Supplementary memorandum submitted by
UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA)
FORGOTTEN HUMANITARIAN EMERGENCIES
Forgotten humanitarian emergencies are "forgotten"
for any number of reasons, including: lack of strategic political
importance to the international community; complexity of the crisis
and a general inability/unwillingness to make progress; and duration
and/or severity of the crisis.
Regardless of the cause, forgotten humanitarian
emergencies share similar symptoms or characteristics and require
similar treatment, namely, the timely provision of adequate levels
of aid proportionate to humanitarian need. As with all humanitarian
action, aid for forgotten emergencies must be provided on the
basis of need alone, not according to ideology, creed, nationality,
or level of public exposure and media coverage.
OCHA addresses forgotten crises through advocacy
to raise public awareness, encourage political interest or attract
resources. OCHA has Flash Appeals and Consolidated Appeals (CAPs)
for a wide range of countries. However a number of these countries
have received very little attention and fulfill the criteria for
forgotten emergencies.
Forgotten humanitarian emergencies often are
characterized by:
— Low levels of per capita aid, high
levels of humanitarian need.
— Poor or ineffective response to root
causes of the crisis on the part of relevant political actors
(governments, regional bodies, the UN).
— High morbidity, mortality, malnutrition,
and other humanitarian indicators.
— Humanitarian presence (UN, NGOs,
national and local groups) insufficient to meet humanitarian needs.
— Large number of displaced persons
(internally, or externally as refugees) per host population.
— Host communities for displaced persons
are overwhelmed and unable to cope.
— Extended duration and/or lack of
improvement in the humanitarian situation over time.
— Low levels of political, donor and/or
media attention.
Of course, not all forgotten emergencies contain
all of the above characteristics; the criteria above are simply
a guide to identifying forgotten emergencies. Based on these criteria,
today's forgotten humanitarian emergencies include:
— Africa: Central Africa Republic,
Democratic Republic of Congo, Somalia, and Northern Uganda.
— South America: Colombia.
AFRICA
Central Africa Republic (CAR)
All of the conditions for a significant humanitarian
crisis are in place in CAR. Infant mortality rate is now at 130
deaths per 1000 live births. Debilitating diseases such as polio,
sleeping sickness and river blindness have reappeared. Two thirds
of the population live on less than a dollar a day and do not
have access to safe drinking water. 15% of the population is HIV
positive. One million people—one third of the population—are
in dire need of assistance. Basic social services such as health
and education are virtually non-existent. CAR has been largely
forgotten by the donor community. The 2004 CAP requested just
$7.7 million but received only 38% support.
Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC)
More than 3.8 million people have died in DRC
since 1998, primarily due to disease, malnutrition and displacement
prompted by violent conflict. This staggering casualty figure
represents the largest death toll of any global conflict since
WWII. With an estimated 1,000 people dying in DRC every day, most
due to easily preventable and treatable illnesses, a death toll
of Tsunami proportions is reached about every 5-6 months.
Northern Uganda
Ongoing peace efforts provide the best opportunity
in more than a decade to bring the conflict to an end. Since these
efforts started last fall, the level of violence in northern Uganda
has declined. The number of internally displaced people has fallen
from 1.6 million to 1.3 million people. The number of night commuters
has fallen from more than 50,000 to 30,000. Humanitarian access
has improved, although displaced persons living in camps still
suffer from unacceptable conditions.
Somalia
Somalia is another long-standing humanitarian
crisis where the international community has the best chance in
years to make real progress. However, humanitarian indicators
remain abysmal in many parts of Somalia. Several vulnerable coastal
regions were badly affected by the tsunami; the country also suffers
from a fourth year of drought that has affected some 700,000 people.
Unfortunately, donors have been lukewarm in providing aid to Somalia.
Of particular concern is low funding for education, health and
agriculture.
SOUTH AMERICA
Colombia
For several decades, Colombia has been afflicted
by an unrelenting armed conflict, which has evolved into one of
the world's largest humanitarian crises. The country is currently
the battleground between guerrilla groups, paramilitary forces,
military and police government forces and the criminal elements
of organized narco-traffic—all of whom, at one time or another,
have inflicted acts of violence against the civilian population.
An estimated 3 million persons have been displaced since 1985.
Child soldiers and the use of antipersonnel landmines are also
key humanitarian concerns in Colombia.
February 2005
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