Emergencies, Disaster Risk and Humanitarian Actions
Annual Report 2014-2015
By: Marjon Feenstra (Program Coordinator)
Context
Program structure
Interim Program Coordinator Emergencies, Disaster Risk and Humanitarian Action till
September 2015 is Marjon Feenstra (IFMSA-The Netherlands). The program team consists
of Yamen Jabr (IFMSA-Egypt) and Marjon Feenstra. The SCORP Director, Jessica Zhang,
and the Liaison Officer on Human Rights and Peace, Moa Herrard are the TO members,
who support us with work in this Program.
Emergencies, Disaster Risk and Humanitarian Action focuses on medical students actions in
conflict and peacebuilding, in country refugees, placement of refugees and migration within
the country, disaster management and resilience, humanitarian action including
humanitarian law, education of medical students on these topics, border health, health care
in danger. There is already a lot of work been done in this field by the National Member
Organisations (NMOs) and IFMSA. There is still potential for NMOs and IFMSA to grow in
this field and have a significant impact on medical students and vulnerable groups in the
society, but also in working with stakeholders.
Currently, the work NMOs are working on a local level and IFMSA is working on an
international level with external partners. As a result of this, is that NMOs and IFMSA are
working separately from each other. With the Program Emergencies, Disaster Risk and
Humanitarian Action, there will be created a bridge between the both to exchange results
and opportunities, to have a higher impact on the community.
The majority of the projects currently reported focus on disaster risk, refugees and
humanitarian action. However, there is potential for the same projects to extend their work
and target other vulnerable groups and medical students using similar interventions to fulfill
their outcomes.
IFMSA has been actively involved in capacity building for Disaster Risk Management and
Health care in Danger via preGAs and during sessions in Regional Meetings,General
Assemblies and SRT’s. Here medical students are empowered and equipped to work in this
field in their NMO and in IFMSA.
Program areas
Topics covered by the Program Emergencies, Disaster Risk and Humanitarian Actions are:
 Conflict and peacebuilding, in country refugees.
 Placement of refugees and migration within the country.
 Disaster management and resilience.
 Humanitarian action including humanitarian law.
 Education of medical students on these topics.
 Border health.
 Health care in danger.
Targeting criteria
Medical students are engaged via trainings during General Assemblies in the SCORP
Sessions and during joint sessions. The last three General Assemblies there were three
intensive capacity building workshops during the preGAs for approximately 30 medical
students each preGA in Disaster Risk Management and Health Care in Disasters. Also
during pre-regional meetings there have been held intensive workshops, for example the
Health Care in Danger at the EMR 2015 with ICRC and EuRegMe 2015 with Human Rights
Violations and Disasters in Europe. Next to the official meetings of IFMSA, there have been
Sub Regional Trainings who touched upon topics covered by this Program for example the
Health Care in Danger SRT of IFMSA-Sweden. In september 2015 there will be held the first
Training Disaster Medicine Trainers (TdmT) in cooperation with CRIMEDIM.
Approach
Questions that need to be answered
What has been done in the past by IFMSA and the NMOs in emergency, disaster risk and
humanitarian actions?
Assessment of existing surveys, transnational project reports, and reports of existing
external partners.
Which NMOs are already involved in this topic? And what kind of activities are held in this
topic?
Here will be used first a quantitative method to list the NMOs. Afterwards a qualitative
method will be used to asses the different activities in problem statement, objectives,
indicators.
Which NMO’s want to be engaged in this topic? And why want they be involved?
Here will be used first a quantitative method to list the NMOs. Afterwards a qualitative
method will be used to asses the different activities in problem statement, objectives,
indicators.
What do NMOs need for the program coordinator and the program team for support in
existing activities and proposed activities?
A qualitative method will be used. First to asses the NMO reports and sending a survey to
the National Officers to get the information about supporting the NMOs.
How many students, healthcare workers and vulnerable groups have already been reached?
And how can they be reached more easy?
A quantitative method will be used to asses the number of participants for the existing
activities.
Where can we, as IFMSA, work on in this topic with our external partners?
Quantitative assessment via the LRP to contact external partners and assessing existing
MoU’s.
Methods applied
The methods that are used for the collection of the data related to the program were
reviewing the NMO reports of AM2014 and MM2015. Furthermore, data was collected from
the Activity Fair application, previous MSIs and the projects reports of MM2013 and
AM2014. For the institutional arrangements the LRP was called for input and the existing
policy statements were used. For input about previous surveys and data from previous
official IFMSA meeting the SCORP D and the LRP were asked. Analysis was qualitatively
made about IFMSA global action and NMOs advocacy efforts in different areas that the
program serves.
Conducted surveys
There has been held a survey under medical students on the degree of Disaster Medicine in
Medical Education. The data has been collected, but still needs to be assessed. Therefor the
results are not there yet to present.
Analysis
Results
Focus areas of NMOs
 Refugees
 Disaster Risk Management
 Humanitarian Action
 Health care in danger
In the NMO reports of March Meeting 2015 and August Meeting 2014 there is stated that 44
NMOs are involved in topics covered by this program. Every IFMSA Region is represented,
only not equally. Mostly, the topic of refugees is touched upon in the NMOs. Examples are
Warm to the Refugees from IFMSA-Kurdistan and Medinetz from bvmd Germany. Other
activities are training medical students in healthcare in danger or inequalities in health care
for vulnerable groups. This data is collected from the NMO Reports from August Meeting
2014 and March Meeting 2015, there is a possibility that some NMO did not mention their
activities in this field.
IFMSA has covered in country refugees, placement of refugees and migration within the
country, disaster management, humanitarian action including humanitarian law, education of
medical students on these topics, health care in danger in specific NMOs. There is still no
cohesive group in IFMSA, who are working on Emergencies, Disaster Risk and
Humanitarian Action. The African Region and the East Mediterranean are more focused on
refugees and migrant health. The Asia-Pacific focusses on Disaster Medicine. Americas and
Europe are focusing on different topics of the Program. There can not be made an
estimation of the impact on the population, due to lack of data. As IFMSA, we can increase
the NMO involvement in this program, to increase the impact.
Approximately, 44 percent of activities are campaigns that raise awareness on vulnerable
groups, 22 percent trainings for medical students, 24 percent other activities as advocacy
and community outreach. Here could not be made a specific percentage only an estimation
due to the lack of information about kind of activity in the NMO report. With upcoming
surveys for NMOs this problem will be tackled and there will be made a more specific
estimation of the work of the NMOs.
During the Activities Fair in March Meeting 2015 and August Meeting 2014 the following
activities within this program were presented:
March Meeting 2015

