PUBH205 Public Health Emergency Responses: A Comprehensive Analysis

This report provides a comprehensive overview of public health emergency responses, encompassing various facets of disaster management and humanitarian aid. It begins by defining emergencies and outlining organizational arrangements, including the role of the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR). The report then delves into the role of media in emergencies, emphasizing the importance of effective communication for saving lives and managing public expectations. It further explores international emergencies and humanitarian responses, defining key terms like disaster and humanitarian emergency, and analyzing the global landscape of humanitarian needs and funding. The report also examines international legal considerations, including international law, international humanitarian law (IHL), international human rights law (IHRL), international refugee law, and international disaster response laws. It highlights the legal frameworks that govern humanitarian assistance, the protection of vulnerable populations, and the responsibilities of states and international organizations. The assignment draws upon lecture materials, including discussions on food security, malnutrition, and the impact of disasters on food and nutrition, along with an overview of actors involved in emergency management and their roles and responsibilities. The report integrates case studies and explores various feeding programs designed to address food and nutrition crises, offering a complete perspective on this critical area of public health.

Running head: PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY RESPONSES 1
Public Health Emergency Responses
Student’s Name
Institution Affiliation

PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY RESPONSES 2
PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY RESPONSE
Introduction
 World health organization (WHO) defines an emergency as a word telling a government. As
a decision-making word which demands choice and continuation in terms of strange actions
(Oxford Pocket Dictionary, 1992). A state of emergency needs to be avowed or levied by
somebody in power, who, at a definite time will likewise boost it. Consequently, the
implements are well-defined in time and interplanetary. It needs a verge worth to be known
plus infers guidelines of rendezvous and an exit policy theoretically it shares well to reply
(WHO, 2014)

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 Emergency refers to Unexpected occurrence or situation demanding immediate action. It is
very dangerous to life, property or the environment may also be included. Core components
are That the exact nature of the event cannot be Precisely foreseen That the timing of the
event cannot be precisely foreseen That response to the event is time-sensitive (WHO,
2014).
 Organisational Arrangements for Emergency Management
 The international organization used in disaster administration are United Nations’ Office for
Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) established in December 1999, with a clear purpose of
ensuring the implementation of the International Policy for Calamity Decrease (General
Assembly (GA) resolution54/219). UNDRR is part of the UN Secretariat, with HQ in
Geneva + 5 regional offices (WHO, 2014). These administrations are answerable for the
organizing adversity decrease plus guaranteeing collaborations amid the tragedy decrease
actions of the United Nations scheme plus area societies, plus doings in socio & economic
and charitable grounds. Additional commands are: to endorse community consciousness and
obligation, enlarge linkages and corporations, plus to advance an acquaintance of adversity
roots and choices for danger lessening (WHO, 2014).

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Lecture: Role of Media in Emergencies
 Communication refers to the passage of precise and opportune information to the over-all
communal and public bureaucrats from one party to another.
 Media shows a key part in the running of tragedies efficiently over retrieval and reply
actions. (Haddow, Bullock & Coppola, 2011).
 Communication has converted a progressively serious purpose in emergency management. A
number of benefits flowing from good communication in emergencies:
o Save lives and reduce illness and injury,
o lessen damage to property and the environment
o manage public expectations, increasing public confidentiality
o Change of behaviour and attitudes
o seeking public assistance
o deliver appropriate plus precise message (to those affected & not directly involved)
o Rumour control
o Reunite families (Imran, Castillo, Diaz, & Vieweg, 2015)

