Military and Strategic Journal
Issued by the Directorate of Morale Guidance at the General Command of the Armed Forces
United Arab Emirates
Founded in August 1971

2023-03-22

Disaster Assistance and National Values

Dr. John R. Ballard,
Former Dean of the National Defense College
 
The horrific earthquake that ravished Turkey and Syria, leaving tens of thousands of people dead in the biggest natural disaster in the Middle East for decades provides a current example of the importance of national values. In the first day following the disaster, the UAE contributed US$100 million to Syria and Turkey and sent aid flights to help with rescue operations and evacuate citizens in both countries. More recently, the UAE has sent disaster response teams and deployed a field hospital to Turkey to help with the relief efforts and provide support to those in need. This impressive response represents far more than human kindness.
 
National values are the principles and ideals that shape a nation’s cultural identity. Such values are frequently reflected in laws, policies, and cultural norms, but are less frequently extended to other peoples across the globe. Examples of national values include: the idea that people should be treated without discrimination, the belief in legal systems providing equal protection under the law, and the idea that all people should be treated with dignity. Unfortunately, some nations do not regularly act on their values but hold them only for domestic use.
 
The UAE’s commitment to humanitarian assistance reflects its values and its belief in the importance of supporting those in need, both domestically and internationally. The UAE has established several initiatives providing aid, and is now one of the largest donors of foreign aid in the world. It has a well-developed disaster response system, including shelters and supplies, and the ability to quickly deploy equipment.

The UAE sends teams of experts to crisis-affected areas to provide on-the-ground support and assistance. The UAE also has a network of distribution centers and partnerships with international organisations to deliver aid. It also supports development programmes in disaster-prone areas, aimed at improving resilience. Finally, the UAE works with many international organisations, including the Red Crescent and the World Food Program, to coordinate humanitarian efforts and maximise the impact of aid.
 
Acting in accordance with national values has several benefits. Examples of humanitarian assistance supporting national strategy include: building resilience for future disasters; helping maintain stability in crisis-affected areas by reducing the risk of social unrest; helping create conditions for long-term development by fostering friendly national development; and reinforcing partnerships between national, international, and local entities to improve response.
 
The UAE’s own contributions to the earthquake in Turkey reflect its role as a leader in humanitarian aid and its commitment to supporting populations around the world, but it also supports international efforts. From its hub in Dubai, the UN’s World Health Organization (WHO) has provided critical medical supplies for many crises. The WHO has other hubs around the world, but its facility in Dubai is its largest. From there, WHO is sending planeloads of medicine, medical supplies, and surgical instruments to help with earthquake injuries.
 
Acting in accordance with national values to advance the security of all people should be fundamental for every national security professional. For those who value supra-national governance, particularly in an era of worsening climate change, perhaps it is time for a UN High Commissioner for Disaster Assistance. Nations must employ approaches that meet their goals but ensuring conformity with national values will always remain worthwhile, particularly for a values-based nation like the UAE.
 

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