities. The FRANZ Agreement between Australian, French, and New 3 Government of Fiji, 2016, TC Winston Post-Disaster Needs Assess- ment. Zealand governments helps coordinate and deliver relief support. Although some challenges still need to 4 Government of Tonga, 2018, TC Gita Post-Disaster Rapid Assessment. be overcome to improve the outcomes of the military 5 IPCC, 2019, Special Report on the Ocean and Cryosphere in a Chang- ing Climate. support to humanitarian response, the current situation is seen as very positive. However, climate change impacts 6 World Bank Group, 2017, Social Protection and Humanitarian As- sistance Nexus for Disaster Response: Lessons Learnt from Fiji’s Tropical in the Pacific are expected to increase the demands on Cyclone Winston. humanitarian partners including the military forces, 7 Pacific Community, 2016, Tropical Cyclone Pam Lessons Learned due to the expected increased number and intensity of Workshop Report. extreme events, as well as the more difficult condition 8 Observatoire Défense & Climat, 2019, Implications of Climate Change of personnel deployment. These problems are already on Defence and Security in the South Pacific by 2030. identified to be addressed by the military forces to 9 United States Army War College, 2019, Implications of Climate Change for the U.S. Army.

Center for Excellence in Disaster Management & Humanitarian Assistance 25 Lean Forward Over Communicate:& New Zealand Defence Force Headquarters Deployable Joint Interagency Task Force Lessons in Achieving High Readiness for Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief Operations By NZDF Capt. Elliott O'Brien

n 2016, the New Zealand Ministry of Defence and are able to operate independently in an austere identified that contributing to whole of government environment until follow-on forces arrive. HQDJIATF Idisaster relief and recovery effects in the South employs a mix of military and commercial-off-the-shelf Pacific, is a key requirement of the New Zealand technologies to equip staff with shelter, sanitation, and Defence Force (NZDF) and one that is likely to increase personal protective equipment to manage environmental in coming decades.1 The strategy draws an explicit link hazards likely in natural disasters. HQDJIATF has also between the NZDF’s willingness and ability to respond to secured approval to receive multi-dose vaccinations and natural and humanitarian disasters and the maintenance additional protocols in advance of the high-risk weather of regional peace and security. New Zealand Defence season, ensuring health constraints do not hamper rapid Force Headquarters Deployable Joint Interagency Task deployment. Force (HQDJIATF) provides a tangible indicator of this willingness; in real terms this manifests as preparedness Inter-agency planning skills “to provide scalable, operational command and control HQDJIATF has identified that high readiness involves for the conduct of joint, interagency and multi-national more than fit-for-purpose equipment. Cognisant that operations in order to contribute to the security of New the military is unlikely to be the lead agency in a Zealand and its interests.”2 HADR operation, HQDJIATF has prioritised seamless integration with civilian planning processes to enhance Initial assessment teams its staff’s cognitive flexibility. A critical part of the An element of HQDJIATF’s utility to the NZDF and HQDJIATF Force Generation Plan, alongside medical Government of New Zealand is the ability to rapidly checks and fitness tests, is qualifying on a Coordinated mobilise four-to-six person teams partnered with Ministry Incident Management System – Level Four course. This of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) personnel.3 The ensures HQDJIATF personnel understand their role teams can mobilise to Pacific countries prior to major and responsibilities working in or alongside a civilian cyclones or immediately post-event for other natural command and control node, and how to adapt their disasters such as tsunamis, severe drought or volcanic military planning experience into civilian language and eruptions. These Initial Assessment Teams (IATs) process. Headquarters New Zealand Defence Force deploy with their own communications equipment recognises this point of difference in HQDJIATF staff,

26 LIAISON Volume 11, Issue 2 Royal New Zealand Airforce Warrant Officer Steve Hunn (centre) conducts water testing alongside New Zealand Ministry of Health colleagues during the 2018 response to Tropical Cyclone Gita. Courtesy photo and prioritises them for secondment into other New support MFAT training through briefs on capabilities Zealand government agencies to provide advice during and expectations for NZDF contributions to HADR planning and conduct of responses to incidents of operations. In the process, HQDJIATF personnel build national significance. rapport with MFAT humanitarian team colleagues that accelerates the “forming” and “norming” phases of Familiarisation with Pacific Countries and team development during a HADR operation.4 It also partner agencies engenders trust, enhancing interagency information flow On this foundation of individual skills and processes, during pre-deployment operational planning. HQDJIATF layers detailed understanding of possible deployment locations and rapport with likely partner Integration of external personnel for collective agencies. The PACIFIC KUPE exercise series sees select readiness HQDJIATF personnel deploy alongside the MFAT Due to the small size of the NZDF, HQDJIATF humanitarian team, Ministry of Health, and Fire and relies on external staff from across the NZDF to Emergency New Zealand colleagues to two to three obtain specialist input for command and control of Pacific Island countries per year (rotating through all HADR operations. These include public affairs, legal, Pacific Island countries on an approximately five-year environmental health, civil-military coordination, basis). This activity allows HQDJIATF personnel to engineering, health planning, and liaison officers from

Center for Excellence in Disaster Management & Humanitarian Assistance 27 HQDJIATF conducts pre-deployment briefs with other government agencies prior to a HADR exercise. Courtesy photo

the air and maritime domains. Noting that these personnel for HADR deployments alongside the NZDF. may deploy on short notice alongside permanently posted HQDJIATF members, HQDJIATF activates its Organic unclassified communications network external staff and harnesses interagency input to conduct Following large scale responses to tropical cyclones a full joint military planning cycle for scenarios likely in Vanuatu and Fiji, HQDJIATF recognised the need to necessitate an HQDJIATF response. The analysis and for an organic unclassified communications network. documents provide utility beyond HQDJIATF, informing This lesson resulted in HQ JFNZ contingency planning capability development analysis and Headquarters Joint acknowledging that “internet-based collaboration Forces New Zealand (HQ JFNZ) contingency planning. services, between agencies, should be the initial primary local tactical/operational data system” in Pacific HADR Learning lessons through regular joint operations.5 The HQDJIATF unclassified network mobilisation incorporates light-weight, ruggedized bearers, server, PACIFIC MANAIA is an annual readiness exercise laptops, and other peripherals alongside power generation that sees HQDJIATF mobilise and validate its ability to enable a small interagency staff to execute critical to plan and conduct HADR operations across a command and control functions such as planning, variety of deployment methods (including sustained processing information, monitoring a common operating austere operations and embarking staff on Royal New picture and briefing. It also positions HQDJIATF to fully Zealand Navy vessels). PACIFIC MANAIA creates an leverage the All Partners Access Network (APAN). essential feedback loop to test and evaluate changing unit processes and capabilities. Veteran staff hand off Liaison inside partner deployable headquarters operational lessons learned to new staff, providing HQ JFNZ maintains reciprocal liaison officers within context to written standard operating procedures. Australian Defence Force operational headquarters. This Participation by other government agencies enables reflects an understanding that Australia and New Zealand shared understanding that informs their own preparations have shared interest in supporting our Pacific neighbours,

