UN and humanitarian agencies are preparing to provide assistance in the event of Y2K emergencies

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-- Linkmeister (link@librarian.edu), October 27, 1999

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26 October 1999

UN and Humanitarian Agencies Ready For Y2K

By Michael S. Schechter

Washington File Staff Writer

Washington - Disaster relief teams and aid organizations are preparing to provide humanitarian assistance in the event of Y2K emergencies. Trouble spots could develop around the world on or near January 1, 2000 if services reliant on computer technology are disrupted.

In the event of calamities, many humanitarian organizations mobilize emergency response units to provide relief and assistance, typically available anywhere on the globe within 24 to 48 hours. Establishing Y2K readiness for these units is a top priority for aid organizations.

The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), and Catholic Relief Services each support their own emergency response units. All three organizations told the Washington File their teams are ready for the Year 2000 date change. This includes sustaining relief programs already in progress and responding to any newly developing situations around January 1, 2000.

"We want to ensure continuation of the 25 or so relief operations, but we're in good shape to deploy the stand-by assets we have," Lance Clark, Chief of the OCHA Information Management Services Branch said. Speaking from U.N. headquarters in New York, he said, "We're prepared to respond, but our first priority is to make sure our current relief operations don't go down."

Clark also acknowledged that guessing where Y2K problems might occur is difficult.

"In terms of larger, new humanitarian needs, [it] will be difficult to predict in advance," Clark said. "The difficulty of Y2K is you don't know where to pre-position people [for quicker response.]"

This capability to pre-position staff and move rapidly is a critical element in OCHA operations. OCHA primarily uses its resources to organize response by alerting the international community, fielding a United Nations Disaster Assessment and Coordination (UNDAC) Team, and coordinating Search and Rescue Teams, as well as helping to mobilize military, civil protection, and civil defense assets.

As humanitarian relief groups work to prepare their operations for Y2K, some representatives attended a Washington, D.C. conference October 18 to hear expert assessments of each world region's potential Y2K problems. The meeting, sponsored by the relief organization coalition InterAction and the Center for Strategic and International Studies, provided the groups with a basic understanding of what the world may need of them during the millenium transition January 1.

At the IFRC, officials expect that Russia, the Newly Independent States (NIS), and the surrounding areas will likely present the biggest Y2K challenge. IFRC is still compiling its local assessments with completion expected by November 10, but the organization has already outlined three basic scenarios for Y2K.

"In compliant countries, like the United States, we expect no major problems," Jean Ayoub, IFRC Director of Disaster Services said from his Geneva office. "Our big worry is the former Soviet Union. People there are accustomed to certain services and they might have disruptions... [Then there are] the 'no difference' countries, mostly in Africa. They have no Y2K [vulnerable] services and are used to disruptions. We wouldn't worry too much in Northern Tanzania or Eastern Zaire."

The higher likelihood of humanitarian problems in the former Soviet Union is mainly attributed to the harsh regional winter. In sub- Saharan Africa, interruptions in services and shortages in food supplies occur frequently, so many experts predict that Y2K will not cause especially unusual disruptions in life for the average African.

IFRC, the parent organization of more than 175 national Red Cross/Red Crescent societies, has at its disposal a number of emergency response units (ERU), each focusing on a different humanitarian problem. ERU types include basic health care, mass water and sanitation, and telecommunications. Most of the ERUs are self- supporting for three weeks, although the basic health care and referral hospital ERUs can operate for one month without incoming supplies.

In planning for Y2K, IFRC will have a specially designated team on duty from December 15 till January 6.

"[Beyond the team] we have a good disaster response system, before and after Y2K. Our one concern is the commercial cargo planes we use for transport, but we expect no problem," Ayoub said. Disaster relief operations are dependent on the movement of tons of equipment and supplies. Asked whether this materiel could be stalled at port facilities because of Y2K compliance problems, Ayoub stated, "Our logistics response units have mechanical ways of loading and unloading equipment that do not need software."

One agency confident about its Y2K role is Catholic Relief Services, a Baltimore, Maryland-based aid organization. CRS is currently working to improve humanitarian conditions in 12 countries, including Turkey, Uganda, and Mexico. Rated by several organizations as one of the best international non-profit organizations, CRS is dedicated to "providing direct aid to the poor, and involving people in their own development, helping them to realize their potential," according to its website.

"We're ready regardless of whether it's a manmade disaster, natural disaster, or a power grid shuts down in a developing country as a result of Y2K," Tom Price, a spokesperson for Catholic Relief Services said. "It doesn't make any difference to us what the cause of human suffering is... we will respond."

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-- Linkmeister (link@librarian.edu), October 27, 1999.


"In compliant countries, like the United States, we expect no major problems."

Every time I think I have seen the stupidest statement on Y2K, another comes along to top it. HEY, I didn't know the US was completely compliant! Wellll, hallelujah!!!!

Honey break out those beenies and weenies. We gonna start eatin' 'em now because the entire US of A is compliant! What great news!!!!!

Sheesh. What is it now? 64 days? Since I am a teacher, I am counting the weekdays as well, minus my week for Thanksgiving vacation and every day after Dec. 17 (when we get out for Christmas). Hoping Y2K isn't too bad. I sure do like my students... (seriously).

-- Preparing (preparing@home.com), October 27, 1999.


Several thoughts come to mind:

1) They are trying to do the best they can with the resources available to them.

2) Deployment may be easy...little travel may be involved, because there may be problems everywhere!

3) I sure would hate to be the one doing the triage. Usually, they'd send their aid to where it is needed most. This time, I'm not sure that would be the best policy. In full blown triage, you don't give aid to the dying (or those who would require a massive effort to save). That way, you can save the most...

-- Mad Monk (madmonk@hawaiian.net), October 27, 1999.


It might be spit in the ocean, but I'm glad they are working on it!

-- Mara (MaraWayne@aol.com), October 27, 1999.

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