Report on – 33rd IC Resolution 7: Disaster laws and policies that leave no one behind (33IC/19/R7) – The Palestine Red Crescent Society

¿ Ha incorporado el Estado/la Sociedad Nacional/la institución los empeños contenidos en esta resolución en los planes estratégicos u operativos pertinentes?

Los compromisos han sido incorporados en
estrategia
política
plan operativo
legislación o normativa (p. ej. ley, reglamentación, estatutos, reglamento, etc.)

A internacional, regional, nacional, local nivel

Explicación:

Strategy and policy: PRCS  has policies and strategies at the DRM that align with the commitments. These are in accordance with the International Federation IFRC but need further development and improvement based on the Palestinian context.

Operational plan / Roadmap: PRCS has a comprehensive operational plan that is actively implemented, especially in emergency situations. This plan is regularly updated.

Legislation (e.g., Law, Regulation, Statutes, Rules of Procedure, etc.): PRCS has established laws and executive procedures that are tailored to our operational contexts, covering all phases of disaster management from preparedness and readiness to recovery. Mainly all of which are aligned with IFRC legislation or some were adopted based on the Palestinian context or PRCS operational Plans.

International Level: DRM utilize tools from the International Federation, such as the National Society Preparedness and Response Mechanism, the Safer Access Framework, the Preparedness for Effective Response (PER) approach, and the Forecast-based Financing (FbF) approach. There is a need to develop an early action protocol for cold waves.

National Level: DRM collaborate with the National Disaster Risk Management Center (PALDRM) in Palestine as a governmental body. We contribute to policy development and review the Sendai Framework to align with the interventions of the (PRCS). Additionally, we engage with the Higher Council for Civil Defense, where PRCS is part of the technical committee formed to discuss local laws related to disaster management, and to establish national vision, policy, objectives, and operational plans.

International Coordination: We work with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) through agreements, project implementation, and Memoranda of Understanding for coordination in emergencies situation, including logistical coordination, team support, and assessment of demolition cases due to occupation. In addition, PRCS contributes to emergency responses internationally in coordination with PICS

Regional Level: We follow the policies and tools of the IFRC and apply them within the context of PRCS. We also collaborate with the Disaster Management Advisory Group (DMAG) for regional coordination.

Local Level: In the Risk Reduction and Climate Change Program, we conduct vulnerability and capacity assessments eVCAs in communities and engage in community participation to identify priorities and risks. This includes enhancing local capacities, providing guidelines for forming community-based risk reduction committees CBDRRc, implementing mitigation projects, and conducting comprehensive environmental awareness programs. We also train community response teams and disaster teams at local levels on several aspects, given that PRCS is among the signatories for the Climate and Environment Charter.

Ha trabajado el Estado/la Sociedad Nacional/la institución con otros asociados para poner en práctica los empeños contenidos en esta resolución?

En asociación con:
Sociedad Nacional de la Cruz Roja o de la Media Luna Roja de su país
gobierno y/o autoridades públicas
CICR/Federación Internacional
otras Sociedades Nacionales de la Cruz Roja y de la Media Luna Roja
asociados en los ámbitos humanitario y de desarrollo (por ejemplo, Naciones Unidas, organizaciones no gubernamentales)
mundo académico
otros asociados

Ejemplos de cooperación:

National Red Cross or Red Crescent Society in your country: Yes, PRCS collaborates with several National Societies including the Turkish Red Crescent, Qatar Red Crescent, Spanish Red Cross, German Red Cross, Netherlands Red Cross, Italian Red Cross, Swedish Red Cross, and Danish Red Cross on various projects.

Government and/or public authorities: Yes, we work closely with the government, including the National Disaster Risk Management Center and the Higher Council for Civil Defense, as well as other governmental institutions such as the Ministry of Health, Environmental and quality authority, water authority, municipal service councils, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and PICA. Our international representation includes intervention and response efforts in disasters like the Pakistan floods, Turkey and Syria earthquakes, and Caribbean tsunamis. We also collaborate with NGOs on capacity-building, awareness, and other initiatives.  This includes collaboration with local Governorates to collect geospatial data for Palestine, aimed at establishing a national geospatial database to determine capacities.

ICRC/IFRC: Yes, we partner with the IFRC through initiatives like the Disaster Relief Emergency Fund (DREF) and Appeals for training and policy development  …etc, PRCS contributes to the DMAG and with the ICRC PRCS coordinates and supports coordination of access, joint assessment and responses in addition to relief.

Other National Red Cross or Red Crescent Societies: Yes, we have partnerships with the Canadian Red Cross, British Red Cross, Norwegian Red Cross, Kuwait Red Crescent, and the Arab Red Crescent and Red Cross Organization (ARCO) for joint projects and international disaster response initiatives.

Humanitarian and development partners (e.g., UN, NGOs, etc.): Yes, we collaborate with various humanitarian and development partners including UN agencies and NGOs such as the Shelter Cluster, Green Response working group, WASH Cluster, World Food Programme (WFP), (OCHA), World Health Organization (WHO), Palestine Humanitarian Fund (PHF), United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), and ACTED as general humanitarian coordination.

