Message sent to some UN agencies (FAO Geneva,
HABITAT Geneva, UNDP Geneva, UNHCR Geneva, UNICEF Geneva, WFP Geneva, WHO
Geneva, ICRC Geneva, IFRC Geneva, Médecins sans Frontières Geneva, Médecins
sans Frontières Belgium, OXFAM UK, MERLIN London) regarding the mission
of evaluation following the earthquake in Afghanistan.
1. With reference to the earthquake
which hit northern Afghanistan on 4 February 1998, the Under-Secretary-General
for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator recommended that
an independent evaluation of the UN system-wide response to the disaster
would be useful. It was foreseen that such an evaluation could look into
local/regional preparedness and response mechanisms, coordination arrangements,
information flow and attempt to draw lessons learnt from what was in many
sense a worse case scenario. This evaluation should also consider ways
of building up a regional response capacity.
2. To perform this task, OCHA has identified a consultant familiar with the overall situation/region who will conduct the study from 22 April to 15 May 1998. The Terms of Reference for the evaluation, developed in consultation with the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Assistance to Afghanistan, are attached.
3. The consultant will be contacting UN agencies as well as other organizations involved in the initial phase of the response, and her schedule is as follows (subject to change):
22 - 27 April 1998 | Geneva |
28 April | Travel to Islamabad |
29 April to 11 May | Islamabad/affected area in northern Afghanistan |
11 May | Travel to Geneva |
12 - 15 May | Geneva (writing up of the report) |
4. For further information, please contact either the responsible Desk Officer, Mr. Rudolf Mueller, TelNo.: +41 22 917 3131/e-mail:rudolph.muller@dha.unicc.org or Ms. Sarah Longford directly, e-mail: SLongford@compuserve.com
AFGHANISTAN - EARTHQUAKE
POST DISASTER EVALUATION
Terms of Reference
1) Objective
The objective of the post-disaster evaluation is to assess the UN system-wide response to the Rustaq earthquake and to prepare a detailed account on it as well as to make proposals on ways to build up a regional response capacity.
2) Evaluator
Ms. Sarah Longford, Consultant
The evaluation mission will be conducted on behalf of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. The findings of the evaluation will be made available to the UN system, donors and international relief agencies/organizations involved in the response to the earthquake.
3) Suggested Timeframe
Four weeks in April/May 1998. The evaluation would include a mission to Geneva to assess the performance of the responsible desk and to contact other international organizations. A mission to Islamabad and, if possible, to the earthquake-affected area, to evaluate the response/coordination activities of UN agencies would be part of the overall task.
4) Main Tasks
Summarize the course of events in the initial phase of the disaster (reasons for the delays, problems encountered in Afghanistan, Tajikistan and Pakistan to obtain accurate information)
Analyse the reasons for the delay in responding to the emergency
Evaluate the international aid contributed in response to the first UN appeals/situation reports, in terms of its timeliness, suitability, coverage vis-a-vis actual needs and its complementarity to other efforts (in particular those of ICRC) and impact (to which quality of life has been improved)
Review of the role of the United Nations Disaster Assessment and Coordination (UNDAC) team in Islamabad, Peshawar and Rustaq
Analyse reasons for logistical bottlenecks and use of stand-by arrangements, and how these could be improved
Look into local/regional preparedness and response mechanisms (involvement of local capacities in response to the emergency)
Look into coordination arrangements and information flows
Identify any lessons learned by the UN system when responding to future disasters in Afghanistan
Prepare a thorough account on the findings of the evaluation
Thank you for your cooperation.
Disclaimer
- UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs
- To learn more about OCHA's activities, please visit https://www.unocha.org/.