Canadian Forces Civil-Military Cooperation in Humanitarian Response Captain (N) Ian Paterson Director Afghanistan and Asia Pacific Policy National Defence Headquarters Department of National Defence May 2012 OUTLINE Response Mechanism and Process Tools available for response Domestic Natural Crisis 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami Lessons Learned 2010 Haiti earthquake Lessons Learned Key Factors for Continued Success 1
Whole of Government Approach TWO DIFFERENT RESPONSE PROCESS. International Crisis (Foreign Affairs Lead) Affected Government request Assistance Interdepartmental Disaster Task Force meeting Dispatch of Interdepartmental Strategic Support Team (ISST) Recommendation to government Canadian Forces Deployment and other government agencies/ departments Domestic Crisis (Public Safety Canada Lead) * Province responsible to handle unless National Emergency declared Provincial Premier request assistance Interdepartmental coordination meeting Assessment by the province and the regional military command Recommendation to government Canadian Forces Deployment and other government agencies/ departments Conditions for Response Request for assistance from the government of the affected country / provincial government Needs assessments identifying priority sectors for response Official appeals by trusted humanitarian partners on the ground Tools Available For Response Cash contributions in response to appeals Canadian civilian technical experts Police, humanitarian, correctional services, etc Relief supplies Canadian Forces assets Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART) - Medical and Engineering focus water production Strategic Airlift Self-sufficient units and personnel Command and Control, Communications, Engineers 2
OPERATIONS and LESSONS 5 Recent Major Domestic Natural Crisis 1998 Ice Storm 5 Jan 1.6 Million without power 100,000 displaced in shelters Thousands of kilometres of power lines down 1997 Flood of Century Apr-May Most severe flood since 1826 100,000 evacuated CF Deployed 9 Jan (OP RECUPERATION) 17,000 personnel (200 different units) Largest peacetime deployment of troops CF Deployed (OP ASSISTANCE) 7,000 personnel Ice Storms Quebec & Ontario (1998) Manitoba Flood of the Century (1997) 3
2004 INDIAN OCEAN TSUNAMI & Response 26 Dec 04 Indian Ocean Tsunami 40-foot waves strike nearly 1km inland, 40,000 deaths, Thousands missing, 900,000 homeless Sri Lanka Government declares state of emergency, and requests international assistance Epicentre 30 Dec 04: ISST departs Canada for Sri Lanka 06 Jan 05: Advance Party arrives 08 Jan 05: DART Main body arrives 11 Jan 05: DART Op ready Tsunami Wave Path Kilinochchi Trincomalee Operations from 11 Jan - 19 Feb 2005 (Camp in Amparai) Concentrated on two core capabilities (1) Medical (2) Production of Water Daily deployed Medical clinics and Deployed water points Batticaloa Amparai Galle Region Hambantota 2004 Tsunami Lessons Learned CF Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART) capability not well understood across Canadian government agencies. Update the Government of Canada Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) incorporating lessons learned focusing particularly on: the crisis management team; timing of critical decisions; reconnaissance missions and the DART; financial rules; checklists and templates; and, partnerships with the Canadian Red Cross, other NGOs and UN agencies. Establish pre-approvals and agreements related to crisis response. Additional training required Maintain a list of crisis response expertise across government for advice and deployment Strengthen media and public relations communications to inform on relief efforts Exchange best practices with like-minded countries 4
2010 HAITIAN EARTHQUAKE Magnitude 7.0 earthquake struck 16:53 local time 12 January 2010 Widespread catastrophic damage throughout southern Haiti. 300,000 dead 3 million affected Haiti - Response Interdepartmental Task Force on Natural Disasters abroad. - 1st meeting within 4 hours of quake and throughout emergency response. Interdepartmental Strategic Support Team (ISST) - Deployed to Haiti within 20 hours of the earthquake. Joint Task Force Haiti (JTFH) and Operation Hestia (~2,000 pers): - CF Personnel arrived on site 13 Jan (DART) Army and Ships 14 Jan. - Field hospital operational 29 Jan. Return of CF personnel 11-16 Mar. 250 Government of Canada civilians (DFAIT, CIDA, RCMP, CBSA, CIC), 22 experts to UN police, correctional services, humanitarian Humanitarian: CIDA relief stocks, Canadian Red Cross Hospital, Cash Contributions - Matching Funds 5
Civil-Military Cooperation Lessons Learned Early and decisive Government of Canada direction saved lives Availability of strategic airlift - critical enabler to a fast response Confirmed that established coordination mechanisms and structures continue to work well. Further flexibility in Canadian response options required. Importance of whole-of-government planning and training. Crucial importance of tactical-level coordination between military and local / international organizations - effective relief functions on the ground, maximum information sharing, coordination and synchronization of plans CF elements were self-sufficient no reliance on services from affected nation Key Factors for Continued Success Purchase of long-range strategic aircraft Continue whole of government crisis response exercises Improved coordination and contacts between government agencies and other organizations International HADR exercises with partners countries (example: Central America, symposia, etc) International agreements to facilitate rapid deployments (example: Canada Japan HADR SOPs, Operational Support Hubs) 6
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