RESEARCH IN HUMANITARIAN CRISES Dr. Soumyadeep Bhaumik : Opportunities & Challenges

Humanitarian Crises “All current trends suggest that more people–particularly in developing countries–will be affected by humanitarian emergencies in the coming decades. Not only will they become more frequent, they will also be increasingly unpredictable and complex..” --DFID, UK Humanitarian Emergency Response Review 2011 Why ?  Climate Change  Food Insecurity  Armed Conflicts  Infectious Disease Outbreaks  Financial Crises Evidence base for action in humanitarian settings is weak. Burden caused by natural disasters adds to the existing burden of morbidity and mortality

Why research in humanitarian crises ?  In crises everything is scarce – optimal usage necessary  Do no harm principle- we are for good. Research is vital to accurately describe phenomena in humanitarian emergency situations and to evaluate the effectiveness and appropriateness of interventions

PTSD is a real effect and so are infectious diseases which have potentials to wipe entire communities. ONLY EVIDENCE CAN ANSWER Human knowledge is all about analyzing history and bringing it to current context. Is early disposal of dead body beneficial ?

Why NOT research in humanitarian crises Humanitarian Crises and particularly research in it is strongly related to politics and diplomacy. A politician fears nothing more than truth armed with facts and figures.  Why divert resource to research when resources are limited? Should not helping be the priority  How can it be ensured that the research conducted is high-quality, addressing the most important issues for the people who are the research subjects, and actually making a difference?  - How can scientific objectivity and neutrality be maintained in research when the humanitarian situation demands strong advocacy? Plos Blogs May 2012 Listen to the people who are affected and give them what they need, rather than aiming to be the “perfect” humanitarian aid worker If you are in a situation where politics can influence your work, you must define who you are: a researcher. That means being as unbiased, neutral, and as objective as one can be and not letting yourself be used as a political pawn Dr. Hans Scientific Day

Types  Field epidemiology and health status measurement  Health systems, financing and services  Disease control Pic Courtesy :

Where research steps in ?  Analyze Your Area’s Hazards, Risks, And Vulnerabilities  Independent Assessment of Mitigation, Prevention & Preparedness  Using best evidence for response  Detailed planning of recovery  Helps address some ethical issues  Outbreak preventions and detection  Anatomy of a disaster – building history for the benefit of future disasters.

Ethical challenges in conducting research in humanitarian crisis situations.  Focus on best interest of the victims or future victims  Might unnecessarily expose human subjects and the researcher to careless harm  Improper / inadequate scientific rigor.  Victims of emergency situations are vulnerable populations that need special protection from exploitation  Culturally insensitivity to the needs of the victims Malawi Med J Jun;20(2):46-9. Crises should not be an excuse for unethical conduct or lax ethical norms.

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