The United Nations Role in World Wide Disasters - Research Paper Example

? The United Nations’ Role in Worldwide Disasters Details: al Affiliation: TheUnited Nations’ Role in Worldwide Disasters By definition, a disaster [according to the United Nations] refers to a sudden, adverse disruptive event to the functioning of the society with effects of widespread, intolerable losses beyond the ability of the affected using the available resources (DHA/IDNDR, 1992). Whether man made or natural, disasters are catastrophic, instantaneous and indiscriminate in character and usually occur without warning, thus making adjustment efforts difficult. Disasters have afflicted man throughout history. Human suffering induced by floods and famines are indeed tales that have defied generational measures into the 21st century with deleterious damages that combines life and valuable properties. The gradual technological improvements, though useful, have more than detached man from nature and doubled the vulnerability of the entire human population on the planet earth. The modern era disaster occurrences have only become more frequent and hazardous with partly irreparable consequences. The frequent reports by the United Nations showing a steady increase of disasters across the globe only serve to confirm the magnitude of suffering at hand (UN/ISDR, 2013a). Founded in 1945 after the catastrophic World War II as a replacement to the hitherto redundant League of Nations, The United Nations serves a fundamental purpose in ensuring that the humanitarian suffering caused by the natural as well as man-made disasters are not only prevented, but firmly brought under control when they occur. According to the UN reports, approximately 80 percent of the countries affected mostly by disasters are predominantly in the developing world (Alexander, 1991). Such areas rank low in terms of human development as indicative by their income per capita that ranges in the near survival levels. Disaster occurrences in such countries often leave behind a trail of high numbers of human casualties, sweeping away almost the entire property that suspends such livelihoods. The deadly tsunami that struck Asia in December 2004, for instance, left approximately 200,000 people dead, scores of hundreds missing and property worth millions of dollars in damages (UN/ISDR, 2006). Losses of such magnitude partly result from unsustainable development practices that do stand the tests of time (Mileti, et al., 1995). To be sure, proper land use planning is often non-existent. Even with the perennial environmental degradation that continues to bite hard into the daily livelihoods of the population, disaster preparedness is often relegated into the periphery (Aleskerov et al., 2005). Owing to the limited capacity to tackle major disasters, the United Nations roles out numerous initiatives and programs annually in a bid to ensure that efficient proactive planning approaches goes into helping those in vulnerable conditions. Disasters disrupt not only the livelihoods of those affected but also hinder national as well as international efforts in advancing development agendas aimed at eradicating poverty among the most vulnerable. The United Nations views disaster reduction strategies as an integral component of reducing world poverty and inculcating sustainable development practices. Through the International Strategy for Disaster Reduction, the United Nations works across the globe with ultimate goal of “enabling societies to become aware of the dangers posed by the possible natural hazards as well as those related technological advancements within their surroundings with the view of minimizing any possible human, economic and social damages” (UN/ISDR, 2013c). To meet this objective, the office of United Nations via numerous agencies under its operational management provides proactive financial support to international disaster risk reduction actors to facilitate early warning activities and mitigation measures as recommended by the Hyogo Framework (UN/ISDR, 2013b). With regard to direct contacts in cases of crisis situations, the United Nations through its subsidiary organization and a number of non-governmental organizations is always on the ground providing support and relief assistance to disaster stricken populations. Armed with ready food, drinking water and shelter-tents among other humanitarian services such as medical help, operations of the United Nations are wide stretched to cover almost every part of the universe in moments of dire need. The World Food Programme (WFP) and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), in particular, always ensure that food is made available to populations who would otherwise die of hunger. Courtesy of the office of the Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in conjunction with the International Organization for Migration (IOM), communities forced out of their homes find shelter camps and other facilities that help in reducing the agony of massive property losses that often cuts off the income generating activities of the victims. Adding to the services of the above subsidiary organizations, the United Nations through United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) usually arrives in time to provide educational assistance for school going children uprooted from their learning environments by calamities. The above temporary recovery measures are often stabilized by initiatives by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) by setting aside certain amounts of reconstruction funds available to enable families displaced start rebuilding their lives on a firm grounding. In cases where the services offered by the above organizations are inadequate due to finance shortfalls, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) coordinates and facilitates international mobilization of financial support across governments and other non-governmental organizations through “consolidated appeals” on behalf of the United Nations towards the provision of emergency services in specific crisis situations (United Nations, 2013). In regions where opposing movements are embroiled in deadly wars, the Secretary-General through his emissaries plays a vital role in negotiating “zones of peace” where those trapped [men, women and children] and risks losing their lives can escape and receive humanitarian aid delivered the Red Cross, the UN organizations and other accredited organizations dealing in such. The UN peacekeepers are always on the ground to oversee the safety of the displaced persons and the delivery of aid by the above mentioned organizations. It is important to note that the reason why the UN was formed was to ensure that the man-made suffering occasioned by wars akin to the scenarios of World War I and II are prevented at all costs. Throughout the years of its existence, the UN has worked tirelessly in all diplomatic fronts to reconcile warring parties across the globe to avert the known, painful tragedies of war. Beyond the direct victim-contact services, the UN is always at the frontline advocating for a change of course in matters of climate change, whose perils have more than aggravated the intensity and number of “natural” disasters globally (United Nations, 2013). References Aleskerov, F., Say, A.I., Toker, A., Akin, H. & Altay, G. (2005). A Cluster based decision support System for estimating earthquake damage and casualties. Journal of Disaster Studies and Policy Management, 29(3), 255-276. Alexander, D. (1991). Natural disasters: a framework for research and teaching. Disasters, 5(3), 209-226. Mileti, D. (1999). Disasters by design: A reassessment of natural hazards in the United States. Washington, D.C.: Joseph Henry Press. United Nations. (2013). Global issues: Humanitarian and disaster relief assistance. Retrieved from http://www.un.org/en/globalissues/humanitarian/ United Nations, DHA. (1992). International agreed glossary of basic terms related to disaster management. Geneva: United Nations Department of Humanitarian Affairs. United Nations, ISDR (2013a). Disaster statistics. Retrieved from http://www.unisdr.org/we/inform/disaster-statistics United Nations, ISDR (2013b). Hyogo framework for action (HFA). Retrieved from http://www.unisdr.org/we/coordinate/hfa United Nations, ISDR (2013c). Mission and objectives. Retrieved from http://www.unisdr.org/who-we-are/mandate United Nations, ISDR (2006). Press release: Building safety should become a priority in countries vulnerable to natural hazards. Retrieved from http://www.unisdr.org/files/5403_PR200604earthquakeinJava.pdf Read More