Managing External Relations - Disaster Management Center ...

Annex 2
The International Federation of the Red Cross (IFRC) works with National Red Cross and Red
Crescent Societies to co-ordinate emergency response and development activities. The IFRC works
closely with agencies in the UN system and others to provide emergency assistance while maintaining
its operational, financial and political independence. Emergency activities are centred in a Disaster
Response and Operations Co-ordination Division in the Secretariat in Geneva. IFRC maintains a
system of Emergency Response Units that are structured combinations of equipment, trained
personnel and management structures. The IFRC has taken the lead in developing and promoting a
voluntary Code of Conduct among NGOs. The Code of Conduct can be found on the World Wide
Web at (http://www.ifrc.org/pubs/code/#code) the following are the principal points of the code:
Principles of Conduct for the International Red Cross and Red Crescent
Movement and NGOs in Disaster Response Programmes
1. The humanitarian imperative comes first.
2. Aid is given regardless of the race, creed or nationality of the recipients and
without adverse distinction of any kind. Aid priorities are calculated on the
basis of need alone.
3. Aid will not be used to further a particular political or religious standpoint.
4. We shall endeavor not to act as instruments of government foreign policy.
5. We shall respect culture and custom.
6. We shall attempt to build disaster response on local capacities.
7. Ways shall be found to involve programme beneficiaries in the
management of relief aid.
8. Relief aid must strive to reduce future vulnerabilities to disaster as well as
meeting basic needs.
9. We hold ourselves accountable to both those we seek to assist and those
from whom we accept resources.
10. In our information, publicity and advertising activities, we shall recognise
disaster victims as dignified humans, not hopeless objects.
The International Organisation for Migration (IOM) is an inter-governmental body that was
created to ensure humane and orderly migration of persons in need of migration assistance. In
emergencies, IOM covers a range of activities such as arranging transport, evacuations and returns
and providing health care and temporary shelter. IOM may work with UNHCR in the repatriation of
refugees. The following information is on the World Wide Web at (http://www.iom.int/iom/
Mandate_and_Structure/entry.htm).
Humanitarian Migration
Humanitarian migration programmes provide migration assistance to persons fleeing
conflict situations, to refugees being resettled in third countries or repatriated, to
stranded individuals and unsuccessful asylum seekers returning home, to internally
and externally displaced persons, to other persons compelled to leave their homelands,
to individuals seeking to reunite with other members of their families and to migrants
involved in regular migration. IOM provides these individuals with secure, reliable,
cost-effective services including: counseling, document processing, medical examination,
transportation, language training and cultural orientation and integration assistance.
Such services may be provided singly or in combination depending on the activity,
programme, or needs of the individual.
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