The Evolving UN Cluster Approach in the Aftermath of the Pakistan Earthquake: an NGO perspective

The aim of this report is to highlight issues which
need to be “factored in” to the development of the
cluster approach, a key aspect of the UN
humanitarian reform agenda. The intention is to
provide an assessment of the practical value of the
approach in Pakistan and the implications of this
for the humanitarian reform agenda. A summary of
the main findings can be found in ‘Action Points’ in
Section 2 of this report.
A point to be acknowledged from the outset is
that the Pakistan earthquake was the first occasion
in which the cluster approach was implemented in
a disaster response situation, and therefore it is
too early for the validity of the approach to entirely
stand or fall by experiences in Pakistan. There are,
however, valuable lessons to be learned from the
implementation of the approach there.
In broad terms, the earthquake response was
regarded as having been effective, particularly as
the feared second wave of winter deaths was
avoided. Pim Kramm, the Deputy Head of the Dutch
Humanitarian department, commented that
operations worked well in Pakistan and he felt a
tangible difference between his visit to Pakistan and
other disaster zones. Key factors identified as
affecting the success of the response, after initial
difficulties, were the high level of cooperation from
the Pakistani government and the relatively mild
winter. It is unclear how much of a difference the
cluster approach made itself.