UNHCR ~ Working with the military ~

1. UNHCR ~ Working with the military ~

2. What is UNHCR? UN refugee agency mandated to lead and coordinate international action for the world-wide protection of refugees and the resolution of refugee problems • Established on 14 December, 1950 by the UN General Assembly • Mandate extended every 5 years • High Commissioner reports to the UN General Assembly through the Economic and Social Council

3. Basic facts • Staffing: 5,000 persons • Geographical presence: over 120 countries • Benficiaries: 20.6 million persons (Asia: 9.3 mill. Europe: 4.4 mill. Africa: 4.5 mill. N. America: 1 mill. L. America & Caribbean 1 mill. Oceania 0.7 mill) • Budget: USD 1 billion annual Almost entirely by voluntary contribution from governments. Less than 2% received from UN regular budget for admin. costs

4. Who are “people of concern” to UNHCR? Refugees: People who have entered another state because of a well founded fear of persecution based on their race, religion, nationality, political opinion or membership in a particula social group or (in the case of Africa & L. America) fleeing war/serious public disorder Returnees: Refugees who have returned home Others who may be of concern: • Internally displaced people (under certain conditions) • Stateless persons

5. International protection in practice • Ensuring respect for a refugees’ basic human rights • Ensuring no person will be returned involuntarily to a country where s/he has a reason to fear persecution (principle of non-refoulement) • Promote and monitor implementation of international refugee law/ agreements • Seek durable solution either through repatriation, local integration, or resettlement • Provide basic needs (shelter, food, water, sanitation and medical care etc)

6. WORKING WITH THE MILITARY Based on: Working with the Military (1995) A UNHCR Handbook for the Military on Humanitarian Operations (1995) UNHCR Handbook on Emergencies, 2nd Edition Working with the Military: A Field Guide for UNHCR Staff (2003)

7. Working with the military~ Debate within UNHCR ~ • Involvement of the military may compromise the security of the beneficiaries and UNHCR staff – eg: delivering assistance with military vehicle/ armed escorts to one group in a conflict area may cause resentment on the others who are not receiving same assistance • Safety and security of UNHCR staff/ partner agencies depend upon the perception among the local community – eg: how are the different military forces perceived by the population • Possibility of being drawn into the political dimension of the conflict

8. The 3 Humanitarian Principles Humanity Human suffering should be relieved wherever it is found. Impartiality Humanitarian assistance should be provided to those in need. Neutrality Humanitarian relief should be provided without bias and humanitarian actors must not allow themselves to become allied with a party to the conflict

9. STANDARDS of ACCOUNTABILITY to the COMMUNITY and BENEFICIARIES for ALL HUMANITARIAN & DEVELOPMENT WORKERS in SIERRA LEONE When working with beneficiaries of humanitarian & development assistance in Sierra Leone we must conduct ourselves in a manner befitting such a responsibility. Humanitarian & development workers must: • promote fundamental human rights without discrimination of any kind and irrespective of sex, race, age, ethnicity, religion or political affiliation. • treat all persons with respect, courtesy, and according to Sierra Leonean law, international law and local customs. • never commit any act that could result in physical, sexual or psychological harm or suffering to individuals, especially women and children. • never condone or participate in corrupt activities or participate in the trafficking of children, drugs, diamond dealing and the trading of arms. • never abuse their position to withhold humanitarian and development assistance, nor give preferential treatment, in order to solicit sexual favours, gifts, payments of any kind, or advantage. • ensure that all confidential information, including reports of breaches of these standards by colleagues, obtained from beneficiaries or colleagues is channeled correctly & handled with utmost discretion. • ensure that reports of breaches of these standards are immediately reported to the head of agency or human resources manager who are expected to take prompt investigative action. • uphold the highest standards of efficiency, competence, integrity and transparency.

