Intended to be a working tool for all organisations who might be involved in emergency response, it will be used as a prompt to review, update and improve their plans. It aims to show:
- how Humanitarian Assistance Centres (HACs) fit into the wider humanitarian response
- what preparation should be done now,
- how to decide whether to establish a HAC and how to get one up and running quickly
- the vital importance of publicity and managing communications
- what legal limitations there are on sharing victims’ contact details between agencies, and
- the roles and responsibilities of all the organisations that may be involved in the humanitarian response to an emergency.
Humanitarian Assistance in Emergencies is the result of the work the DCMS Humanitarian Assistance Unit has led across government to assist planning for the humanitarian aspects of emergencies. The booklet draws on the experience of the Cabinet Office, the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO), the Local Government Association (LGA), the Red Cross and Disaster Action.
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Tessa Jowell was appointed Humanitarian Assistance Minister in July 2005 and the Humanitarian Assistance Unit now works across Central Government and with local responders to find ways to improve existing services and plans so that people affected in emergencies receive the information, assistance and support they need.
DCMS has also today published an independent literature review which looks at the needs of people affected by emergencies over the past forty years and offers some practical recommendations about how responders can best plan for a humanitarian response to any future emergencies.
Notes to editors:
1. For a copy of the guidance please visit the UK Resilience website (link will open into a PDF document).
2. For a copy of the independent literature review please visit the Reference library page of this website.
3. The guidance focuses on the concept of a ‘Humanitarian Assistance Centre’ – previously known as the ‘Family Assistance Centre’ model – a physical or virtual location which brings together a range of services or specialisms which can together provide information, assistance and support to those affected in an emergency
4. The Humanitarian Assistance Unit in Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) is focused on three areas of work:
- Coordinate aftercare for victims of recent emergencies – offering a direct point of contact within government, organising memorial and commemorative events, learning lessons from victims’ experiences, funding the 7 July Assistance Centre;
- Assisting emergency planning ahead of future incidents – working with other parts of central government and alongside local responders to find ways to improve existing services;
- Supporting local responders in the response to an emergency - providing a link for local responders to advice and support from central government.
5. The Emergency Planning College offers training on establishing and managing Assistance Centres and this new guidance will become the basic text for those courses. For more information please go to the Emergency Planning College website.
