Until recently, Unmanned Aerial Vehicles, or UAVs, had been largely associated in the public mind with military uses, particularly armed attacks. However, increasing civilian use by hobbyists, researchers and others has started to change perceptions. UAVs, also known as remotely piloted aircraft or drones, are already used commercially for agriculture, surveying, wildlife monitoring and conservation, real estate assessments and other areas. Civilian use is likely to rise, with one study estimating that the agricultural market for UAVs could be up to ten times the public safety market. UAVs are reaching a critical juncture in their development, as regulations emerge in many countries and the technology becomes affordable enough for mass use.
Despite the visceral response that many have to the idea of “eyes in the sky”, interest is building in using UAVs in humanitarian response. Manufacturers are marketing UAVs as “life-saving technology” for humanitarians to build legitimacy, as a new generation of start-ups is developing technology for humanitarian use.
Portable micro-UAVs have already been deployed by humanitarian actors in Haiti and the Philippines after Typhoon Yolanda for mapping, improved situational awareness and needs assessment. While primary uses are data-collection and monitoring, research is underway on the delivery of goods, particularly smaller items such as vaccines.
Peacekeeping and military actors are also increasingly interested in using UAVs to support mission mandates, including the protection of civilians. The United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) recently began using its own long-range UAVs for reconnaissance and data-gathering tasks, and has made these capacities available to humanitarian agencies.
This move from speculation to reality raises challenging questions around regulation, safety, privacy and how to best integrate UAVs into humanitarian response. Answering these questions will require developing coherent policies, legal frameworks and good practices for engaging with affected communities.
This report will outline potential uses of UAVs in humanitarian response and emerging issues. It will also consider how humanitarians should engage with the capacities offered by UAVs used by peacekeepers or militaries in humanitarian contexts. The report will not cover the legal and ethical implications of armed UAVs or other autonomous weapons systems, although the continuing debate over their use in armed attacks will surely have an impact on the acceptance of civilian uses.
Disclaimer
- UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs
- To learn more about OCHA's activities, please visit https://www.unocha.org/.