10. Bottom line for the humanitarian agencies The humanitarian agencies: • reserve the term “humanitarian” for humanitarian agencies’ work • advocate for humanitarian work to be done by humanitarian agencies • plan and appeal for humanitarian work to be done by humanitarian agencies • guard their acquired, assumed or mandated role = “humanitarian space” each agencies may differ in the strictness of interpretation, which can lead to different operational procedures

11. UNHCR’s cooperation with “various military” • National military – response to the influx of refugees within their national borders, provision of camp security, protection to relief convoys/ offices/ warehouses • UN/ Regional Peacekeepers – interaction varies from mission to mission. • Peace enforcement missions – In exceptional situations, for security and support to the delivery of humanitarian assistance, when there is breakdown of consent. • Non state actors – maintain contact and exchange information to ensure access to beneficiaries and to secure the safety of staff, beneficiaries and UNHCR assets and operations.

12. Border security screening

13. International Military Support for UNHCR Operations~ scenario ~ • Where law and order are lacking and humanitarian activities are carried out in an insecure environment, peacekeepers or other international armed forces may be mandated by the Security Council to ensure the secure delivery of assistance to the victims of conflict • Military resources may be used to augment the capacity of UNHCR to implement the High Commissioner’s mandate

14. Expectation in the cooperation with the international military • Provide a safe working environment • Provide freedom of movement • Have a healthy level of information sharing • Humanitarian support tasks including providing heavy equipment it may lead to disappointments & misunderstanding at the initial phase of military deployment due to different priorities

15. Role of the military in humanitarian assistance • Physical protection of beneficiaries • usually carried out by the national police, • some cases by national army or international military or civilian police force • Physical protection of UNHCR staff • National army/ police has the responsibilities to protect UN Staff. • International peacekeeping/ enforcement bodies may be mandated to provide security, evacuation assistance to staff, medical treatment, training in areas such as mine awareness.

16. Protection of Humanitarian Operations • ensuring freedom of movement, • ensuring security for humanitarian workers, refugees and local population, • providing security of supply and transit routes, • clearing mines, • opening roads, waterways, airspace, • securing warehouses and humanitarian delivery sites, • securing offices, residential area, essential infrastructure, public service, • escorting humanitarian aid convoys etc

17. Operational support to UNHCR • Providing logistical support, inc. airlift (last resort,through Government Service Packages) • Liaising with other military forces and authorities • Providing information on the affected population and security situation • Engineering support for maintenance of essential utilities • Providing available equipment/ infrastructure • Providing human resources including engineers, planners, security/ training officers • Escorting UNHCR convoys • As a general rule, UNHCR convoys travel without military or police escorts • Exceptions: esp. when there is a lack/ failure of consent by the warring parties involved

18. Best practices DSRSG as Humanitarian Coordinator Benchmarks for safety in returnee areas UNHCR/UNAMSIL joint missions in RUF areas Cooperation in range of areas (e.g. logistics, human rights) Areas for improvement Need for training re UN standards to reach all peacekeepers SGBV problems/ inappropriate response Sidelining of UNAMSIL Human Rights Section by military Need for deeper UNAMSIL involvement in internment issues = ensuring civilian character of refugee camps Cooperation with UNAMSIL in Sierra Leone

19. Achievements 2002 Dabola N Sembakounya 1. Continued facilitated return TC Mambia 2. Opened new routes for return 56,000 voluntary repatriations. Telikoro Albadaria Kountaya Boreah CONAKRY Kambia Kissidougou 3. + 42,000 from host communities / temp. settlements WS H Loko Massama Kono 4. Reintegration activities in areas of return FREETOWN Jui Kailahun TC TC Lumpa Taiama 5. Emergency assistance to Liberian refugees, transport from border (up to 45,000) TC TS WS Waterloo Gerihun Daru Jembe TS TS Kenema Bo WS 6. Construction of new camps / Conversion of returnee sites Bandajuma TS H 7. Preservation of the civilian nature of camps Barri WS Zimmi Sinje II 8. Establishment of GBV response systems Sinje I Zuannah VOA Samukai Banjor TC Monrovia MONROVIA

20. Thank you! Any questions? www.unhcr.ch