Hörsaal (second floor)

From the Geneva Conventions down to Field Work: Mandate, Means of Action, Accountability
Johannes Richert, Head of the International Services and National Relief Division, German Red Cross(DRK) , Berlin

Galerie (ground floor)

10:30-11:00 Humanitarian Forum: 1st Session*

Hörsaal (second floor)

11:00-11:10 Welcome Address

11:10-12:00 Key Note Speech

Many argue that the humanitarian mission has become almost impossible. Is that really the case and, if so, why? There has been a massive increase in the numbers of humanitarian actors, some with the relatively simple ambition to save lives and alleviate suffering and others with more ambitious aims, see humanitarian action as a first step towards longer term solutions. Throughout the 1990s military actions of states and the United Nations have been justified in the name of humanitarian action. Most lately there have been efforts to develop more ‘coherent' coordination systems for delivering humanitarian aid. Following all these developments, are things getting better or worse? Through the lens of reaching victims of crisis in the most difficult and insecure places on earth, should we be optimistic of pessimistic about the future of humanitarian intervention?

Wolf-Dieter Eberwein, Head of the Master Programme International Organisations, Institute of Political Sciences (IEP) Grenoble

12:00-13:30 Yes, the Mission is Possible!

For some humanitarian action has failed or been inadequate in the past and they believe that through better coordination, a sense of common mission and through common accountability mechanisms the timeliness, quality and appropriateness of the work can be enhanced. This will ultimately mean a less political or media driven response to crises and until now neglected areas will get the attention they need. Access can be negotiated by high level persons (for example the UN) and pressure brought to bear, ensuring access to the previously inaccessible. It is also argued that Humanitarian action should aim guided by its contribution to peace and development and must aim to be more than just short term relief. Solid grounds for optimism, another false dawn or the beginning of the end of principled humanitarian action?

• Norah Niland, Head of the Policy Development Section, United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA), Geneva
• Béatrice Miège, DIPECHO (Disaster Preparedness ECHO) Coordinator and DIPECHO South Asia Desk Officer, Humanitarian Aid Office of the Euorpean Commission (ECHO), Brussels
  
• Beat Schweizer, Deputy Director-General, International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), Geneva
• Wolf- Dieter Eberwein, Head of the Master Programme International Organisations, Institute of Political Sciences (IEP) , Grenoble
  

Moderation: Antje Radünz, Independent Journalist, Berlin

13:30-14:30 Lunch Break

Hörsaal (second floor)

14:30-16:00 Access: Different Approaches and Compromises in Providing Assistance in Difficult Environments

Difficult access is not just restricted to war zones. This session will present and debate strategies in three different contexts, the dilemmas faced and the compromises made in order to reach people in crisis zones.

• Securitycontrains: Iraq
  Simon Springett, Regional HUmanitarian Coordinator for the Middle East, Eastern Europe and the Commonwealth of Independent States, OXFAM UK , Oxford
• Political constrains: Myanmar
  Joe Belliveau, Operational Manager for Myanmar, Bangladesh, Ethiopia, Somalia, Russia and Moldova, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), Amsterdam
• Logistical constrain: Pakistan Earthquake
  Reinhard Würkner, Head Asia Department, Caritas, Freiburg

Moderation: Sybille Seitz, Journalist, Berlin-Brandenburg Broadcast (RBB), Berlin

Seminarraum (third floor)

14:30-16:00 A Crisis on the Increase: With Growing Resistance, Does Tuberculosis Remain a Treatable Disease? (in German - no translation)

The countries of the previous Soviet Union and China see high and increasing prevalence of multi drug-resistant (MDR) tuberculosis (TB). The extent of this crisis still remains to be assessed. In South Africa, people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) have been killed by extensively drug-resistant (XDR) TB in a very short time.
The relatively old fashioned diagnostic and therapeutic tools currently in use need to be renewed. Is there any hope that these needs will be addressed?

• Epidemiology and current challenges
  Robert Loddenkemper, General Secretary of the German Central Committee for the Fight Against Tuberculosis (DZK), Berlin
• Progresses in the research on a vaccine against tuberculosis
  Ali Nasser Eddine, Senior Scientist, Department of Immunology, Max Planck Institute for Infection Biology, Berlin
• Progresses in the research on treatment against tuberculosis
  Timo Ulrichs, Head of the TB Section, Koch Metchnikow Forum (KMI), Berlin
• Combining lobby and field work: MSF Germany in Uzbekistan
  Kai Braker, Medical Consultant, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), Berlin

Moderation: Robert Loddenkemper, DZK , Berlin

Hörsaal (second floor)

17:00-18:30 Coping Mechanisms Within the Communities: What Happens When the Aid Agencies Leave or Are Not Coming?

When foreign support is absent, what are the different approaches of local actors to provide support to their people based on local resources? How can international aid agencies better identify and reinforce, rather than undermining, these local structures as opposed to undermining them during short term or emergency interventions?

• Abraham Taryor, Senior Clinic Supervisor, Médecins du Monde (MDM), Gbarnga
• Khaled Menapal, Member of the Board, Médicins Sans Frontières (MSF) , Amsterdam
  

Moderation: Sybille Seitz, Journalist, Berlin-Brandenburg Broadcast (RBB), Berlin

Hörsaal (second floor)

10:00-11:00 Key Note Speech

Humanitarian missions in highly insecure or constrained contexts such as Somalia, Darfur and Chechnya often force agencies to limit the presence of staff on the ground or to work through local partners. What are the compromises in terms of ensuring quality, relevance and impact in such settings? Are the most urgent needs the ones addressed and if so, how does one prioritise interventions knowing that all needs cannot be met? What are the limitations of assistance that can be given and how well are these limitations communicated to beneficiaries?