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Lecture: International Emergencies: Humanitarian Responses
 Disaster is well-defined as a substantial commotion, whichever ordinary or human-made, that
roots ecologic mutilation, grievance, sickness, or loss of humanoid natural life that cannot be
accomplished by dull actions and rapidly overpowers native volume, requiring an appeal for
outside help (Birn, Pillay & Holtz, 2009)
 Humanitarian emergency refers to a crisis characterised by large population displacement,
food shortages and social disruption (Birn, Pillay & Holtz, 2009) besides multifarious
benevolent emergency (CHE) is well-defined as a condition of political trouble, armed
struggle or fighting, opposition for influence and possessions or radical uncertainty (Brennan
and Nandy, 2001) resulting in social interruption and excess mortality. CHEs may be
protracted in duration. Multifaceted disasters are described by partisan battle, equipped fight
delicate or worsening institutes (economic, social and political), food shortage and refugees
(Dubernet, 2017)
 Humanitarian assistance is an action that is envisioned to protect lives, lessen misery and
uphold social self-respect throughout and afterwards man-made disasters and tragedies

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caused by usual hazards, besides, to break plus strengthen willingness for once such
circumstances happen (Dubernet, 2017).
 In 2018, est. 206.4 million people living in 81 countries were deemed in need of
humanitarian assistance: large portion concentrated in a small number of countries - six
countries accounted for 80.6 million people in need: Yemen (22.2 m), Syrian Arab Republic
(Syria) (13.3 m), DRC (13.1 m), Turkey (11.1 m), Afghanistan (10.6 m) & the Democratic
People’s Republic of Korea (10.3 m). A third of the worldwide inhabitants existing in
thrilling poverty (on less than $1.90 per day time) are in countries with UN-coordinated
appeals in 2018. Nine of the ten countries with the largest populations in need faced conflict
and forced displacement in 2018. Numbers of forcibly displaced people grew for the seventh
consecutive year, to 70.8 million in 2018 (a 3% rise from 2017) (UNHCR Global report,
2018).
 Outlook and requirements in 2019 are that about one hundred and thirty-two million people
in forty-two states in the world will need humanitarian assistance. Skirmish will keep on the
main driver of benevolent requirements. Diet diffidence will continue a key worry, chiefly in
parts pretentious by battle and weather-related dangers. The condition in Yemen takes
meaningfully deteriorated rapidly. Approximately, twenty-four million persons will essential
benevolent support and protection in 2019. Benevolent wants will continue at very heights in
Ethiopia, Syria, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, South Sudan and Nigeria.
 In Africa, the figure of evacuees nearly increased over a period of a decade as of 2.3 million
in 2008 to above 6.3 million by the close of 2018. Likewise, the figure for Internally
Displaced Persons has also augmented from some 6.4 million in 2009 to 17.7 million people
headed for the close of 2018. Principal outflows created from Southwest and Northwest

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Cameroon and entering Nigeria. Five republics presented 4.1 million (or 65%) of the area's
evacuees and everywhere 20% of the international refugee people. Refugees initiated mainly
as of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Central African Republic, South Sudan and
Somalia (UNHCR Global report, 2018).
 . Funding appeals for humanitarian emergencies have increased exponentially. Worldwide
benevolent help as of administrations and European Union institutes plus projected charities
as of secretive contributors touched US$28.9 billion in 2018. This signifies the growth of
nearly a third since 2014. Yet, the pace of growth has slowed, rising by fair 1% as of 2017 to
2018. Over the previous semi overall universal altruistic assist has developed by 30%,
motivated equally by civic and private contributors. There is still a gap in coverage for UN-
led humanitarian assistance. Three largest country donors are the US, Germany and the UK.
These countries accounted for 52% of all government contributions, although contributions
from all three decreased in 2018 (Development Initiatives, June 2019).
INTERNATIONAL LEGAL CONSIDERATION FOR EMERGENCY
HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE
International law
 International law or public international law is generally defined as a system of law which is
responsible for controlling the relationship between various stakeholders like sovereign states
and international parties like individual natural persons and inter-governmental organizations
(Haider, 2013). Therefore, the valid personality characterized by these parties suggest that
they have responsibilities, rights, liabilities together with protection below this set of rules
(Oppenheim, 2018)
 International law is comprising of various sources. These are soft law that is non-binding
United Nations resolutions, guideline and regulations (Morgenthau, 2017). General principle

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law is another source; it is contained within the United Nations charter which bar utilization
of force not unless for self-defense purpose. Lastly, International custom. It sets up unwritten
principles that are holding all states together basing on general application (Haider, 2013).