28 LIAISON Volume 11, Issue 2 and achieve better results when we synchronise our to respond to requests for humanitarian assistance and response capabilities as early as possible during planning. disaster relief in the Pacific. While HQDJIATF has a relatively short history in Situational understanding comparison to other NZDF units, its commanders have HQDJIATF benefits from HQ JFNZ initiatives to embraced an operational focus and relentless pursuit analyse the key foundation information required to of readiness that have enabled it to adapt and excel in achieve “an enhanced regional understanding of HADR HADR domestically and in the Pacific Region. The capacity and resilience of NZ and its neighbours.”6 HQDJIATF motto “E Waka Eke Noa” (or “we are all in OPERATION RESILIENCE ensures that all appropriate this together” in the Maori language) encapsulates the NZDF activities in the South West Pacific contribute unit’s recognition that collaboration with other militaries, to maintaining currency and depth in New Zealand’s agencies, and nations must underpin the unit’s actions understanding of HADR capacity and resilience of and approach to continuous improvement. Pacific Island countries. This understanding is collated in support summaries for each country that ensure planners have a firm base of information about national disaster management systems, air and sea points of entry, previous natural disaster responses and medical infrastructure. These documents also provide IATs with a minimum ‘read-in’ if they deploy on short notice when verbal briefing from HQ JFNZ staff is not feasible. Contribution to operational direction NOTES When not deployed, HQDJIATF operates within the NZDF operational headquarters, HQ JFNZ. This 1 Ministry of Defence. (2016). The Defence White Paper 2016. https:// www.defence.govt.nz/assets/Uploads/daac08133a/defence-white-pa- enables regular liaison with the Commander Joint per-2016.pdf: p. 39 Forces, operational planners, and subject matter experts. 2 Headquarters Deployable Joint Interagency Task Force. (20 March HQDJIATF personnel contribute to all stages of the joint 2019). HQDJIATF Vision Statement, Mission and Tasks: p. 2 planning process, providing considerations for command 3 Headquarters Joint Forces New Zealand. (05 Jun 2019) HQ JFNZ CONPLAN 102: PACIFIC RELIEF (ISSUE 2019): p. 1-2. and control in contingency plans that enable the NZDF 4 Tuckman, B.W. (1965). “Developmental Sequence in Small Groups.” Psychological Bulletin 63. 5 Headquarters Joint Forces New Zealand. (05 Jun 2019) HQ JFNZ CONPLAN 102: PACIFIC RELIEF (ISSUE 2019): p. D-2. 6 Headquarters Joint Forces New Zealand. (2019). OPORD 073/14: OP RESILIENCE: p. 1.

HQDJIATF Staff: MAJ Michael Nochete (left) and Capt. Michael Coom (right) in Kiribati alongside colleagues from other New Zealand government agencies. Courtesy photo Center for Excellence in Disaster Management & Humanitarian Assistance 29 Water for

LIFEEnhancing Security through Science Education By Dr. Ethan Allen

uring the early 2000s, to propose this endeavor for four many of the United States sites t­hat included both atolls and DAffiliated Pacific Islands high islands, which spanned the (USAPI), along with other Pacific geographical extent of the USAPI island states, were facing significant from east to west, and comprised drinking water crises. sites with a range of social and Rising sea levels were salinizing economic challenges. the narrow fresh water lenses of In 2012, the National Science the tiny atoll islands, and changing Foundation’s division of Advancing weather patterns with more frequent Informal Science Learning (NSF and prolonged droughts were AISL) funded our proposal Water stressing the local population's food for Life: Community Education for and drinking water security. Water Conservation and Rainwater Empowering and supporting local Harvesting in the United States island residents through education Affiliated Pacific Islands3 (WfL). in the fundamentals of water WfL used the locally widespread, science and the associated practical relevant, and meaningful challenge technologies and engineering of a lack of potable water to engage techniques for water stewardship and residents of Chuuk, and Yap States conservation was clearly needed. in the Federated States of Micronesia After considerable discussion with (FSM), Palau, and the Marshall noted regional hydrologist/geologist, An unprotected spring on the island Dr. Danko Taboroši founder of of Tol (Chuuk, FSM) is in the Island Research and Education foreground. Behind it, a similar spring Initiative,1 (iREi) my colleagues at has been protected. Water from the protected spring is piped out to a Pacific Resources for Education and public dock, enabling a wide range Learning2 (PREL) and I decided of regional residents to access it. Photo by Dr. Ethan Allen

30 LIAISON Volume 11, Issue 2 TECHNOLOGY Students from the Marshall Islands’ Life Skills Academy built a simple, economical passive solar still. Photo by PREL WfL Islands in learning science through environmental and water resource the capacity of the citizens of applying scientific methods to build professionals, who learned key these communities to address their drinking water resiliency. aspects of water science, and became critical environmental and societal Most residents on these small, regional leaders and facilitators of challenges and increase their water remote, isolated islands rely on community efforts to build water self-sufficiency and resiliency. rainwater catchment systems security. One ‘game-changing’ outcome (RWCS), wells, or springs for WfL activities raised awareness from WfL was the development drinking water. In many parts of of some of the most urgent water- and spread of the Water Quality these sites, municipal systems related issues, such as contamination Monitoring Team (WQMT) model are simply non-existent; in other of stored water from organic debris, developed on Majuro, Marshall places, they provide water only providing simple kits to test for Islands. WQMTs consists of intermittently, a few hours per week, the presence of coliform bacteria, students, parents, and school staff and the water provided by such and training local youth and other who now ensure nearly 9,000 systems is often non-potable. residents in their use. WfL’s hands- students and teachers in all public Using a contextually-appropriate on community workshops, held at schools have access to regularly approach, WfL bootstrapped regional each site in conjunction with each monitored clean drinking water. informal science education capacity local water improvement project, These groups are educated by staff among a range of local organizations showcased innovative applications from the Environmental Protection in these underserved regions. PREL of science learning and fostered the Agency (EPA) and College of the WfL staff members living in the development of community cultures Marshall Islands Land Grant program four sites assembled core teams of of water stewardship, conservation, to: (a) maintain their school RWCSs- educators in each locale, along with and advocacy. The project bolstered -including roofs, gutters, leaf screens,

32 LIAISON Volume 11, Issue 2 downspouts, first flush diverters, and tanks; (b) regularly test the water quality in all water dispensers around each school; and (c) send monthly water quality data to the EPA. This teaching and learning produces a win-win-win scenario: (i) students and school staff are involved in authentic, meaningful data collection; (ii) the EPA gets useful data that they do not have the staff and time to gather themselves; and (iii) students, teachers, and community residents have better access to larger quantities of higher quality drinking water. WQMTs now keep their A billboard in Chuuk, Federated States of Micronesia, highlights the need to protect and care for regional streams and surface water sources. Photo by Dr. Ethan Allen school RWCSs cleaner, so there are lower rates of water-related illnesses absenteeism. Families that live near the schools also access these water sources, extending the impact even further. Nearly 200 individuals were trained as WQMT members over the five-year course of WfL. Testing expanded from the school sites to include surrounding home RWCSs, resulting in draining, cleaning, and renovation of many systems. The current situation stands in stark contrast to what existed prior to A ‘bob bag’ is set up to provide an additional RWCS in a remote community on Yap, Federated States of Micronesia. Photo by Dr. Ethan Allen WfL, when schools did not provide drinking water to their students and staff, and about 75% of all of the RWCS tested on Majuro had unacceptable levels of coliform bacterial contamination. The WQMTs have become such trusted partners that the EPA enlisted their help in testing RWCSs during a Hepatitis A outbreak in 2017. Based on its success in RMI, the WQMT model has been adapted and implemented in Yap and Palau. And, with further funding from NSF's Renovations to a RWCS include doubling of tank storage capacities and the installation of a INCLUDES program, the WQMT first-flush diverter - the dead-end elbow below the downspout at a school on Majuro, Marshall Islands. Photo by Dr. Ethan Allen

Center for Excellence in Disaster Management & Humanitarian Assistance 33 Residents celebrate World Water Day in Yap, Federated States of Micronesia, March 21. Photo by PREL WfL

approach is now being inaugurated in improving groundwater springs in outlying atolls of RMI and in and surface water sources that were Pohnpei, FSM. traditionally used for drinking. More residents gained water- Community members learned why related knowledge through and how to protect such vulnerable installations, and the improved spring participating in installing ~100 first sources from contamination. A model sites now provide free access to flush diverters. These simple, dead- of spring protection infrastructure cleaner water to thousands of people. end reservoirs gather and contain was developed and replicated at WfL further helped regional the ‘first flush’ of rainwater off of six sites on several islands around residents build their water security roofs, preventing the accumulated Chuuk. Springs were lined with through introducing broadly dirt and debris from entering the concrete, retaining walls were built applicable decontamination main catchment tank. WfL also to prevent influx of unwanted mud technologies such as solar provided and trained local teams and debris, security screening put in pasteurization and MadiDrops4, to install ~115 ‘bob bag’ RWCS. place to limit animals’ access, and (porous, silver infused, ceramic These easy-to-set-up, tarpaulin- roofs emplaced to further shelter and tablets used to purify water within covered rubber bladders each offer protect the naturally clean spring 8-12 hours), as well as desalinization 350 gallons of emergency rainwater water from external contaminants. methods such as building passive storage, providing an alternative to Building such protective structures solar stills. building much more labor-intensive engaged many dozens of residents WfL engaged tens of thousands permanent RWCS. in active learning of key principles of residents across the four sites At WfL sites in Chuuk and Palau, related to water stewardship. Many in learning water-related science, beyond helping upgrade and maintain hundreds more learned in community technology, engineering, and RWCSs, WfL engaged communities workshops based around these math (STEM) practices through

