Decision Making in Disaster Response: Strategies for Frontline Humanitarian Responders

The aggressive armed militia member in front of you wants $50 before he’ll let you deliver your cargo of essential medicine to a war-torn town’s clinic. Your agency prohibits paying bribes. If you don’t pay him, people will almost certainly die. If you do pay him, you’re supporting the very people who are attacking the town.
What would you do?
Full of interactive stories that draw readers into the pressures of decision making, Decision Making in Disaster Response is a practical handbook that helps relief workers make effective choices under pressure. It develops their skills in making decisions when it really counts, and helps them make decisions that will save lives. The book’s strategies are applicable both to local emergency responders and international aid workers.
Whether you’re a student of disaster response preparing to work abroad, a veteran local Civil Defence volunteer, or simply want a highly-readable glimpse into the world of international relief work, you’ll be engrossed by the challenges in Decision Making in Disaster Response.

About the author: John Tipper is the Director of Disaster Preparedness & Response for the Swedish NGO Operation Mercy www.mercy.se and the Director of Relief Advisory International. He provides guidance and training to NGOs across the globe as they deal with the aftermaths of man-made and natural disasters, and his disaster preparedness courses have been translated and delivered by local staff in both Arabic (Jordan) and Cebuano (The Philippines). He is a contributor to humanitarian publications including Humanitarian Exchange magazine and the All-In Diary, and a content author for RedR UK's Mission Ready: Remote Security Management.