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19-21 Broad Street | St Helier Jersey | JE2 4WE
Deputy Moz Scott
Chair, Economic and International Affairs Panel
BY EMAIL
27 September 2023 Dear Deputy ,
Many thanks for your letter dated the 21st of September 2023. I too share your concern following the recent earthquake in Morocco and the subsequent emergency in Libya.
- How you will be identifying if aid is required in Morrocco?
JOA staff rely on a number of sources when considering responding to a humanitarian emergency, including to the recent Morocco earthquake.
Partnerships and Networks: JOA has a varied network of humanitarian partners thrrough which they are able to reach out for specific information. These include large INGOs (such as Plan International, Save the Children), smaller more niche humanitarian organisations, UN agencies (UNHCR, OCHA and UNICEF) as well as other government donors.
Information Management: JOA staff use a suite of on-line information services designed to inform humanitarians. These sites provide detailed situation overviews, data, up to date information on needs, areas of priority, and funding gaps, as well as maps and infographics. Examples include ReliefWeb (a service provided by the UN’s Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs) and ACAPS. In addition, JOA partners freely share their situation reports, allowing JOA staff to understand who is prioritising what and where.
Professional Experience: Many of our staff have worked for development and/or humanitarian agencies overseas including for UN agencies in Palestine, Nepal and Uganda. In addition, monitoring trips of JOA funded projects have allowed staff members to observe ongoing crises and respective responses in countries including the Central African Republic, Bangladesh, Ukraine and Palestine. This experience allows staff to analyse and interpret reports, understand the complexities and context as well as the background of organisations involved. JOA’s Commission also has considerable expertise, including a Commissioner with a 30 year career with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
Regarding Morocco, it was a timely coincidence that JOA staff were visiting humanitarian partners in London, including the British Red Cross and RedR, and were able to discuss the situation in depth with key staff members responsible for the organisations’ response.
- What provision of aid is available in such instances if required?
JOA typically spends approximately 25% of its annual budget on humanitarian relief. Much of that amount is committed at the beginning of the year to effective humanitarian mechanisms such as pooled funds and to specific protracted crises such as the Rohingya refugee emergency in Bangladesh. However, a certain amount is left uncommitted allowing JOA to respond to rapid onset emergencies such earthquakes, climate shocks and disease outbreaks. Typically grant sizes are between £100,000 to £150,000 per organisation and are underpinned by a signed Grant Agreement.
- If aid funding has been, or is envisaged to be, allocated to Morrocco at this time?
JOA have awarded a grant of £75,000 to British charity, RedR. Building on its extensive experience in earthquake response – most recently in response to the Turkey-Syria earthquake (which JOA also supported) - RedR will mobilise localised engineering solutions in earthquake response and reconstruction. The project will work with 814 engineers, technical responders and other humanitarian responders in Morocco to support safe recovery and response. The organisation will leverage its position as a bridge between the engineering and humanitarian sectors to support an effective and resilient response – which includes assessing building safety and damages, repair, safe demolition and debris management. RedR’s approach to improving skills and knowledge of local actors and bolstering locally-led and effective humanitarian action aligns with JOA’s principles, whilst being good value for money and building local resilience.
I have attached a press release that announced the funding, along with the details of resources allocated to the relief effort in Libya.
On this occasion we responded to the emergency quickly, however it may not always be the case that an immediate response is issued. As you know, situations often move quickly, and it is sometimes the case that we await to have further information until a decision is made. On occasion it is appropriate to wait to have adequate time to assess the needs, given that information flow in emergencies is highly impacted. As Jersey’s official aid agency, it is always our priority to give aid in a way that will be the most impactful and the best value for money.
Kind regards,
Deputy Carolyn Labey
Minister for International Development