34 LIAISON Volume 11, Issue 2 events such as World Water day the Water for Life Handbook, and in applying STEM practices as a activities that included ‘challenge now incorporate water science and path to learning STEM concepts, bowl’ competitions for students, clean water technology topics into WfL helped nurture locally-relevant, informational displays, and their curricula, so future generations broad-based, self-sustaining demonstrations of technologies such of island residents will have the ‘water literacy’ among significant as the first-flush diverters. Further knowledge and capacity to maintain, proportions of both youth and adult awareness-raising efforts included conserve, and provide stewardship populations in a range of Western billboards, murals, posters, signage, for their water sources. A Facebook Pacific island nations, greatly and radio programs. The community page (facebook.com/PREL.WfL) enhancing their drinking water workshops noted above and other and website (w4l.prel.org/) were security and resiliency. educational sessions engaged inaugurated, providing further thousands more people across the resources for ongoing learning. NOTES Pacific in deeper learning. Some of Working collaboratively with 1. islandresearch.org these individuals have gone on to numerous local partner agencies, 2. prel.org serve on national water policy panels, the lead WfL organizations of shaping regional water conservation PREL and iREi nurtured ‘collective 3. WfL; award # 1224185 and stewardship practices. impact,’ building the capabilities of 4. www.madidrop.com WfL educational materials, diverse arrays of community-based including school-based and out-of- organizations to collaboratively school lessons, as well as flyers, develop and promote the application booklets, videos, and 3,000 copies of STEM practices toward enhancing of a 280-page handbook, have access to higher quality and greater enriched the local resource bases. quantities of drinking water. Hundreds of teachers have learned In short, through its innovative core aspects of water science using approach of engaging communities

Teachers participate in a hands-on workshop, learning key aspects of water science on Majuro, Marshall Islands. Photo by Dr. Ethan Allen

Center for Excellence in Disaster Management & Humanitarian Assistance 35 Pacific ALLIES Preparing Next-generation Leaders for the Impacts of Climate Change By Robin Peak Photos by Mr. Lorenzo Moscia Marshallese students use the first Google Earth Street View map of Kwajalein Atoll for their geo-location and census effort. Pacific ALLIES

group of students from mitigation and food and water the United States Naval security techniques. A Academy, U.S. Coast While in Ebeye City, the cohort Guard Academy, and Whitman was able to assist with a unique geo- College spent the summer in Ebeye location and demographic survey City on Kwajalein Atoll, as a part tool called the Coastal Community of the six-week Pacific ALLIES Human Security Survey (CCHSS) Program. system. The CCHSS system was The program brings together developed by Dr. Eric Rasmussen, students from the U.S. and host CEO of Infinitum Humanitarian nation sponsors including the Systems in collaboration with the Kwajalein Atoll local government Marshallese and was based on his (KALGOV), in the Marshall Islands. work in Puerto Rico after Hurricane This part of the Marshall Maria. Research grant funding came Islands, often described as a “living from the Office of Naval Research sustainability laboratory” by (ONR), Code 34 Warfighter U.S. researchers and Marshallese Performance Department, Human leadership, is a unique place where and Bioengineered Systems Division. organizations and nation states can “The whole internship was very test ideas and study environmental eye-opening,” said U.S. Coast Guard problems, like sea-level rise Cadet Ani Phelps, a Marine Science

Center for Excellence in Disaster Management & Humanitarian Assistance 37 major. “On our first day we were there may be more coral reef research have been undertaken on the atoll sitting in the back of a truck with and work with the students.” and will aid in improving situational some students who were singing and Ebeye has an especially awareness for disaster and health playing their ukuleles. Ever since that vulnerable population with a higher emergencies. first moment, the songs continued the density than Manhattan, and sixty “We were able to reach about 200 whole time -- along with the stories percent of people living on the atoll homes,” said Skye Goedert, a recent and laughter. I feel this internship are under 18 years of age, with little graduate of Whitman College. “We has allowed us to have so many opportunity beyond working on U.S. asked simple questions such as, how connections with the Marshallese.” Army Garrison, Kwajalein Atoll many people live here, how many are Phelps wants to do research in (USAG-KA). In order to introduce under 18 years of age, and do you areas such as Oceania in the future. the Marshallese students to online have food or fresh water. This setup Being able to live in Ebeye City and mapping, Singaporean Cadet Yixin is a basic structure of the survey so experience the culture was helpful Ye, an international exchange student the local people can do this in the in her understanding of the area and at the United States Naval Academy, future by themselves.” allowed her and the others to develop helped them create the very first They used a phone application ideas for future projects. Google Earth Street View map of that allows high school students “We are thinking of making Ebeye City in Kwajalein Atoll. The to go around the community and marine science a larger part of this geo-location and census effort is the record what their basic needs are and internship,” said Phelps. “Next year first time these types of initiatives assign people to addresses, which is

38 LIAISON Volume 11, Issue 2 a system that has not existed there, host-nation engagement focus on Goedert explained. addressing core vulnerabilities to “If a disaster were to ever hit, real-world security and stability knowing how many people are issues, namely through youth Left: Dr. Eric Rasmussen, CEO of Infinitum on the island would be extremely education and capacity building. Humanitarian Systems assists students with a important,” said Goedert. “Knowing Projects to date include coastal unique geo-location and demographic survey tool called the Coastal Community Human who has electricity, food and who surveys, robotics instruction, Security Survey (CCHSS) system. The needs provisions and where to go to scientific methods to improve reef CCHSS system was developed by Rasmussen in collaboration with the Marshallese and give them the help will be easier in health, and STEM, which represents was based on his work in Puerto Rico after the future.” curriculum based on four subjects Hurricane Maria. The geo-location effort has the science, technology, engineering and Above: Spartan Camp students visited 200 homes in Ebeye City to learn what the added benefit of allowing people math, assistance for Ebeye Middle resident's basic needs are and assign people thousands of miles away the ability School summer camp. to addresses using a phone application, July 28, 2019. The geo-location and census effort to see what Ebeye looks like, said After the internship, the cohort is the first time these types of initiatives have U.S. Coast Guard Cadet Elaine traveled to the U.S. Indo-Pacific been undertaken on the Kwajalein Atoll and will aid in improving situational awareness Weaver. This gives the people of Command (USINDOPACOM) for disaster and health emergencies. Ebeye a sense they are part of a headquarters where they briefed global community. Maj. Gen. Suzanne P. Vares- The students' research and Lum, Mobilization Assistant to

Center for Excellence in Disaster Management & Humanitarian Assistance 39 "The fantastic work these cadets and midshipmen did this summer is going to greatly help the government of Kwajalein as well as reinforce USINDOPACOM's commitment to maintain relationships with our allies and partners in the Oceania region."

- U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Suzanne P. Vares-Lum USINDOPACOM

USINDOPACOM Commander on international civil-military program the program. that helps Marshallese, American “This program is helping to equip and Singaporean students prepare our next-generation military leaders for existential climate change in to face complex non-traditional one of the most remote locations in security challenges through civilian the world with a couple friends and and military collaboration,” said almost no resources… just imagine Vares-Lum. “The fantastic work what a larger institution could do.” these cadets and midshipmen did “Scale our effort across other this summer is going to greatly help locations around the world and you the government of Kwajalein as well have a pedagogical mechanism for as reinforce USINDOPACOM's reframing discussions on climate commitment to maintain change and national security. If relationships with our allies and nothing else, Pacific ALLIES partners in the Oceania region.” has taught us that curriculum co- “Some may ask, what can you evolution has to be win-win for do with only four students and everyone to remain engaged. The cadets?” said Gregg Nakano, a key is intergenerational experiential doctoral candidate at the University service learning. It’s our generation of Hawaii’s College of Education. that helped dork things up, so it’s up “Pacific ALLIES is not about the to us to empower the next generation numbers. It’s about validating a for the climate change challenges proof of concept. If we can create an that we’ll leave behind.”

In addition to online mapping, students work on robotics as a part of the host- nation engagement focus on addressing core vulnerabilities to real-world security and stability issues, namely through youth education and capacity building.