Academia: Yes, we work with academic institutions like An-Najah National University and most other universities in country.

Other: Yes, we coordinate with emergency committees, local councils, and municipalities for effective disaster response and management to ensure a cohesive and effective local disaster response and management strategy.

¿Ha habido dificultades para poner en práctica los empeños contenidos en esta resolución?

Dificultades en relación con:
recursos humanos
limitaciones de financiación
conflicto de prioridades
falta de conocimientos o de pericia específica
otros asociados

Describa detalladamente estas dificultades:

Human resources: There is a shortage of human resources, which means we cannot fully cover our organizational structure. This gap underscores the need for additional funding to hire more staff.

Funding constraints:

• The complexity of reporting requirements can be burdensome and time-consuming.
• Procurement processes are often complicated, making it difficult to acquire necessary supplies promptly.
• We must strictly follow donor policies, which includes meticulous tracking of finances and invoices.
• Many invoices need to be in English, requiring additional time and resources for translation.

Competing priorities: The priorities may shift based on current situations and donor policies, which can complicate the implementation of commitments.

Lack of specific knowledge/expertise: While we strive for knowledge exchange and to bring in necessary expertise, there are still gaps that need to be filled.

Other: Sometimes, the local specifications for tents do not meet our required standards, necessitating the procurement of these items from external sources, which can delay our response. In addition, PRCS for instance has a reference/concept note on CVA, in addition to a working modality, however the constraint is to implement it.

¿Han incidido los empeños contenidos en esta resolución en el trabajo y la dirección del Estado/la Sociedad Nacional/la institución?

Tipo de repercusión:
fortalecimiento de la cooperación entre el gobierno o las autoridades públicas y la Sociedad Nacional
aumento de la eficacia y la eficiencia de los programas y operaciones
desarrollo y uso de herramientas o metodologías innovadoras
establecimiento o fortalecimiento de asociaciones con otros actores humanitarios
incremento en la movilización de recursos
formación y capacidad de los miembros del personal y de los voluntarios (en el caso de las Sociedades Nacionales);

Describa detalladamente las repercusiones:

• Cooperation between Government/public authorities and National Society has been strengthened: The commitments have fostered a stronger partnership between PRCS and governmental and public authorities as well as movement components, UN and International NGOS. This enhanced collaboration has led to more effective disaster management and humanitarian response, reflecting our deep-rooted influence in Palestinian society.
• Programming and operations have become more effective and efficient : The PRCS has adapted its programming and operations to better meet current challenges.
• Innovative tools/methodologies have been developed and are utilized: We continuously develop and refine innovative tools and methodologies. By working with other humanitarian organizations, we ensure these tools meet evolving needs. We utilize global tools adapted to the Palestinian context, such as EVCA, WASH, and digital tools like GIS, NEAT+, Radar, eVCAs and ODK. For instance, our collaboration in developing and digitizing these tools enhances our disaster preparedness and response capabilities.
• Partnerships with other humanitarian actors have been created or enhanced : Our partnerships with other humanitarian actors have been significantly strengthened. By aligning with global standards and tools, we ensure our interventions in areas like food security, health and shelter (NFI) are both effective and contextually appropriate.
• Increase in mobilization of resources: The resolution has enabled us to mobilize more resources, ensuring we have the necessary funding and materials to support our operations and initiatives effectively especially in our operational programs and emergency responses via EA, call for support,….
• Training and capacity of staff and volunteers has increased (for National Societies):There has been a continuous effort to enhance the training and capacity of our staff and volunteers. This includes courses on preparedness, rapid assessment, and other critical areas, ensuring our teams are well-equipped to handle emergencies and implement effective interventions.

5. Han incidido los empeños contenidos en esta resolución en las comunidades a las que el Estado/la Sociedad Nacional/la institución presta servicios?

Describa las repercusiones:

• Community Participation (EVCA): The Enhanced Vulnerability and Capacity Assessment (EVCA) process has significantly impacted community engagement. This participatory approach helps in the formation of community committees and improves emergency response plans, while ensuring ownership, sustainability and Business continuity to our responses and programs.
• Committee Formation and Assessment: Establishing local committees (CBDRRc) has been crucial. These committees conduct first aid assessments and develop emergency plans, including rapid assessments of needs, distribution of food parcels, and setting up emergency shelters.
• Emergency Preparedness: Our initiatives have strengthened community capacities to respond to emergencies. For instance, by distributing food parcels and setting up shelters, we help maintain individual dignity and meet immediate needs.
• CBDRR Committees: We have established Disaster management rooms for CBDRR committees to operate and implemented mitigation projects. Community response teams are trained, and awareness programs are conducted to educate local populations about disaster preparedness and response. Also, this will include environmental best practice and Climate change awareness.
• Advocacy: Through advocacy efforts, we raise awareness about the importance of disaster preparedness and the role of the community in emergency response. This includes promoting safe practices and community resilience. In addition, we enhance our efforts towards the adoption and enforcement of a disaster law in country via advocacy and HD alongside the legislative part.
• WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene): Addressing WASH needs is critical, especially in areas like Gaza. We construct latrines and manage waste disposal in affected areas ensuring that sanitation needs are met even under challenging circumstances.