Operation Hope from IFMSA-Jo

K4A from KUMSA

NorPal from NMSA

Disaster SISM from SISM Italy
August Meeting 2014

Amigo by MMSA Malta

Emergency Alert by CISMA-ISMKI

Give Them Hope LMSA Libya

PalSpain by IFMSA-Spain

Refugee Camp Project (ReCap) by IFMSA-Palestine

Processus by CISMA-ISMKI
Transnational projects
GoSCORP aims to establish a database that unites the humanitarian projects run by the
various Standing Committees on Human Rights and Peace around the world. Originally,
GoSCORP was an exchange project between FASMR Romania and LeMSIC Lebanon. As a
transnational project the aim was to create a database. The first steps were taken to involve
more NMOs. Associamed-Tunisia, IFMSA-Poland, IFMSA-Egypt and IFMSA-Mexico were
involved. At MM 2012 there has been created a small working group on GoSCORP. Then it
has been silent around the project. At August Meeting 2015 there will be a new small
working group in the SCORP sessions about how to move further with this project within the
programs.
ACTION (Asia Collaborative Training on Infectious disease, Outbreak, Natural disaster and
refugee management) is a transnational project of SCORP that aims to develop future health
professionals that are aware of the importance of disaster medicine, and are able to respond
properly to emergency situations. Every year, there is held a summer course with
approximately 100 participant from organizing NMOs. Follow-up activities were MiniACTION in Thailand, and a training session at EAMSC (East Asia Medical Students
Conference) organized by AMSA (Asia Medical Students Association).
IFMSA Policy Statements
 Access to Healthcare for Undocumented Persons (AM2011)
 Disasters and Emergencies (AM2012)
 Refugees and Asylum Seekers (MM2012)
 Protection of Health Services (MM2014)
 Assuring access to Medical and Humanitarian Aid in Syria (MM2014)
 Disaster and Emergency Management (AM2014)
The Medical Students Issue (MSI) 31 had as theme Humanitarian Action, where articles
from all the IFMSA Regions and different Standing Committees placed to touch upon this
topic from different perspectives. Other related articles from the previous MSI the projects
bulletin and SCORP bulletin are:
 MSI 31 ReCap by IFMSA-Palestine
 MSI 31 Land in Sicht by bvmd Germany
 MSI 29 Arivu by MSAI India
Institutional Arrangements
WHO - World Health Organisation Department Disaster Risk Management & Humanitarian
Response. Link to website - Click here
Areas of collaboration between IFMSA and WHO ERM Dept.:
 Interns in WHO Headquarters;
 The WHO are supporting by sharing documents and information.
Ways we can increase collaboration:
 Interns in regional offices