40 LIAISON Volume 11, Issue 2

Decisive Space in the Pacific An Alternative Pathway to a Free and Open Indo-Pacific By U.S. Army Capt. Jacky M. Kwan, Capt. H. Madany and 1st Lt. Andrew J. Cook

wallowed by the great expanse of the Pacific States, who learned almost a century ago to consider Ocean, the many islands and atolls of the the stepping stones across the Pacific Ocean as a SPacific may seem remote and small. Countries strategic imperative. If the United States is to maintain and territories like the Mariana Islands, the Marshall a favorable balance of power in the Pacific, it knows Islands, Fiji, and Vanuatu seldom make headlines in that it must maintain dominance or at least access to global news outlets. Despite being remote, Oceania the key waterways and ports of Asia. While climate represents an increasingly important region to the change will continue to have devasting effects across United States’ policy of a Free and Open Indo-Pacific. numerous countries, it may also provide the U.S. Operating under the banner of the Belt and Road with a strategic opportunity to help Oceania mitigate Initiative, the People’s Republic of China's (PRC) against and adapt to climate change, thus strengthening glib message is proposing a threat to the vulnerable the region's ties with the U.S. and hedging against Pacific Island Countries and Territories (PICTs) with China's influence. tactics such as debt diplomacy. The Belt and Road Climate change is wreaking havoc across the South Initiative is China's massive infrastructure investment Pacific.1 Some places such as the Kwajalein Atoll and in a network of railways, energy pipelines, highways the Republic of Kiribati are expected to be completely and sea routes spanning from China across Asia into swallowed by rising sea levels in the next 30 years.2 Africa and Europe. China is carrying out or planning In addition, rising water temperatures are causing construction projects in more than 60 countries, which an increase in the frequency and destructiveness have all taken on large loans — along with a default of tropical cyclones, damaging the fragile oceanic risk that could potentially cede to China. PRC’s access ecosystems on which many countries in the Pacific in Oceania is particularly troublesome to the United rely. With a vast network of both military and RESEARCH & EDUCATION

A local Marshall Islander watches the forklift as it off-loads the materials and tools to be used by Civic Construction Action Detail Marshall Islands Seabees, deployed with Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 5, on Enniburr Islet, Kwajalein Atoll, Republic of Marshall Islands Oct. 26, 2019. U.S. Navy Seabees deployed with NMCB-5’s Detail Marshall Islands are constructing a concrete evacuation center that will serve as the Enniburr local community’s disaster preparedness building. NMCB- 5 is deployed across the Indo-Pacific region conducting high-quality construction to support U.S. and partner nations to strengthen partnerships, deter aggression, and enable expeditionary logistics and naval power projection. U.S. Navy photo by Construction Electrician 3rd Class Christian Carnate

Center for Excellence in Disaster Management & Humanitarian Assistance 43 Leveraging advances in medical technology, such as telemedicine and associated procedural adaptations, allows providers to solve problems posed by vast distances between islands. Joint service members go over the results of a telemedicine training exercise aboard Military Sealift Command hospital ship USNS Mercy (T-AH 19), April, 12, 2018, in support of Pacific Partnership. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Cameron Pinske non-military partners, USINDOPACOM is uniquely comprehensive care, forcing many patients to travel long positioned to help fortify Oceania against climate change. distances to receive treatment.3 Such ailments require The U.S. military, its partner militaries, and its partner repetitious monitoring and treatment, necessitating non-governmental organizations possess the institutional lasting infrastructure and capacity.4 Using a multi- knowledge, operational experience, and logistical faceted approach, USINDOPACOM can address these capacity to help secure the region against an increasingly major health concerns by introducing and maintaining inhospitable natural environment. Specifically, telemedicine throughout Pacific Island Nations. Such USINDOPACOM and its partners are poised to help architecture will also serve as the cohesive element increase Oceania’s medical capabilities, strengthen its for creating medical triage and response capacity that key infrastructure, and help law enforcement personnel Oceania nations can use in the wake of natural disasters combat the growing threat of climate change. In to ensure continuous care for their citizens. Potential extending these life sustaining capabilities, the United partners in this space include The Royal Australian States can win favor in the South Pacific, balance against Armed Forces, the Royal New Zealand Armed Forces, PRC expansion in the region, and advance a Free and The U.S. Department of State, Medicine Sans Frontiers Open Indo-Pacific. (MSF), FEMA, U.S. Public Health Service (USPHS), and USAID. Medical Capabilities Climate change is already proving that it can readily Telemedicine Training degrade public health in Oceania. A confluence of Leveraging advances in medical technology, such factors, namely the lack of medical professionals and as telemedicine and associated procedural adaptations, few medical treatment facilities on-island, prevent allows providers to solve problems posed by vast

44 LIAISON Volume 11, Issue 2 distances between islands. Telemedicine is shown to victims, obtain diagnoses, and sequence patients for improve patient care across long distances.5 However, care. Enhancing the telemedicine system is another implementing telemedicine requires personnel familiar opportunity for collaboration; USINDOPACOM can with the equipment in close proximity to the target facilitate a team of experts that specialize in immediate populations. Lacking medical professionals necessitates post-disaster response. This panel will provide local training personnel who will remain locally to operate medical professionals with additional instruction on the machinery.6 This presents a prime opportunity, disaster response frameworks. Some additional hardware especially in the US-affiliated Pacific Islands (USAPI) is necessary to provide these capabilities, such as ground for collaboration between USINDOPACOM, government vehicles and boats, but USINDOPACOM can work with agencies, and educational institutions. Partner nations partners to source this equipment. and organizations can provide personnel that will hold workshops and rotate through central nodes to ensure Sustainable Infrastructure maximum coverage. USINDOPACOM can facilitate the In 2018, the Pacific Islands Forum issued the Boe convergence of these entities, providing the coordination, Declaration, declaring climate change as the single transportation, and administrative support that allows greatest threat to the livelihood, security, and wellbeing medical professionals to focus on training local of their people.7 Much of these nations’ sensitivity personnel. to climate change lies in the vulnerability of their infrastructure. A study conducted by Koomar and Taylor Sourcing Equipment found that in many countries in Oceania, more than Sourcing equipment also requires collaboration. In 50% of built up infrastructure is located within 500m of this instance, USINDOPACOM can coordinate with a coastline.8 This stifles economic activity due to their other government agencies and non-governmental largely sea-based economies. In addition, many roads, organizations (NGOs) to provide medical equipment to bridges, and runways, as well as water and power lines clinics and mobile medical teams. Training providers throughout the region will lose structural viability over on the equipment must also include instruction on the time as they are increasingly inundated by seawater maintenance of telemedicine systems. For the venture from rising tides. This will make it more difficult for to become sustainable, medical supplies and repair parts governments and NGOs to transport necessary aid and will need to be prepositioned near the clinics to improve supplies to dispersed populations in the wake of natural the efficiency of the supply chain process. Additionally, disasters. It will also reduce the quality of living among the annual Joint Task Force rotations through those the population, as people will more often find themselves central nodes provides opportunities for partner entities without water and power. to conduct refresher training on the use and upkeep of the In efforts to help fortify islands against climate telemedicine systems. change, a number of government and non-government agencies have already begun to analyze the vulnerability Triage System of the infrastructure in Oceania. In its 2018 Strategic The structure provided by standing up telemedicine Defense Policy Statement, New Zealand acknowledges capabilities also lends itself to serving as the architecture that it must expand efforts to secure Oceania against for an immediate post-disaster triage system because climate change and natural disaster moving forward.9 of its resilient design. Trained personnel, equipment, USINDOPACOM should work alongside its regional and supplies are already located in close proximity partners such as New Zealand to synthesize research to the disaster site. With additional training, these efforts and share information. Australia’s Asia Pacific resources can readily become mobile aid stations that Fusion Center, and New Zealand Defence Force’s rapidly deploy to affected areas and assess disaster climate change initiative, and USINDOPACOM’s Pacific

