Lib Dems call for establishment of international rapid response force
Labour is being urged to lead calls for the establishment of a UN rapid reaction disaster relief force.
The call has come this afternoon from the Liberal Democrat foreign affairs spokesman and deputy leader Menzies Campbell in a letter to Jack Straw.
The possibility of a rapid reaction force has been mooted before, and the issue has arisen again in response to the devastating tsunami wave in Asia. The idea is particularly poignant as there has been criticism of the speed of the international community’s response.
Writing this afternoon, Sir Menzies said: “The response of the international community to the tsunami disaster has highlighted the need for a fresh look at the mechanisms that currently exist for rapid responses to natural disasters and humanitarian crises.
“The UN remains the organisation best placed to co-ordinate such a response but it needs the capability to react and deploy relief and rescue workers more swiftly.”
Arguing that Britain is “well placed” to lead calls for a reform of the current ad hoc system, he said: “The time has come for a well trained, well equipped, well-resourced standing UN Rapid Reaction Disaster Relief Force, that draws on national expertise and logistic capabilities, both military and civilian.
“In order to be effective a UN Rapid Reaction Disaster Relief Force would require standing logistics available, heavy lift transport and dedicated experts. Member states could sign memoranda of understanding with the UN allowing for the immediate release of military and civil assets should the UN Secretary General declare a state of international emergency.”
This Sir Menzies believes would prevent the UN’s ability to react being dependent on the actions and donations of individual states which have to be negotiated afresh with each incident.