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International Humanitarian Law (IHL)
 International
humanitarian law
(IHL) naturally seeks to secure people and property when
there are armed conflicts and restricting the conducting of
warfare (Haider, 2013). wellspring of international
humanitarian law tends to be treaties, Hague Conventions
(1949), Additional Protocols I & II (1977) and Four
Geneva Conventions (1949) (Haider, 2013). In addition,
International Humanitarian Law is provided as follow
principles concerning groups that are vulnerable entailing
positive and non-discrimination, states must protect their
relief workers occupying powers should provide life
necessities in occupied areas of operation ( for instance,
food, medical, services and health supplies), principles on
accessibility of affected population and delivery of
humanitarian assistance in international armed conflicts
(for instance, customs clearance and taxation of relief) and
internal armed conflicts and other international, relief
actions will be assumed but with the agreement of state
parties. Hence, argument on whether consent is required
in all circumstances (Haider, 2013).
 compassionate assists in several entanglements which are debated. International Benevolent
Law permits the likelihood (through definite nick) of reassurance steps being acknowledged

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via compassionate institutions, In circumstances of work, the compulsion of inhabiting
establishments to enable and collaborate with respite arrangements is unqualified, In spite of
the agreement and obligation in additional settings, there is mounting gratitude (though
motionless challenged) that provides charitable essential, organisations and assistance
activities function in line with charitable philosophies, administrations cannot randomly
reject aid. This turns in conjunction with advice to recognise a veracious to benevolent aid,
Precise necessities on admittance, transfer of aid besides guard of altruistic employees’
intention to cut ‘sore tape’ also agree for the early sending of a break to thriving publics.
International Human Rights Law (IHRL)
 This law plans the duties also responsibilities of federations near esteem, toward guard
besides to accomplish the hominid privileges of individuals below their authority. It allows
individuals plus clusters to entitlement convinced behaviour before welfares as of a national
expert Functions in harmony and throughout the equipped battle, disaster besides tragedy
locations. Besides, this regulation knows how to work simultaneously through International
Humanitarian Law (Haider, 2013).
Generally, human rights
laws are sourced from treaties, general principles of law,
international customary law and soft law (Haider, 2013).
 Like humanitarian law, human rights are provisioned too. Privileges threatened comprise
privileges towards life, liberty after torment, liberty of drive, financial and communal
privileges endangered comprise privileges to nourishment, accommodation, sartorial,
healthiness, living, an acceptable normal of existing, permits situations to derogate on or after

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sure political and radical human rights in periods of community backup which loom the state
(plus warfare). There are positive privileges nonetheless (e.g. the right to natural life) from
which not at all derogation is allowable (Haider, 2013).
International Refugee Law
 Offers defence, also, to help towards persons who partake traversed a universal boundary
besides remaining in jeopardy before targets of maltreatment voguish their nation of
derivation. Though, this one prepares not put on to Internally displaced persons. Also, this
one be able to function together in concord then during the fortified war besides smears to
states which can work concomitantly with International Humanitarian Law (eg IHL protects
evacuated civilians and requires that their health and safety is safeguarded)
 This law is sourced through treaties, international habitual law, broad ethics plus court
choices besides wisdom (Haider, 2013). Consequently, The Agreement on the Grade of
Immigrants, 1951 defines a person in exile as someone outwardly expatriate over a ‘fine-
originated terror of existence victimized aimed at explanations of race, belief, people, an
association of a specific communal collection or radical view’ (Article 1). Let’s for the
simultaneous request of supplementary tools yielding evacuees privileges and welfares.
Though, folks who have betrothed in convinced desecrations of IHL cannot be enabled to
refugee guard.
 The implications are based on where victims of equipped battle are involuntary to consent
their republic in line for defilements of IHL or IHRL, such desecrations could allow them to
shield as exiles. IHL may in some instances afford more protection and assistance to refugees
in inside fortified struggles as it fixes all planned prepared assemblages, against exclusively
positions (Haider, 2013).