Center for Excellence in Disaster Management & Humanitarian Assistance 45 Environmental Security Partnership have all accumulated is more palatable for the host nation. Additionally, the data and research related to climate change in Oceania.10 development of sustainable and continual maritime law Information and forecasting models should be shared enforcement across the territorial waters and Exclusive across all these organizations and with local governments Economic Zones (EEZs) of Oceania – 724,000 square so that they can prepare their citizens for coming natural miles – will strengthen the rule of law and build lasting disasters, and so that they can fortify their critical connections among security forces and government that infrastructure. This information and forecasting ability will ultimately support USINDOPACOM objectives can also be used to inform policy decisions with regard to maintain a Free and Open Indo-Pacific.13 Currently, to U.S., Australian, New Zealand aid packages for the the US Coast Guard already has a relationship with region. the Compact of Free Association (COFA) nations the Finally, USINDOPACOM can help build Oceania Federated States of Micronesia, Republic of Marshall nations’ environmental resilience by training their Islands, and Republic of Palau, but it can also provide personnel to identify and fix infrastructure in the wake reassurance to PICTs that encroachment from the of natural disasters. The U.S. Army uses Forward PRC and other fishing nations in violation of the Engineer Survey Teams (FEST) as reconnaissance assets United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea to assess infrastructure in the wake of natural disasters. cannot be tolerated. After all, the key message from Afterwards, these teams can call forward engineer assets USINDOPACOM to the PICTs for this type of mission and supplies to restore critical lines of communication should be pro-growth, pro-sustainability, and pro- and government services. FEST teams (and international freedom.14 equivalents) should be deployed throughout the region to Assistance from the U.S. military police can provide help train equivalent personnel in Oceania. This would expertise and residential knowledge to the PICTs on enable island countries to conduct their own internal policing techniques needed for daily and emergency assessments of their infrastructure, and request recovery circumstances. Immediately after a natural disaster while assets from the United States, Australia, and New awaiting for sea and air lines of communication to be Zealand when they lack the ability to recover themselves. reopened, riot and resource control would be instrumental to maintain law and order, good governance, and Law Enforcement creditability to the local government. In most incidents, The establishment and enforcement of a system of civil unrest due to lack of basic necessities could have laws is one of the foundational principles of a functioning the potential to overwhelm the local police force.15 An society: without law and order, there can be no social increase of capabilities from the U.S. and its allies and progress.11 The Oceania countries are limited in their partners can offer reassurance and confidence to the local capabilities, and challenged by the vast amount of government for a speedy recovery. USINDOPACOM’s sovereign territory and exclusive economic zones they military police can provide ground reconnaissance and must patrol. The effective enforcement of the rule of assessment of the situation, which in turn reestablishes law, and maintaining order, in the region would provide the U.S. and its allies and partners as a credible partner of credibility for Oceania governments, and reassurance choice. for Oceania people.12 The deployment of U.S. military Furthermore, in order to achieve a sustainable strategy police – trained in law enforcement procedures including PICTs, relationships among security forces, deterrence routine policing and emergency response activities of illegal fishing and protection of key critical bio- like riot control, detainee operations, and resource productive assets within the PICTs EEZ could reiterate control – would help the Oceania nations reach this USINDOPACOM’s message of pro-rule of law and objective. Military Police assistance with the local law international norms. Utilizing the U.S. Coast Guard to enforcement also stipulates a non-combatant rhetoric that combat illegal fishing and piracy could bring reassurance

46 LIAISON Volume 11, Issue 2 Center for Excellence in Disaster Management & Humanitarian Assistance 47 Immediately after a natural disaster while awaiting for sea and air lines of communication to be reopened, riot and resource control would be instrumental to maintain law and order, good governance, and credibility of the local government. In most incidents, civil unrest due to lack of basic necessities could have the potential to overwhelm the local police force. Marines stand in a crowd control formation Dec. 18 during nonlethal weapons and riot control training at Central Training Area. During this training Marines learned different formations to control crowds or defend a position such as an embassy from rioters. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. William Hester and commitment to PICTs without a combative image and partners will be a resident power in the Pacific for to PRC. Currently, COFAs exist with the Federated years to come. States of Micronesia, Republic of Marshall Islands and Republic of Palau. Expansion of coastal water protection Recommendation would require a tremendous amount of resources USINDOPACOM should form humanitarian and from the U.S. However, maritime law enforcement civic assistance task forces (HCATF) that leverage training, education, and exchange programs could pay existing U.S. military capabilities and institutional dividends in USINDOPACOM long-term strategic knowledge. HCAFT is a coordination and enabling policy.16 Equipment can be donated or sourced by a task force that can rapidly deploy to the pacific to multiple of U.S. allies and partners in the Pacific Region. assist the host nation on disaster management. HCATF Australia and New Zealand have been spearheading and will employ medical teams, engineering experts, and committing resources. Expanding the U.S. Coast Guard’s law enforcement professionals to assist partners with professional education and training to PICTs can enhance understanding and implementing the best practices to interoperability. Additionally, U.S., Australia, France, care for their citizens after natural disasters, namely and New Zealand’s coast guard can rotationally provide providing medical treatment, repairing and developing additional maritime law enforcement to the region, both key infrastructure, and consistently enforcing the rule signaling to PICTs of U.S. reliability, reassurance, and of law. While nations in this region do not readily commitment to the region to remain as the partner of possess the capacity to perform these functions across choice, and signaling to the PRC that U.S. and its allies their sovereign territory, USINDOPACOM can develop

Center for Excellence in Disaster Management & Humanitarian Assistance 47 and enhance their pre-existing capabilities to ensure the Republic of the Marshall Islands [RMI]), and another an effective response to, and management of, the focused on key partner nations in the South Pacific, increasingly negative impacts of climate change. The to provide localized, responsive capacity building HCATF must also include joint and interagency partners, assistance. such as the U.S. Coast Guard, the U.S. Navy, the U.S. Ultimately, USINDOPACOM cannot conduct Department of the Interior, and USAID, to synergize this alone – U.S. must partner with our traditional both U.S. and Oceanic governmental functions for the Quadrilateral Defense Coordination Group partners collective protection against potential contingencies. (Australia, New Zealand, and France), to fully integrate Lastly, a recommendation is to establish two HCATFs: allied efforts in the region. Each HCATF will provide one focused on COFA states (the Republic of Palau a single, local touch point to better integrate U.S. lines [ROP], the Federated States of Micronesia [FSM], and of effort with partner efforts in the region maintaining

Utilizing the U.S. Coast Guard to counter illegal fishing and piracy could bring reassurance and commitment to PICTs without a combative image to PRC. The crews of the USCGC Stratton (WMSL 752) and the RKS Teanoai (301) conducted a training exchange in the Pacific Ocean, Nov. 7, 2019. The two crews rendezvoused at sea and conducted maneuvers and helicopter training. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Chief Petty Officer Sara Muir our position as the partner of choice in the region. 3 https://www.cdc.gov/chronicdisease/pdf/factsheets/island-health-H.pdf Climate change represents the single greatest threat 4 Ibid. to the livelihood of Pacific Islanders and these effects 5 https://journalofethics.ama-assn.org/article/telemedicine-innovation- pose an enormous threat to the livelihoods of Pacific has-outpaced-policy/2014-12 Islanders. For most Oceania nations, a major portion of 6 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3689460/ the GDP is derived from fishing, and changes to a highly 7 Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat. (2018, September 6). Forty Ninth biological productive region will have a detrimental Pacific Islands Forum Communique. Retrieved from https://www. un.org/humansecurity/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/49th-Pacific- effect to these nations. USINDOPACOM can provide Islands-Forum-Communiqué.pdf security that will synthesize PICTs security forces and 8 Kumar, Lalit and Taylor, Subhashni. (2015, July 6). Exposure of Coastal Built Assets in the South Pacific to Climate Risks. Retrieved NGOs efforts to enhance the PICTs long-term resiliency from https://www.nature.com/articles/nclimate2702 to natural disasters and climate change. Building on 9 New Zealand Ministry of Defense. (2018, July). Strategic Defense our allies and partners' shared security objectives and Policy Statement. Retrieved from http://www.nzdf.mil.nz/downloads/ pdf/public-docs/2018/strategic-defence-policy-statement-2018.pdf leveraging U.S. soft power vehicles such as credible 10 Genmenne, Alex, and Baillat. (2019, May). Implications of Climate force, advocacy for climate change, and reassurance Change on Defense and Security in the South Pacific by 2030. Retrieved From https://www.defense.gouv.fr/content/download/558233/9668077/ of allies and partners can provide a network of various OBS_Climat%20et%20défense_201905-RE-Implications%20of%20 capabilities. USINDOPACOM can leverage its strengths Climate%20Change%20in%20the%20South%20Pacific%20by%20 2030%20-%20SPDMM%20Report.pdf by enhancing host nations’ capabilities by providing 11 Mahoney, P. (2001). The common law and economic growth: Hayek medical expertise, assessment and development of key might be right. The Journal of Legal Studies: University of Chicago infrastructure and enhancing law enforcement capabilities 12 Ibid., 32. and reiterating a Free and Open Indo-Pacific for pro- 13 Department of State. “U.S. Engagement in the Pacific.” US Depart- growth, pro-sustainability, and pro-freedom. ment of State, DOS, 3 Sept. 18AD, https://www.state.gov/u-s-engage- ment-in-the-pacific/. NOTES 14 Edel, Charles. “How to Counter China’s Influence in the South Pa- cific.” Foreign Affairs, 13 Nov. 18AD. 1Westerman, A. (2019, October 5). We Need Support': Pacific Islands Seek Help And Unity To Fight Climate Change. NPR. 15 Naval War College Review. ENGAGING OCEANIA. Vol. 63, Naval War College Review, Winter 2010. 2 Sanders, R. (18AD, February 20). Pacific Missile Tracking Site Could Be Unusable in 20 Years Due to Climate Change. Pacific Missile Track- 16 Department of Defense. THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE Indo- ing Site Could Be Unusable in 20 Years Due to Climate Change. Pacific Strategy Report 1 June 19. Department of Defense, 2019.

