FUNDAMENTALS
OF
INTELLIGENCE SUPPORT
TO
HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE
AND
DISASTER RELIEF
OPERATIONS
Lt Col Paulson,
USCINCPAC/J2
1
OBJECTIVE
• Provide an overview of intelligence
concepts and their application to
humanitarian assistance and disaster
relief (HA/DR) operations
Lt Col Paulson,
USCINCPAC/J2
2
OUTLINE
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
UN Perspective
Info Requirements and Sources
Doctrine
Intel Contributions
Intel Challenges
Info Architecture
Lessons Learned
Lt Col Paulson,
USCINCPAC/J2
3
INTELLIGENCE
- UN Perspective
“Massive flows of refugees and displaced persons have
become the central feature of most humanitarian
emergencies.”
-- Mr Eliasson, former UN Sec-Gen for Humanitarian Affairs
“We don’t call it intelligence, but it’s the same thing.
We both have a need for accurate and timely
information.”
-- Ms Ogata, former UN High Commissioner for Refugees
“Information is not the problem; the problem is
analysis.”
-- Emergency Preparedness and Response Officer, UNHCR
Lt Col Paulson,
USCINCPAC/J2
4
INTEL SUPPORT TO
HA/DR
Typical Information Requirements:
• Political, economic, and social data
• Details about refugees/displaced persons
– specific needs (food, water, shelter, medicine)
– cultural and demographic considerations
– future intentions
• Maps and physical characteristics of the crisis area
• Infrastructure and resources in the host country
• Major relief organizations in the crisis area
• Threats to relief personnel (crime, civic violence, health)
Lt Col Paulson,
USCINCPAC/J2
5
INTEL SUPPORT TO
HA/DR
• Principal sources of information:
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
Refugees/displaced persons
IO and NGOs in the crisis area
Host Nation governments
Regional and international organizations
Other UN organizations with field presence
Coalition partners
Local media
• Clandestine intelligence may not be useful
– Could undermine humanitarian nature of operation
– Insufficient time to make HUMINT operational
– Foreign disclosure challenges
Lt Col Paulson,
USCINCPAC/J2
6
INTEL SUPPORT TO
HA/DR
The primary intel effort must focus on answering the
commander’s priority intelligence requirements assisting in
the accomplishment of the mission
- Involves assessing the potential threats to the HA/DR
mission (from forces external and/or internal to the affected
population)
- The unique aspects of HA/DR ops may result in
significant or even primary emphasis being placed upon
logistic [to include transportation and infrastructure],
medical, or political intelligence and/or intel support to CA
and PSYOP
Lt Col Paulson,
USCINCPAC/J2
-- Joint Pub 3-07.6
7
INTEL SUPPORT TO
HA/DR
Collection should not be equated with hostile penetration of
a country’s internal affairs;
- In fact, open sources may be an excellent source to
determine agendas and patterns of operation and to
identify factional territory
- In some cases, provisions have to be made for
working with governments for which no previously
established intelligence agreements exist…
- … and for exchanging security-related information
with NGOs, and IOs.
-- Joint Pub 3-07.6
Lt Col Paulson,
USCINCPAC/J2
INTEL SUPPORT TO
HA/DR
• Because of NGO and IO sensitivities regarding negative
perceptions generated by working with military (and
intelligence) organizations, use of the term “information” vice
“intelligence” may be less inflammatory.
Joint Pub 3-07.6
• But be up front and honest about who you are (integrity and
transparency)
• A working relationship can develop with IO and NGOs if you
can explain your purpose, intentions, boundaries, and what you
can offer to them.
• Information exchange: must be two-way
– so IO and NGOs don’t see you as a ‘leech’
– personnel protection is valuable data to IO and NGOs
Lt Col Paulson,
USCINCPAC/J2
9
INTEL SUPPORT TO
HA/DR
What can military intelligence
contribute to HA/DR operations?
• Expertise in information collection, analysis and
dissemination
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
Indications and Warning
Predictive analysis
Situational awareness
Force protection assessments
USG info and intel dissemination
Imagery
Information flow architecture
• An entity other than operators and field reps
digesting and assessing massive amounts of data
Lt Col Paulson,
USCINCPAC/J2
INTEL SUPPORT TO
HA/DR
Challenges to military intelligence in HA/DR
operations
• A natural inclination for military personnel to focus
on enemy “threats”
– INTSUMs dominated by force protection, rather than
balanced with situational awareness
• Requires a deliberate shift from conventional military
intel analysis to HA/DR analysis
– I.e. key terrain changes from hilltops to hospitals
– The enemy becomes disease, crime, civil unrest, damage
Lt Col Paulson,
USCINCPAC/J2
INTEL SUPPORT TO
HA/DR
Challenges to military intelligence in HA/DR
operations
• Image perception
– “Cloak and dagger spies” and “torturers”
• Recent arrivals to the crisis typically lack deep
knowledge and in-country experience
• Interoperability
– Equipment/Doctrine/Experience
Lt Col Paulson,
USCINCPAC/J2
INTEL SUPPORT TO
HA/DR
Challenges to military intelligence in HA/DR
operations
• Language / cultural differences
• Disclosure of classified information
• Intelligence vs. Information
– Interaction with IO, NGOs, etc.
Lt Col Paulson,
USCINCPAC/J2
COMBINED INFORMATION
ARCHITECTURE
COALITION
GOV’TS
HOST
NATION
NGO’s
CIVILMILITARY
OPS
CENTER
(CMOC)
C/JTF
NAT’L SPT
ELM
OPS
ANALYSIS
C2
COLL
MAN
UN
C2X
Combined Military Information Center - CMIC
REFUGEES
& DPs
LESSONS LEARNED FROM
PREVIOUS HA/DR OPS
• Best sources of information on emerging HA/DR crisis could be
in-country NGOs and Host Nation
• Honest and open communications is key
• CMIC liaison in CMOC
• Info is abundant; analysis is the problem
• Don’t focus on force protection to the detriment of ability to
monitor other aspects of the situation
• Clandestine HUMINT may not be useful
• Unclassified intelligence products are imperative in
relationships with coalitions, IO and NGOs
• Sensitive info should be handled with discretion, not classification
• Understand ethnic and organizational cultures, objectives, bias
• Have the ability to operate “low tech”
Lt Col Paulson,
USCINCPAC/J2
FUNDAMENTALS
OF
INTELLIGENCE SUPPORT
TO
HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE
AND
DISASTER RELIEF
OPERATIONS
Lt Col Paulson,
USCINCPAC/J2
23