Have WHO contribute to Training disaster medicine Trainers training with expertise.
Webinars
Input in documents
Invitation to panels
Relevant material
 WHO Resolution on Strengthening National Health Emergency and Disaster
Management Capacities and resilience of Health System
 WHO Overview of Emegency Risk Mangement for Health
 Health Cluster Guide
CRIMEDIM Link to Website - Click here
Areas of collaboration
 Training disaster medicine Trainers & Summer Course of 2 week
 Research disaster medicine in Medical Curriculum.
 Speaker in IFMSA meetings
 Invite to IFMSA for CRIMEDM events
Ways we can increase collaboration:
 Institutionalize Training disaster medicine Trainers after round 1
 Develop mentorship program
Relevant material
 About CRIMEDIM
 Info about CRIMEDM
WADEM link to website - Click here
Areas of collaboration
 Discussion on mentorship program
Ways to increase collaboration:
 Launch mentorship program
 Youth section in the WCDEM
Relevant Material:
 Pre Hospital & Disaster Medicine
 MoU with IFMSA (attached in email)
ICRC - Health Care in Danger Project Link to website - Click here
Areas of collaboration:
 Support technically IFMSA HCiD initiative
Ways to increase collaboration
 ICRC in TdmT training
 MoU with ICRC
 Start working with other departments
 Connect more of NS of IFRC and IFMSA NMOs
Overview - on current efforts of IFMSA and NMOs
Main goal and expected impact
The main goal is to engage more medical students from all the different IFMSA regions and
NMOs in Emergencies, Disaster Risk and Humanitarian Actions via trainings, workshop,
campaigns and internships. And to create a stronger advocacy for the IFMSA stance. As
medium-term objective we, as Program, want a higher level of NMO involvement and start
collecting data from existing activities to make our impact visible. This will be used for plan of
action of the medium goals to improve
work in this field. Long-term objectives
advocacy and influence on a worldwide
making in Disaster Risk Management
stronger position to stakeholders.
the NMO involvement and involve more NMOs to
are involvement of NMOs with external partners in
level. For advocacy there will be looked into policy
and Humanitarian Actions for IFMSA to have a
End-goal of the Program
Investing in prevention and preparedness, especially of health systems and safe
environment while having empowered future health professionals that will be able to address
disaster, whether natural, biological or man-made while ensuring humanitarian support to
the ones in the need. Creating a resilient and safe health systems equipped to tackle hazard
and prevent it into turning into a disaster.
Outcomes
Outcomes will be present by NMO reports/Activities Fair, Policy Statement and MSI review
studies and an outcome-based overview conclusion.
Outcome 1: IFMSA collaboration with external partners and professionals
Current situation: There are existing collaborations with CRIMEDIM, WADEM, ICRC and
WHO.
Targets:
 To establish sustainable collaborations with existing external partners
 Identify opportunities for students to represent the stance of IFMSA to these
stakeholders
Expected impact: External representation of IFMSA within international organisations
involved in this area will provide the federation with opportunities to advocate internationally
for what we believe in.
Outcome 2: Capacity building for medical students to equip them with knowledge, advocacy
skills and tools to start working on Emergencies, Disaster Risk and Humanitarian Action on
NMO level or international level within IFMSA or with external partners.
Current situation: Sessions related to this programme have been included in SCORP
sessions during IFMSA meetings as preGAs, General Assemblies, Regional Meetings and
Sub Regional Trainings.
Targets:
 Continue to hold workshops on Disaster Risk Management
 Include workshops that focus on humanitarian action and vulnerable groups, for
example migrants.
 Increase the training opportunities on skills such as advocacy.
 Start work together with the Program Dignifying and Non-discriminatory Health
care.
Expected impact: An increase in number of activities on a local, regional and international
levels and increased NMO involvement.
Outcome 3: Establish a sustainable team for this Program with involved NMOs and
