[Civilian-military coordination].
Current humanitarian emergencies create complex, mutidimensional situations that stimulate simultaneous responses from a wide variety of sources including governments, non-governmental organizations (NGO), United Nations agencies, and private individuals. As a result, it has become essential to establish a coherent framework in which each actor can contribute promptly and effectively to the overall effort. This is the role of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. Regardless of the circumstances and level of coordination, cooperation and collaboration between humanitarian and military personnel, it is necessary to bear in mind their objectives. The purpose of humanitarian action is to reduce human suffering. The purpose of military intervention is to stop warfare. The author of this article will discuss the three major obstacles to civilian-military coordination (strategic, tactical, and operational). Operations cannot be conducted smoothly and differences cannot be ironed out without mutual respect between the two parties, an explicit definition of their respective duties and responsibilities, a clear understanding of their cultural differences, and the presence of an organization and facilities for coordination and arbitrage by a neutral referee.
de Montravel
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Service d'intervention en cas de catastrophe, Groupe des ressources militaires et de la protection civile, Bureau de la coordination des affaires humanitaires, Office des Nations Unies, Genève, Suisse. montravel@un.org
D000533:Altruism; D002959:Civil Defense / Q000458:organization & administration*; D004189:Disaster Planning / Q000458:organization & administration; D006077:Government Agencies / Q000458:organization & administration; D006801:Humans; D007373:Interinstitutional Relations; D007391:International Cooperation; D008887:Military Medicine / Q000458:organization & administration*; D009937:Organizational Objectives; D009938:Organizations / Q000458:organization & administration; D012066:Relief Work / Q000458:organization & administration*; D014480:United Nations / Q000458:organization & administration*