Discuss three of the nine Sphere Core Humanitarian Standards. Identify the one that you think is most often neglected in the case of natural disasters or complex humanitarian emergencies. Discuss characteristics of complex humanitarian emergencies in your response. Share a real example of how these standards were (or were not) applied in a recent humanitarian crisis.
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Introduction:
Humanitarian assistance is vital in natural disasters or complex humanitarian emergencies. It is necessary to adhere to the Sphere Core Humanitarian Standards that ensure a minimum level of response. These standards improve the quality and effectiveness of humanitarian assistance. This response provides an in-depth analysis of three Sphere Core Humanitarian Standards and identifies the most neglected in natural disasters or complex humanitarian emergencies. A real-life example of how these standards were applied in a recent humanitarian crisis is also discussed.
Answer:
Three Sphere Core Humanitarian Standards that are crucial for effective humanitarian assistance are Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene Promotion (WASH), Shelter and Non-Food Items, and Health Action.
The most neglected Sphere Core Humanitarian Standard in the case of natural disasters or complex humanitarian emergencies is the Health Action. Health Action aims to provide affected populations with access to basic health services that cover prevention, care, and treatment. In complex humanitarian emergencies, access to health care is a crucial factor in reducing morbidity and mortality rates. It is often neglected in emergencies because of inadequate funding, compromised health system structures, and displacement of health workers.
Complex humanitarian emergencies result from a combination of factors such as protracted conflicts, natural disasters, and internal displacement of people. They pose a significant challenge to humanitarian actors because of their unpredictable nature. The characteristics of complex humanitarian emergencies include a high number of affected civilians, limited access to affected areas, destruction of infrastructure and resources, and acute needs for basic services like health care.
A real-life example of how these standards were applied in a recent humanitarian crisis is the Rohingya crisis. Rohingya refugees fled Myanmar due to persecution and violence in 2017, leading to a significant influx of refugees in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh. Humanitarian actors responded to the crisis by providing shelter, food, water, and medical assistance to the refugees. However, the Health action standard was not adequately applied due to the high number of refugees compared to the available health facilities. This led to a surge in preventable diseases and deaths among the Rohingya refugees.
In conclusion, adhering to the Sphere Core Humanitarian Standards is essential in providing effective humanitarian assistance. Neglecting one of these standards could result in a significant negative impact on the affected population. Humanitarian actors must commit to addressing these humanitarian standards to improve the response, especially in natural disasters or complex humanitarian emergencies.
