TNAG-1021-FCO40-1271-Relations-between-Hong-Kong-and-international-organisations-1981 — Page 34

1

azzlı

CONFIDENTIAL

C Me Searle

(HIGD).

Foreign and Commonwealth Office Plach UNDept & copy

London SW1A 2AH

CW Long Esq

UKMis

GENEVA

Telephone 01-

Mr. Orrin HKE

k k

Done MAS

ᄑ

@ Obs pl to Mr Marice

Your reference

Our reference UNS 243/3

Dato

in fist plane

10 February 1981

}

Jese Christopher.

COORDINATION OF HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE

1. For some time now we have been comparing notes with other departments on shortcomings in the management of international relief efforts following natural or man-made disasters. We had hoped to be able to produce a comprehensive background paper on the subject, but decided against this because of the lack of hard evidence to justify some of our tentative conclusions and because we felt it essential to include a wider circle of those involved in the issue before attempting to define policy. The purpose of this letter is therefore to attempt an analysis of the problem, identify some of the solutions that have been proposed, and add a comment-- ary on the factors that are likely to influence decision-making when the issue is debated in ECOSOC later in the year. I apologise in advance for its length, and can assure you that all comments will be welcome, including critical ones. We have also prepared a background note on the origins and performance of UNDRO, for use mainly as an enclosure to submissions etc. / I enclose a copy, on which I should also welcome comments.

- -

2. Although inadequate or tardy emergency assistance in times of sudden massive disasters can be the result of a variety of factors, there is little doubt that incompetence of host governments apart - the single most important problem is poor coordination among the UN and voluntary agencies. This stems from a variety of causes and creates a range of problems, including:

a)

Duplication of effort (sometimes even competition) between UN agencies and between the agencies and voluntary organisations leading to potentially wasteful deployment of human and material resources.

b)

CONFIDENTIAL