Table 1 Classification of complex emergencies
Main types of CE | Components | Relative impact assessment | Possible responses | Types of instabilities | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Political | Environmental | Economic | Demographic | ||||
Type 1 Acute | - Acute high-intensity conflict: level is higher than the country’s baseline of violent events - Acute environmental disaster - High level of poverty - Complex social and ethnic geography | - Large affected area - Food insecurity: price hikes - High mortality rates - Concentrated forms of conflict-induced displacement: refugees and IDP settlements - Epidemic outbreaks | Food aid - Short-term distribution for displaced persons - Protection of refugees and IDPs Negotiation and coordination - Open negotiation of a humanitarian access with all the conflict actors - High coordination between the NGOs and agencies - Build resilience | Acute conflict Level of violent events higher than the country baseline of recorded events and fatalities | Environmental disasters Acute disasters lasting 1 to 15 days (flood, drought, storm, insect infestation, wildfire) | High level of poverty High poverty headcount ratio at $1.25 a day (PPP) (% of population) | Complex ethnic geography Multiple ethnic groups Demographic pressure |
Type 2 Chronic | - Chronic, low intensity of armed and fatal political violence - Vulnerability to climate change-induced hazards - High level of poverty: marginalised region - Changing demographics between groups | - Large affected area - Medium-to-high level of displacement: internal, short term, and circular - Chronic food insecurity: collapse of market and price hikes | Continued presence in the region and food aid - Short-term distribution of food aid - Aid to facilitate the resumption of agricultural activities Long-term measures - Aid for long-term adaptation to climate change - Plan for integration of conflict parties | Low-intensity conflict Low and persistent level of violent events recorded over 5 years | High level of climate-related hazard exposure Chronic and long-lasting disasters of over 15 days (drought, floods) with protracted impacts on climate features (rainfall patterns, etc.) | Marginalised region (vs. rest of the country) Low GDP per capita under-development of the region | Settlement in camps Refugees, IDPs |
Type 3 Urban | - High level of civic violence: rioting and protesting - High level of exposure to climate change hazards - High level of unemployment and high percentage of the under-serviced population (public service) - Unstable demographic dynamics: rural-urban migration and urban refugees | - Localised affected area - Epidemic outbreaks - Concentrated forms of displacement - Acute food insecurity: seasonal price hikes - Large slum population | Better service delivery to population - Food aid - Education - Vaccination programs - Cooperation over the reinforcement of health institutions Improve urban governance - Investment in urban employment - Improved living standards for the poor | Urban violence High level of riots and protests in comparison to other types of violence | High level of climate-related hazard exposure (rainfall anomalies, chronic water scarcity, cyclones, wildfires, floods, and low-lying coastal zones) | High level of poverty High poverty headcount ratio at urban poverty line (% of urban population) | Migrants in urban areas Epidemic outbreak |
Type 4 Protracted | - Absence of central authority and large-scale protracted conflict with multiple non-state actors - Severe vulnerability to climate change induced consistently reoccurring and sudden disasters - High level of poverty and collapse of state and local economies - Disturbed demographics | - Transnational with local hotspots - Epidemic outbreaks - Chronic food insecurity and famine: food availability - Intermittent phases of displacement (e.g. Mogadishu) | Reinstatement of a central control Large-scale poverty reduction programs - Food aid distribution - Investment for agriculture productivity Resumption of public services - Reinforcement of health institutions | Protracted conflict Constant high level of violent events and fatalities recorded with periods of over 5 years of acute conflict | High level of climate-related hazard exposure Long-lasting disasters of over 15 days (drought, floods) | Collapse of the national economy National GDP drop High poverty headcount ratio at $1.25 a day (PPP) (% of population) | High population of refugees and IDPs Collapse of life expectancy |