Center for Excellence in Disaster Management & Humanitarian Assistance 49 Tropic Cyclone Pam hit Vanuatu, March 13, 2015. Courtesy photo Essential National and International Coordination In Pursuit of Local Strengthening in the Pacific By Aleyda Valdes

n the night of March 13, 2015, tropical One year later, in February 2016, tropical cyclone cyclone (TC) Pam hit Vanuatu, a country (TC) Winston, a category 5 storm, caused major Omade up of over 80 islands in the Pacific. It devastation in Fiji. The cyclone was one of the most is estimated that around 190,000 people were affected severe that has ever hit the South Pacific in recent times. by the cyclone, which in its initial course also affected It affected 40 percent of the total population of the Kiribati and Tuvalu. country.

50 LIAISON Volume 11, Issue 2 The island countries of humanitarian actors have better specific knowledge of the Pacific live in a state the country context including the legal frameworks in of constant exposure to place. Often the experts do not have this information, other natural disasters or the countries themselves do not use their emergency such as floods, droughts, regulations or do not have them sufficiently documented earthquakes, tsunamis, and or rehearsed. volcanic eruptions. These internal reviews have favoured changes in the Following Winston, way of acting during emergencies. The international some other disasters that community seeks to ensure that deployments of experts Pacific communities to disaster zones are coordinated to the maximum with have suffered from, are: the governments they intend to support, promoting a severe drought in the above all the participation of South–South cooperation. Marshall Islands (April In other words, that experts from the Pacific be the first 2016), the earthquake in to participate in these actions. It is considered that Flash Makira, Solomon Islands Appeals or international calls for help should be led (December 2016), tropical by national and local governments with international cyclone Donna affecting support. Coordination mechanisms must be set up Vanuatu (May 2017), through existing structures and without imposing external tropical cyclone Gita models (cluster systems), except in the case of strict need striking Tonga (February or request. 2018), the volcanic Moreover, local governments seek greater eruption of Ambae professionalism and have sought international help for inVanuatu (April, 2018), training in information management, in more effective and tropical cyclone Keni, early warnings that permit more effective assessment hitting Fiji (April 2018). when necessary. Governments have created treaties and In all of these cases, it has been shown that the first to common legal frameworks, such as the Framework for respond and provide help are always the local authorities, Resilient Development in the Pacific: An Integrated to a greater or lesser extent, depending on the magnitude Approach to Address Climate Change and Disaster of the disaster and organisational capabilities, to address Risk Management, which is a regional framework the urgent needs of the population. The response begins that provides high-level strategic guidance to different from the first 24 hours up to the first month with what stakeholder groups on how to enhance resilience to is typically the life-saving and immediate relief phase of climate change and disasters. humanitarian response. One of the key actions is to support governments These recent disasters in the Pacific have been of through long-term capacity building, establish specific great learning value for the international community, to links between development, humanitarian action, reflect on how to improve communication relationships and early recovery. Among the critical sectors is the and coordination with local authorities, both prior to and compilation, analysis and sharing of information so during any emergencies. decision-makers are informed during a disaster response. Many discussions have been held within and between As well as allow better targeting of activities where regional and international organisations in the Pacific they are most needed, support the distribution of aid in about reaching the affected communities in the first hours accordance with humanitarian principles, support early following a disaster and how to ensure international warning systems, and strategic disaster management.

Center for Excellence in Disaster Management & Humanitarian Assistance 51 The Country Preparedness Package1 to describe the gaps in information, in training, and One of the structures in the Pacific devoted to also the need to improve the contingency plans. Above humanitarian action and that most conducted reviews of all it offers the opportunity to affected countries to its actions was the Pacific Humanitarian Team (PHT),2 understand the international services available to them in a network of around 15 humanitarian organizations (UN a coordinated, comprehensive and more effective way. agencies, IFRC, and international NGOs) that work The goal of the CPP is to strengthen national together to assist the Pacific island countries to prepare management of emergencies and discuss the joint for and respond to disasters. implementation of the international actors and In 2016, the PHT created an initiative called the governments of the humanitarian response, especially Country Preparedness Package (CPP), which had as its from the vital 24 hours following an emergency up to one mission the strengthening of support for countries in month. preparation in an inclusive way. Through the compiling The key is direct recognition of the systems of of information and dialogue with the countries, the CPP disaster management in each country, the local sectoral to documents the systems in force, the national structures capabilities, the gaps and the needs. At the same time, for disaster management that exists and the relevant the process has been an opportunity for the international country-specific information related to the disaster community to be able to explain itself better before management and humanitarian assistance structures. governments regarding how to activate coordination The CPP is a strategy for agreeing with governments, mechanisms and the request for international help, through a consultation process with all the state through strengthening the capabilities that the current organisations that take part in the humanitarian response governments of the Pacific possess. and early recovery, to develop of a set of documents For the strategy, the basis taken was the Emergency that describe the national structures that exist and how Response Preparedness (ERP)3 guide prepared by the they interact at the time of an emergency. Minimum Inter-Agency Standing Committee, which includes risk agreements are also verified and clarified for using analysis, minimum preparation actions and advanced international support in the response to disasters in a actions, as well as contingency plans. sectoral manner. Thus, national and international actors From 2016 to 2018, these processes took place in would articulate a focus and specific strategies for each coordination with the Pacific Governments, in the country to respond to disasters. Marshall Islands4 supported by the United Nations The documentation and consultation process in each Development Programme, Disaster Resilience for country, which lasts for around six months, also helps Pacific Small Island Developing States,5 United Nations

52 LIAISON Volume 11, Issue 29 Director of Tuvalu Meteorology Service Taula Katea demonstrates how he uses the "Chatty Beetle" to communicate from the Capital of Tuvalu, Funafuti, to the outer islands to warn people of potential disasters. Photo by Aleyda Valdes, OCHA Pacific

Population Fund, and United Nations Office for the it has been demonstrated that a major need exists for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), in coordination between governments, civil society, and the Vanuatu6 supported by United Nations International international community to face the challenges imposed Children's Emergency Fund and OCHA and the Cook by natural disasters, other emergencies, and climate Islands7 supported by UNDP (RESPAC Project),8 and change. OCHA. Currently, two more CPPs are being produced Notes with the support of UNDP (RESPAC Project) and OCHA Pacific, which includes Fiji and Tuvalu. 1 https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/CPP%20meth- odology%20infographic.pdf The results produced a document with all the 2 https://www.etcluster.org/sites/default/files/documents/PHT_Book- information available on the systems, structures and let_Sept2017.pdf capacity for disaster management that exist in the 3 https://www.humanitarianresponse.info/en/coordination/prepared- specified country and lists support mechanisms and ness/document/iasc-erp-approach-glance organisations available to them through coordinated 4 https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/RMI%20 Country%20Preparedness%20Package%20Booklet%20HRv1%20 support from the PHT and humanitarian agencies in the web_Part%202.pdf region that are not members of the PHT. It also serves 5 https://www.pacific.undp.org/content/pacific/en/home/operations/ as an information package for national and international projects/resilience-sustainable-development/respac-project.html personnel during an emergency deployment. 6 https://reliefweb.int/report/vanuatu/vanuatu-country-preparedness- package The covered countries were chosen based on their 7 https://reliefweb.int/report/cook-islands/cook-islands-country-pre- disaster risk, the level of international agencies’ presence paredness-package and requests from governments. 8 https://www.pacific.undp.org/content/pacific/en/home/operations/ The CPP is just one of a range of initiatives, but projects/resilience-sustainable-development/respac-project.html