volunteers to coordinate future actions.
Current situation: There is no cohesive group who is working on this Program.
Target: Use SCORP and AM 2015 as a platform to create this network of students that
could drive these actions.
Expected impact: Increase the number of volunteers, who are working in this Program.
Outcome 4: Improving the existing policy statements and create a cohesive IFMSA stance
for this Program
Current situation: There are a few policy statements, who expire in the upcoming General
Assemblies.
Target: Use the involved NMOs, Liaison Officer on Human rights and Peace and SCORP
Director for improving the policy statements
Expected impact: To have a clear IFMSA Stance in Emergencies, Disaster Risk and
Humanitarian Actions.
Summary
The Program Emergencies, Disaster Risk and Humanitarian Action consists of a Program
Team with Yamen Jabr and Marjon Feenstra (coordinator). With support of Jessica Zhang,
the SCORP Director) and Moa Herrard, the Liaison Officer on Human Rights and Peace.
There are institutional arrangements with WHO - World Health Organisation Department
Disaster Risk Management & Humanitarian Response, CRIMEDIM, WADEM, ICRC - Health
care in Danger, and UNHDR. Topics this Program is focused are conflict and peacebuilding,
in country refugees, placement of refugees and migration within the country, disaster
management and resilience, humanitarian action including humanitarian law, education of
medical students on these topics, border health, health care in danger. In the past at IFMSA
Meetings there has been presented activities by NMOs with topics covered by this program,
via the activities fair, Rex Crossley Awards and Medical Students Issue (MSI). There were
two transnational projects that covered this program; GoSCORP and ACTION. GoSCORP
aims to establish a database that unites the humanitarian projects run by the various
Standing Committees on Human Rights and Peace around the world. At AM 2014 there will
be created a small working group on GoSCORP about how to proceed with this project in
the Programs. ACTION (Asia Collaborative Training on Infectious disease, Outbreak,
Natural disaster and refugee management) is a transnational project of SCORP that aims to
develop future health professionals that are aware of the importance of disaster medicine,
and are able to respond properly to emergency situations. Every year, there is held a
summer course with approximately 100 participant from organizing NMOs. One survey has
been under medical students conducted about Disaster Medicine in Medical Education.
Capacity building has been particular during different IFMSA Meetings, for example SRT’s
and regional meetings. The upcoming time the approach is to asses were IFMSA stance and
were NMOs work on in Emergencies, Disaster Risk and Humanitarian Action. There will be
held surveys under the NMOs, especially under SCORP members. There will be more
contact with NMOs who have existing activities on Emergencies, Disaster Risk and
Humanitarian Action. This data will be used to analysis the impact and reached population.
The other focus is on the external partners. Here will be assessed how the collaboration can
be improved and if there are possibilities for volunteers from our NMOs to represent IFMSA
to these stakeholders. This will be done via quantitative and qualitative surveys sent to the
NMOs and external partners. The main goal is engaging medical students and work on a
stronger advocacy in Emergencies, Disaster Risk and Humanitarian Action. This will be
done by identifying what NMOs want and need from the Program Team and IFMSA. Longterm goals are having sustainable activities and advocacy by NMOs and the IFMSA. And
connecting our members with important stakeholders and external partners. The outcomes
of the program are increasing the NMO involvement and regions. There are already NMOs
working on Emergencies, Disaster Risk and Humanitarian Action. The African Region and
the East Mediterranean are more focused on refugees and migrant health. The Asia-Pacific
focusses on Disaster Medicine. Americas and Europe are focusing on different topics of the
Program. There could not be made a proper estimation on the impact on different population
due to lack of data. Hopefully, this will be solved the next term to show the impact of the
NMOs and IFMSA.