TACLOBAN CITY—A consultant from an international humanitarian organization highlighted the need for localizing humanitarian emergency efforts in the country in light of post-Super Typhoon “Yolanda” aid response in November 2013.
“We recognize that humanitarian effectiveness is not just delivering the needed goods and services in a timely and appropriate manner, but also a process of affirming the dignity and rights of people, especially the most vulnerable, and empowering them as persons, groups and communities,” said Rico Cajife, consultant of Interchurch Organisation for Development Cooperation, a Netherlands-based non-governmental organization.
Reiterating their call for commitment on said issue, Cajife said they welcomed the discussions in the World Humanitarian Summit process on the “effectiveness” of humanitarian action if delivered locally.
Cajife added that the localization of disaster aid response would “affirm the primary role of local stakeholders, especially community-based organizations, as front-liners in disaster preparedness, response and resilience.”
“We are committing ourselves to these following actions for localizing aid delivery in affected communities. To build and strengthen local mechanisms among government agencies, community organizations and other stakeholders; increase direct funding to local NGOs and community-based organizations for humanitarian action; provide for organization development and process support in humanitarian action; and reaffirm the principles of partnership among stakeholders and actors.”
He maintained that locals would know better in providing the ideal solution to the affected people in times of disaster.
ICCO was one of the international aid groups who immediately set up emergency response in central parts of the country after Yolanda, from food, shelter, livelihood and capability training to the victims.
On Monday, Cajife also led in a training on disaster preparedness and response for disaster-affected communities in Eastern Visayas and neighboring regions which was attended by over 40 participants, mostly farmers and fisherfolk affiliated to land rights advocate group Rights Inc.