Center for Excellence in Disaster Management & Humanitarian Assistance 53 U.S. Navy Rear Adm. Louis Tripoli, command surgeon for the United States Indo-Pacific Command greets Health Emergencies in Large Populations (H.E.L.P.) course participants Sept. 12, 2019 at the Hale Koa Hotel in Honolulu, Hawaii. H.E.L.P is hosted by Center for Excellence in Disaster Management and Humanitarian Assistance in collaboration with the International Committee of the Red Cross and the University of Hawai’i Office of Public Health Studies. The training is designed to provide participants with an understanding of the major public health issues and decision-making skills necessary to effectively plan for and respond to the needs of populations affected by humanitarian crises. U.S. Navy photo by Theanne Herrmann Global Health Security Leaders Unite to Develop Robust, Resilient Healthcare Capability By Robin Peak

.S. Indo-Pacific Command for enhancing the international community’s ability to (USINDOPACOM) Surgeon, Rear Adm. respond more efficiently and effectively to future adverse ULouis C. Tripoli, spoke at the Global Health health crises. Security Conference in Sydney, Australia June 19. “The United States’ military medical partnerships, The conference brought together practitioners, such as the strong relationship with the Australian researchers, educators and decision-makers across the Defence Forces, form the foundation for training in fields of public health, medicine, veterinary science, global health, military medicine, and humanitarian agriculture, government, defense, international relations, assistance and disaster relief,” said Tripoli. sociology and anthropology. These leaders came together Tripoli highlighted USINDOPACOM’s commitment to examine the progress made to date in strengthening to working with all nations, particularly those of Oceania, health systems and to identify the gaps and opportunities to develop and strengthen a robust and resilient capability

54 LIAISON Volume 11, Issue 2 to prevent, detect, and respond to health security “In a deliberate, threats, as well as prepare for, mitigate and respond to humanitarian crises and natural disasters. sustainable and “In a deliberate, sustainable and transparent way, we transparent way, we are committed not only to delivering enhanced medical capabilities to the vital region of Oceania,” said Tripoli, are committed not only “but also to finding ways that allow Pacific Island nations to develop self-reliability and self-determination in the to delivering enhanced delivery of healthcare and the promotion of health for their people.” medical capabilities In addition to attending the conference, Tripoli recently participated in CFE's Health and Humanitarian to the vital region of Actions in Emergencies Course, visited the Australian Oceania but also to Defence Force Malaria and Infectious Disease Institute, attended the World Health Organization event “Scaling finding ways that allow Up Country Health Emergency Preparedness” and co- hosted the Military Health Security Summit with the Pacific Island nations to Australian Defence Force. “The people of the Indo-Pacific face rising health develop self-reliability challenges at a time when resources are insufficient to meet them, which threatens the stability of the region and self-determination and its biosecurity,” said Tripoli. “USINDOPACOM is in the delivery of working with our allies and partners and the whole of the U.S. government to find sustainable solutions to these healthcare and the challenges.” USINDOPACOM protects and defends, in concert promotion of health for with other U.S. Government agencies, the territory of the United States, its people, and its interests. With allies and their people.” partners, USINDOPACOM is committed to enhancing - U.S. Navy Rear Adm. Louis C. Tripoli stability in the Indo-Pacific region by promoting security USINDOPACOM Surgeon cooperation, encouraging peaceful development, responding to contingencies, deterring aggression, and, when necessary, fighting to win. This approach is based on partnership, presence, and military readiness.

U.S. Indo-Pacific Command Surgeon, Rear Adm. Louis C. Tripoli, speaks at the Global Health Security Conference in Sydney, Australia June 19, 2019. Courtesy Photo

Center for Excellence in Disaster Management & Humanitarian Assistance 55 Teaching at CFE-DM Course in Cairns, Australia Dr. Ryan Presents Ways to Expand Public Health Emergency Response Capability By Dr. Benjamin Ryan Photos by Roderick Macalintal

aniel K. Inouye Asia-Pacific Center for Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015- Security Studies’ (DKI APCSS) Dr. Ben 2030 (Sendai Framework), and the need to integrate the DRyan supported the Health and Humanitarian private sector into international humanitarian assistance Action in Emergencies (HHAE) Course delivered by and disaster relief (HADR). the Center for Excellence in Disaster Management and The session on NCDs included discussion about the Humanitarian Assistance (CFE-DM) June 11-12. need to expand the focus of HADR activities beyond Dr. Ryan presented on non-communicable disease immediate trauma and communicable diseases to include (NCD) control and prevention in humanitarian crises, the NCD management. Dr. Ryan described how NCDs

56 LIAISON Volume 11, Issue 2 generate the bulk of ill health, disability and premature whole-of-society strategies for mitigating the impact of Teaching at CFE-DM Course death across the globe with almost three quarters of disasters and complex emergencies. Dr. Ryan highlighted all NCD related mortality occurring in low and middle that while the use of the military in such situations Dr. Ryan Presents Ways to Expand Public Health Emergency Response Capability income countries. People at greatest risk are those is standard practice in the Indo-Pacific, the powerful with cancer, cardiovascular conditions, diabetes, renal and well-resourced private sector remains untapped. diseases, and respiratory diseases. Participants were Participants discussed how and why the private sector provided with a comprehensive understanding of this should be involved in international HADR; this included challenge and had the opportunity to explore strategies exploring enablers and inhibitors. The session concluded for reducing indirect mortality and morbidity from with a proposal that involvement of the private sector NCDs before, during, and after a disaster and in complex represents a vital next step in the evolution of HADR. emergencies such as conflict zones. HHAE was hosted by James Cook University in Dr. Ryan’s presentation on the Sendai Framework Cairns, Australia, from June 3-14. The course included explored how the health and government sectors could presenters from the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, James support implementation. It included an overview Cook University, Australian Red Cross, RedR, and the of global disaster trends, evolution of the Sendai Pacific Community. Participants were from across the Framework, the intersection with health and strategies for Pacific with representatives from Ministries of Health, enhancing resilience. Participants explored and discussed Ministries of Defense, National Disaster Management how the Sendai Framework is being implemented at Organizations, Pacific Community, and Fiji National local, national, and regional levels along with strategies University. for enhancing resilience across the health sector in low, This was the second edition of HHAE, with the first middle, and high-income countries. held in December 2017. There are early plans in-place for The session on the role of the private sector in HADR the next edition of the course to be held in Fiji. discussed how a significant opportunity exists to develop

Center for Excellence in Disaster Management & Humanitarian Assistance 57 BE PREPARED DISASTERS HAPPEN A Statistical Foundation for Risk Management By U.S. Air Force Capt. Kalyn Howard and Capt. Carl Zunker

hey knew what to do when the floods came; they’ve Tbeen there before. Natural disasters have often followed a predictable pattern. Communities have a general sense of the time of year, the vulnerable locations, the major warning signs and what they have always done in response. Ideally, this knowledge is formalized at the local, regional or national level, informed by the local best practices as well as new technology and global trends. In Fiji, for example, the National Disaster Management Office was able to target a known tsunami hazard zone for preparation and education efforts. This included a tsunami drill for five schools which succeeded in familiarizing students, facilitators, and officials with the evacuation process, while also testing a mobile application allowing real-time exchange of information.1 A tsunami drill for five schools with 3,422 participants in Suva, Fiji. Nov. 5, 2019. Photo by UNDP in the Pacific & PNG

We know that natural disasters are becoming more common, more severe, more complex, and that they may break away from these established patterns. Organizations need to be able to plan to meet this challenge – but where to begin? Transnational agreements, policies, and development guidelines can provide guidance for focusing these efforts. The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Teachers at Marist Champagnat Institute, in Fiji, register on the geoBing app Nov. 5, 2019. guideline for disaster risk assessment, Photo by UNDP in the Pacific & PNG for example, outlines a seven-step process for assessing, evaluating, and mitigating risk.2 community by establishing a strong foundation of However, this process is continuous; it is critical to statistics to inform preparation and mitigation efforts. update our knowledge of disaster risks and vulnerable Knowledge of the risk types, frequency, and potential locations as the global climate evolves. impacts can inform efforts to robust community supply This study presents some preliminary statistical results chains, enabling a faster response and supply chain in support of this risk management culture, intended recovery. This is key to restoring the local economy in to aid this discussion within the Pacific humanitarian affected areas.

