Coordinating refugee emergencies and operations

Refugee emergencies put the lives of thousands and at times of millions of people at stake, making it crucial that there exist timely and efficient coordination between governments, relief agencies, non-governmental organisations and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.

A clear understanding of the aims and objectives of an emergency operation and proper coordination is even more important in the camps than at headquarters, for it is at the local level that failures and misunderstandings will directly affect the refugees. Indeed, it is the refugees who should play the central role in organising their community and in providing for their well being.

There exist four options for coordinating U.N. assistance in an emergency. These are: the Resident Co-ordinator, normally the leader of the United Nations country team; the Lead Agency, which frequently provides the bulk of the assistance; the Humanitarian Coordinator, appointed if the emergency is particularly serious; and the Regional Humanitarian Coordinator, normally appointed if the emergency affects more than one country.

It is particularly important that common standards be adopted when numerous organisations provide similar assistance. In emergencies, an overall coordinating mechanism should be established and headed by either the government, the UNHCR Field Officer, or an operational partner.

In refugee emergencies and operations UNHCR is the appropriate agency to bring together all the organisations involved. As a result, it retains overall responsibility for ensuring that durable solutions are implemented, while at the same time respecting the independence of its partners who have been selected for their professional expertise and to whom authority has been delegated.

UNHCR's role in refugee operations and emergencies includes a coordinating function even if the agency is not funding the specific programme. These can be carried out through international and regional agreements that define responsibilities and roles at all levels, codes of conduct for those involved in the emergency, and formal understandings with agencies within and outside the UN system and with implementing partners and host governments.

In cases where a coordinating structure does not already exits, the refugee agency has the responsibility to establish one. Such a body would have the responsibility of identifying needed services and setting standards for their delivery, allocating financial contributions, and carrying out orientation programmes for newly arrived agencies and staffs at the emergency site.

Its members should include government ministries and departments, other UN agencies, and non-governmental organisations. Other institutions, such as the International Committee of the Red Cross, public interest groups, donors and the military, may wish to attend meetings without formally participating in the coordinating body.