What is a human assistance centre?

A Human Assistance Centre will provide a service focus in the humanitarian response to an emergency.

Every major emergency impacts upon families, survivors, and communities either directly or otherwise.  Regardless of where the event takes place, those affected need to know that there is somewhere they can receive timely and accurate information.  Mechanisms need to be developed in order to allow messages to be communicated when it is sensible to do so and at the earliest possible stage.

It is essential that those responding have an understanding of how devastating a time this can be for those affected and that at a time when responders will be stretched to the full, subsequent actions need to be carefully planned in order not to make an already bad situation substantially worse.

Aims of a HAC

At all times a HAC should aim to:

Act as a focal point for information and assistance to bereaved families and friends of those missing, injured or killed, survivors, and to all those directly affected by, and involved in, the emergency. This group is likely to include the friends and families of those missing and killed, survivors and the wider community.

• Enable those affected to benefit from appropriate information and assistance in a timely, coordinated manner.

• Where necessary, facilitate the gathering of forensic samples in a timely manner, in order to assist the identification process.

• Offer access to – and guidance on – a range of agencies and services – allowing people to make informed choices, according to their needs.

• Ensure a seamless multi-agency approach to humanitarian assistance in emergencies that should minimise duplication and avoid gaps.

(taken from DCMS government Humanitarian Assistance in Emergencies 2006)