EISF | European Interagency Security Forum

EISF Guides: Family First and Office Closure

Wed, 24 Apr 2013 16:44:00 GMT

EISF is pleased to launch a new series of concise Guides which can be referenced and used both at HQ and at field level. Developed in response to member requests and evaluation recommendations, the Guides are supported by tools which can be adapted to suit an organisation’s needs.

Family First: Liaison and support during a crisis, and Office Closure have been developed with practicality in mind. Tips and case-studies are provided, capturing lessons learnt from other organisations’ experiences. Tools are referenced throughout, and will be made available in an editable soft-copy format shortly. Organisations are free to use and adapt the tools provided that EISF is acknowledged as the original source.

New EISF Publication: The Cost of Security Risk Management for NGOs

Fri, 15 Mar 2013 13:25:00 GMT

What proportion of the funds contributed globally to aid programmes is, or ought to be, allocated to security risk management?

If risk management is necessary to ensure safe access for aid workers to deliver programmes, it should be an integral part of programme design, planning and implementation, introduced in the early stages of dialogue with donors. However, does an absence of incidents indicate appropriate spending on security risk management, or is it simply an outcome of chance?

Aid organisations must strive to achieve value for money while at the same time meeting humanitarian needs with limited resources, ensuring fiscal accountability, and meeting their duty of care to staff working in the field.

EISF's paper The Cost of Security Risk Management for NGOs explores the costs related to safety and security management for aid programmes. It aims to assist all aid practitioners to determine their risk management expenditure more accurately, and demonstrate an evidence-based approach when presenting this information to donors.

Disaster relief and reconstruction: Insecurity in Haiti

Wed, 29 Aug 2012 17:32:00 GMT

Humanitarian relief and reconstruction in post-disaster situations offers a complex operational environment for aid workers. Post-disaster relief efforts are often welcomed following the devastation of a hurricane, tsunami, earthquake or other naturally occurring phenomenon. The reconstruction phase, however, is often markedly affected by a decrease in aid worker security.

Pakistan’s and Aceh’s relief and reconstruction efforts saw NGOs being attacked for a variety of reasons central to a lack of acceptance. It is thus interesting to look into the current, ongoing reconstruction process in Haiti, and examine how those factors common to the genesis of an insecure reconstruction environment have re-emerged.

Philippines combined humanitarian crisis: Flooding in the North; rebel fighting in the South

Fri, 10 Aug 2012 16:28:00 GMT

The Philippines has been subject to heavy flooding in the North and increased violence between militia and government forces in the South. Heavy rains caused severe flooding, resulting in death, mass displacement and destruction of property. On the Southern Island of Mindanao, there has been increased fighting between the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), with resulting displacement and civilian casualties.

Increased Violence in Syria

Thu, 2 Aug 2012 17:20:00 GMT

Over 20,000 people have reportedly been killed since the beginning of the Syrian uprising in March 2011. A full-scale displacement and humanitarian crisis has been identified in three major zones: Dara’a, Damascus (and its surrounding area), and the Hama-Homs-Idlib axis. Aleppo, Damascus and Homs are described as being particularly affected as the Free Syrian Army and other rebel insurgents battle with Bashar al-Assad’s army.

Unrest and Insecurity in Eastern DRC

Fri, 20 Jul 2012 20:25:00 GMT

Clashes between DRC’s national army (FARDC) and the M23 rebel movement in Eastern DRC, particularly North Kivu, have led to the displacement of thousands of civilians. Security is further compromised in the two Kivu provinces due to additional militant activity by groups such as the Mai Mai (Mayi Mayi) militias. Following the increase in insecurity, Rwanda and DRC have agreed to allow a neutral international force to patrol the border area. Without any decisive action taken against the renewed rebel activities, security risks for NGOs and other international organisations operating in the area are likely to increase over the coming period.

Power Shifts in Northern Mali

Fri, 29 Jun 2012 00:00:00 GMT

After two days of fighting in Gao, the Islamist Group Ansar Dine has now declared full control of all three major cities in the North of Mali (Gao, Kidal, Timbuktu). Backed by other Islamist groups (AQIM and AQIM splinter group MUJWA – Movement of Unity and Jihad in West Africa) Ansar Dine managed to oust remaining MNLA fighters and take over regional MNLA headquarters on Thursday. Ansar Dine has declared it wants to implement Sharia Law throughout Mali.

Escalation Cross-border Violence Gaza

Thu, 21 Jun 2012 16:43:19 GMT

The last few days have seen an increase in cross-border fighting, with rockets fired from Gaza and air strikes on Hamas training centres being carried out across the Gaza strip. Casualties were reported on both sides, including militants, as well as civilians.

Counter-terrorism legislation, humanitarian response and civil-military interaction: recent analysis

Wed, 13 Jun 2012 13:52:02 GMT

New articles added to the EISF security resources library discuss two recurring issues of civil-military interaction and the effects of counter-terrorism legislation on humanitarian response.

Ethnic Unrest in Myanmar

Mon, 11 Jun 2012 18:10:06 GMT

Over the weekend, rising ethnic clashes between Muslims and Buddhists in Western Myanmar have prompted the imposition of an emergency rule in Rakhine State and led the U.N. to announce the voluntary relocation of its staff from the region on Monday.