1. Purpose
This protocol helps you decide what CARE type an emergency fits into. This will affect CARE's decisions (see protocol C5) about the likely scale of the emergency and the resources needed to respond.
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2. Policy
CARE monitors all emergencies in countries where we have a CO. We respond to:
- all emergencies in areas where the CO currently operates
- all major emergencies in the country.
In countries where CARE has little or no presence, we consider responding to all major emergencies. We normally respond only in countries with limited local capacity (developing countries).
Guided by CARE's humanitarian mandate we base decisions about emergency type on:
- Humanitarian need: total number of people affected, number of people severely affected and amount of physical damage
- Humanitarian response service gap: the gap between needs and local capacities (outside CARE) to respond.
CARE emergency types
There are three types of emergencies that CARE may respond to:
- Type 1. Small to medium emergency in a country where CARE has a CO. The service gap is manageable, so the CO would need little support from CI.
- Type 2. Major emergency in a country where CARE has a CO. There are major service gaps where CARE could add value. CI would need to provide a lot of support.
- Type 3. Major emergency in a country where CARE does not have a CO.
Note on type 3 emergencies
CARE needs an Lead Member/coordinator for the country before it can start responding. The CI Secretary General appoints this coordinator as soon as possible (in consultation with the CI ERD and CI Executive Committee). CEG and the Lead Member/coordinator manage the first steps in a type 3 response).
The CCG determines the emergency type in a conference call. (If the impact of the emergency is limited and a service gap is unlikely, the CCG may not assign an emergency type or consider responding). The CCG should let all parts of CARE know its decision and reasons. Emergency type can be revised if the situation changes.
The CCG determines emergency type before it decides to respond. Protocol C5 deals with the decision whether to respond.
Do not wait for these decisions before you start assessing needs or take small-scale actions to save lives.
What determines emergency type
This table shows the factors the CCG usually considers when it determines emergency type.
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Type 1
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Type 2
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Type 3
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Total number of people affected
Weight this number based on severity of effects.
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Typically 1,000 to 100,000
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Typically more than 100,000
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Typically more than 500,000
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Number severely affected
Dead, at immediate life-threatening risk, or displaced.
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Typicaly 1,000 to 30,000
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Typically more than 30,000
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Typically more than 100,000
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Estimated scale of physical damage
To housing and critical infrastructure.
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Limited
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Significant
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Significant
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Humanitarian response service gap
Local non-CARE capacity to respond.
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Some gaps. Local capacity may become overwhelmed.
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Significant gaps. Local capacity is overwhelmed.
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Significant gaps. Local capacity is overwhelmed.
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How emergency type affects the way CARE manages the response
Type 1: CEG will help as needed. The CO can still expect priority support from CI, especially for fundraising.
Type 2: The CO needs to scale up its operations. It can expect a lot of support and resources from CI. Senior managers will be closely involved- including the CI ERD. These emergencies need an AAR. The CO still leads the response - CEG will not rush in and take over, but will provide close monitoring and support.
You must follow CARE's emergency management protocols in both type 1 and type 2 emergencies.
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