How to ensure NGO staff feel safe during an evacuation
I experienced my first evacuation on Sunday 27 September 2015.
The day before, deadly clashes had erupted in Bangui, the capital of the Central African Republic (CAR). In only a few hours, the city transformed into a cauldron of violence. I remember going to bed that night, with the sound of gunfire resonating in my ears. By then I knew that my worst fears prior to arriving in CAR were about to come true.
I woke up shortly after sunrise and met my colleagues from World Vision in the lobby. My phone rang unusually early. It was our operations manager, telling us to prepare to evacuate.
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We were the first agency to have their international staff cross the river from Bangui to the Democratic Republic of Congo after the airport in CAR was closed. No evacuation is likely to happen without a few complications, and we had our fair share of those over the next few days.
As the 15 of us stood by the river, anxiously waiting to get on the boat, a crowd of people gradually started to surround us. At first there were just a few, but they grew in number as time passed, with anger burning fiercely in their eyes. I wondered what we had done to make them angry but I remained silent, my head bowed, and my heart beating. I understood what it feels like to be completely powerless.
Eventually we all managed to cross the border and reached DRC, itself a country carrying the scars of war but the land of safety for us.
Looking back, I vividly remember the fear, anxiety, and shock I experienced at that border crossing. Most importantly, I learned that by applying a few basic, low -cost recommendations, every NGO can improve their duty of care towards their staff and help them feel safer, even in the middle of such an ordeal.
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1 | Regular provision of information
The time preceding the evacuation seemed incredibly long, particularly because we had to wait for everything to be in place before we headed to the boat. Waiting without receiving information on what the next steps are, gives birth to fear and nurtures anxieties. It is crucial that we regularly communicate updates to our staff to minimise their worry.
2 | Try to relax during waiting time
Plans don’t often go as planned in an evacuation. Things are bound to keep changing and as such, waiting is unavoidable. However, there are many things we can rely on to use our time sensibly. When we gathered in the apartment hours before, one of our colleagues started playing the guitar. Almost instantly, we all felt better. Another colleague poured himself a glass of wine. I suggest you attempt to eliminate potential sources of stress – I remember switching off the TV when a horror movie began.
3 | Effective and efficient security systems
Having solid security policies in place is not enough. Qualified people are needed to implement them. One of the most startling things I remember is how safe I felt in the presence of our World Vision security manager. He was communicating the right things at the right time, and maintained a very calm attitude throughout the process. Remember to have in place the three Ps: solid plans, adequate procedures, and competent people.
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4 | Debriefing
The need to share our thoughts and feelings was evident as soon as we reached DRC. Without doubt, letting our emotions out of our system helped us feel much better. But different people have different coping mechanisms. Not everyone will express themselves openly and easily. Some people will resort to silence and isolation. Keep an eye on them, as they might be the ones who need help the most.
5 | Quick run bag (QRB)
Staff should make sure their bag is equipped with the basic minimum items as this too, can contribute to minimising their anxieties. The items I carried included food (such as energy bars), water, mobile phone, satellite phone, chargers, torch, ID documents with copies, cash, medication, tissues, mosquito repellent, and hand sanitiser. I also carried a first aid kit, a whistle, and a mosquito net.
Evacuations can be very intense. They happen abruptly, and often leave no time for one to assess and evaluate the systems in place as well as the staff’s wellbeing. Staff need their management to be supportive, not just during the evacuation but also and especially afterwards.
It’s important to give staff the opportunity to take a step back, and make sense of the chaos they were part of. Two ways to do that are ensuring they get some time off and providing them with access to psychological care.
Lara Ghaoui is an emergency programme officer at World Vision UK.
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