Hörsaal (second floor)

11:30-13:00 Is it possible to provide relevant medical assistance when you're only there for a short period of time?

When planning and implementing a short term relief programme, what do you prioritise, what do you compromise in terms of the scope of the services provided and the strategies to assure the necessary level of quality and security?

• Nutritional assistance
  Benoît Miribel, International Coordinator of the ACF Network, Action Contre la Faim (ACF) , Lyon
  
• Medical assistance
  Frédéric Penard, Head of the Emergency Department, Médecins du Monde (MDM), Paris
• Water, sanitation and shelter
  Christof Johnen, Head of Disaster Relief Unit, German Red Cross (DRK), Berlin

Moderation: Antje Radünz, Independent Journalist, Berlin

Seminarraum (third floor)

11:30-13:00 Addressing the medical consequences of violence on Women's Health in Humanitarian Crises (in English - no translation)

In the context of short term relief, what are the specificities and challenges for the provision of health care to women?

• Dealing with survivors of sexualized violence in conflict areas
  Inge Joachim, Trainer, Medica Mondiale, Cologne
• Addressing the medical consequences of sexual violence in conflicts: Challenges in implementation in the field
  Sarah Martin, Humanitarian Affairs Specialist, Medical Director, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), Amsterdam
• Supporting women`s access to health care in IDP camps and rural areas in Darfur: Stakes and reality
  Jérôme Larché, Delegate for International Missions at the Board of Médecins du Monde (MDM), Paris
• Three different crisis experiences over 10 years : Guinea, Ethiopia, Zimbabwe
  Adriana Ignea, Midwife, Médicins du Monde (MDM) , Munich
  

Moderation: Gabriele Kaczmarczyk, Dean of the Master Course "Health and Society: International Gender Studies Berlin" , Charité University Hospital Berlin

What are the most effective strategies for productively involving women in short term interventions?

• Alia Hassan Karrar, Lecturer, School of Psychology and pre-school Education, Ahfad University for Women (AUW), Omdurman
• Asha Mohammed, Head of the Eastern Africa Zone Office, International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), Nairobi

Moderation: Sybille Seitz, Journalist, Berlin-Brandenburg Broadcast (RBB), Berlin

Seminarraum (third floor)

14:00-15:30 Chronic Diseases and Elderly People in Humanitarian Crises

In crisis situations, how do you address the specific health care needs of the elderly population? How do you organise services for chronic diseases in camps as well as in remote areas where access is an issue? How do you insure the continuity of treatment for chronic diseases when only limited access is possible?

• Michael Bünte, Board Member, HelpAge Germany, Osnabrück
• Trevor Riggen, Director of Mass Care, Domestic Response Team, American Red Cross, Washington
• Gabriele Weigt, General Manager, Disability and Development Cooperation (BEZEV) , Essen
  

Moderation: Peter Tinnemann, Doctor, International Health Sciences Institute , Charité University Hospital Berlin

Hörsaal (second floor)

16:30-18:00 Humanitarian Response to the Darfur and Eastern Chad Crisis

Darfur is one of the deadliest crises of recent times. 200,000 dead and millions dependent on humanitarian aid. The violence has continued unabated and all measures to resolve the conflict have failed. What should humanitarian actors be doing about Darfur? In how far should they be focussing on addressing immediate needs and in how much should they be taking positions on the solutions? Should humanitarian agencies be acting ‘as one' or do are diverse approaches more effective? What is in the best interests of the beneficiaries? This final session will debate these points.

• Jérôme Larché, Head of Mission for Sudan, Delegate for International Missions at the Board of Médecins du Monde (MDM), Paris
  
• Simon Ashmore, Deputy Head of Operations for the Horn of Africa, International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), Geneva
• Simon Springett, Regional Humanitarian Coordinatior for the Middle East, Eastern Europe and the Commonwealth of Independent States, OXFAM UK, Oxford
• Vanessa Van Schoor, Operations Manager for Afghanista, Pakistan, Sudan and Zambia, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) , Amsterdam

18:00 Wrap Up

19:30 Café Krull in der Kulturbrauerei, Schönhauser Allee 36, U2/M10 Eberswalder Straße

Finissage of the photography exhibition "Focus on Forgotten Crises"

Photography exhibition of the winners of the 10^th Luis Valtueña International Humanitarian Photo Award which was set up in 1997 by Médecins du Monde Spain

Click here for more information

Free of charge - All participants interested are welcome

* Organisations participating to the Humanitarian Forum

• Amnesty International - Aktionsnetz Heilberufe
• Apotheker ohne Grenzen Deutschland
  
• arche noVa- Initiative für Menschen in Not
• Ärzte der Welt / Médecins Du Monde
• Ärzte für die Dritte Welt
  
• Ärzte ohne Grenzen / Médecins Sans Frontières
  
• CARE International Deutschland
  
• Caritas International
• Deutsches Tuberkulose-Archiv
• Deutsches Rotes Kreuz / German Red Cross
  
• European Alliance Against Malaria
• foring - Forum für Internationale Gesundheit
• Friedensdorf International
• Humedica
  
• Institut für Tropenmedizin Berlin
• Islamic Relief - Humanitäre Organisation in Deutschland
  
• Johanniter-Auslandshilfe
• Medair
• NOHA Master in Humanitarian Assistance, Bochum Institute for International Law of Peace and Armed Conflicts (IFHV)
• Oxfam Deutschland
  
• Terre des hommes
• World Vision Deutschland