Center for Excellence in Disaster Management & Humanitarian Assistance 59 Research Question: For the various sub- Minimums are not included, because unknown values regions of Oceania, which natural disasters are are also coded as zero in this database, making the most prevalent and most severe? statistic unreliable; maximums are included, but may be similarly misleading, as these data are approximated due Data to conflicting reports and difficulty in data collection. The Center for Research on the Epidemiology of While the specific values associated with a disaster can Disasters (CRED) emergency events database, “EM- vary wildly, the sample mean provides a good long-run DAT,” serves the purposes of informing humanitarian average for what could be expected from any generic action at national and international levels. The database natural disaster in the region. contains entries from over 22,000 disasters, worldwide, Of course, we know that this sample mean does not from 1900 to present day, from a variety of sources.3 tell the full story. Some natural disasters are smaller As of February 2019, the database had recorded a total or larger in scale than others or the disaster may affect of 649 natural disasters in the region of Oceania since a more densely populated area. The different types of 1914. The impact totals of these disasters are displayed natural disasters also pose different risks, discussed here in Table 1. in terms of these negative disaster outcomes. To examine this further, we look at specific sub-regions. 12,364 Deaths Highlight: Melanesia 11,569 Injuries The EM-DAT database includes 195 natural disasters, spanning 1930 to 2018, affecting this sub-region of 25,414,738 Affected Oceania, specifically the countries of Fiji, Vanuatu, the Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea, and New 469,866 Homeless Caledonia. First, we examined the conditional probabilities; 89,351,608 Damage (USD) meaning, the probability that one event (a negative Table 1: Summary of Negative Disaster Outcomes in disaster outcome) will occur, given that another event (a Oceania, 1914 - February 2019 specific type of natural disaster) has already occurred. This showed that natural disasters in Melanesia Analysis have caused 67% of the region’s natural disaster- An initial look at the data includes examination of related homeless, with 55% of those resulting from the sample mean and the range of values is shown in meteorological disasters (e.g., storms). Meteorological Table 2. disasters also caused the most injuries and monetary

Deaths Injuries Affected Homeless Damage (USD) Mean 19 18 39,220 725 137,888 Max 3,000 2,000 7,000,000 60,000 18,000,000

Table 2: Sample Mean and Maximum Values of disaster impacts in Oceania, 1914 - February 2019.

60 LIAISON Volume 11, Issue 2 damage in Melanesia, and the second highest number of Highlight: Polynesia natural disaster-related deaths. From 1914 to 2018, 80 natural disasters occurred Conditional probabilities also showed that Melanesia in Polynesia. The countries impacted were Samoa, has experienced the highest amount of natural disaster- American Samoa, the Cook Islands, French Polynesia, related deaths in Oceania (70% of the total), and that 60% Niue, Tokelau, Tonga, Tuvalu, and Wallis and Futuna. of these deaths occurred as a result of geophysical natural The data showed that in Polynesia, meteorological disaster, such as earthquakes and volcanic activity. This disasters caused the most deaths, injuries, affected, is mainly the result of two natural disasters in Papua homeless, and monetary damage. An outlier was New Guinea, the 1951 volcano and the 1998 earthquake/ prominent in this sub-sample as well, as our results tsunami. Removing these two outliers from the sample showed that meteorological disasters caused more returns Melanesia to risk levels comparable to the rest injuries than expected. This was due to a tropical cyclone of Oceania. This indicates that emergency planners that hit the Cook Islands in 1997, which accounted for and humanitarian practitioners should emphasize 91% of the injuries. preparedness for large-scale geophysical disasters in Papua New Guinea. Conclusion The historical record preserved in this database Highlight: Micronesia presented a unique opportunity to examine regional This sub-sample consists of 34 natural disasters trends using a few different statistical tools. Analysis from 1962 to 2019 impacting the Federated States of of these most common and most severe natural hazards Micronesia as well as Guam, Kiribati, the Marshall provides organizations and planners with unique insights Islands, the Northern Mariana Islands, and Palau. for focusing regional disaster risk reduction efforts. We For analysis of this sub-region, the data was skewed can never know when the next natural disaster will hit or by some prominent outliers. The specific cases were where, but we know that the proactive identification and identified by comparing the conditional probabilities with analysis of risks, supports the building of local capability Pearson’s residuals. When the two statistics disagree, and a faster and more effective response.4 this indicates the outcomes were from a natural disaster outside of the range of what we should expect. This could NOTES be for a variety of reasons, to include infrastructure, 1 “Tsunami ready: Students test preparedness plan” (2018). United preparedness, topographical factors or many other Nations Development Programme - Pacific Centre. Accessed 25 October 2019 at http://preventionweb.net/go/61239. variables which could make a natural disaster more 2 “Disaster Risk Assessment” (2010, October). United Nations Develop- severe for one location than another. ment Programme, Bureau for Crisis Prevention and Recovery. New This analysis showed that in Micronesia, York, NY. meteorological disasters caused the most deaths, injuries, 3 EM-DAT: The Emergency Events Database - Université catholique de Louvain (UCL) - CRED, D. Guha-Sapir, Brussels, Belgium. Accessed 11 homeless, and monetary damage, and the second February 2019 at www.emdat.be. highest number of affected people (after climatological 4 Kurniawan, R., Zailani, S.H., Iranmanesh, M., and Rajagopal, P. disasters). The disagreement was caused by two major (2017). The effects of vulnerability mitigation strategies on supply chain effectiveness: risk culture as moderator, Supply Chain Management: climatological outliers, droughts affecting one million An International Journal 22(1), 1-15, https://doi.org/10.1108/SCM-12- people in FSM in 2016 and 84,000 people in Kiribati in 2015-0482 1999. This was well over the sub-sample mean (8058 people affected), indicating that droughts in Micronesia, though less frequent, are also worthy of increased attention and preparation.

Center for Excellence in Disaster Management & Humanitarian Assistance 61 Calendar of Events January - June 2020 9 10 11

NATO 8 1 HART Course Jan. 14-17 12 Italy

U.S. Army Africa 2 HART Course Jan. 21-23 Germany

UNOCHA 3 Humanitarian Network and Partnership Week Feb. 3-7 Switzerland

Cope North 4 Training Exercise Feb. 13-28 Guam

Cobra Gold Tempest Express 36 5 HADR Exercise 7 Training Exercise Feb. 24-27 March 3-14 Thailand Mongolia

6 III MEF SOUTHCOM HART Course 8 HART Course Feb. 24-28 April 1-2 Japan Miami, Florida

62 LIAISON Volume 11, Issue 2 2 3 7 1 6

5 4

Marine Corps University Marine Corps University 9 Foreign Disaster Relief Module 11 Support for Pacific Challenge April 7 April 27 - May 1 Quantico, Virginia Quantico, Virginia

10 Marine Corps University CFE-DM School of Advanced Warfighting 12 USINDOPACOM HART Course April 24 June 2-5 Quantico, Virginia Honolulu, Hawaii

Center for Excellence in Disaster Management & Humanitarian Assistance 63 Connect with us! Facebook and Twitter @cfedmha

Center for Excellence in Disaster Management & Humanitarian Assistance 456 Hornet Avenue • JBPHH, HI 96860-3503 • CFE.DMHA.FCT @ NAVY.MIL (808) 472-0518 • (315) 472-0518 [DSN] www.CFE-DMHA.org Photo by Mr. Lorenzo Moscia