Disaster Evaluation - Terror strikes at the heart of Norway

As someone who has lived in Norway for a time and still feels close to this wonderful country (having returned twice since), my heart went out to the Norwegian people when the whole world was rocked by the July 2011 twin terrorist attacks which shattered so many lives in this peaceful land.

In December 2011 as the final assignment for the Disaster Evaluation subject which formed part of the Monash University Master of Emergency Health program, I applied a disaster evaluation framework to this tragedy. The topic and Introduction appear below by way of background, but if interested the entire paper can be downloaded from: http://dl.dropbox.com/u/30234302/Disaster_Evaluation_Norway_Dec11.pdf.

Topic: Select a ‘crisis event’ and prepare a framework for an evaluation proposal using a framework or frameworks drawn from the Unit resources. Discuss your choice of framework/s and evaluation method.

Introduction

The selected ‘crisis event’ is the terrorist attacks in and adjacent to Oslo, Norway on 22 July 2011. A précis of the event and its aftermath is presented and its characterisation in terms of disaster terminology is considered.

A variety of evaluation modalities and timings are presented in the literature, and the suitability of these for evaluating this event is discussed, as is the importance of understanding the context and, in these particular circumstances, undertaking longitudinal evaluation.

A framework for an evaluation proposal has been synthesised from a combination of the ANLAP Guide[i], the reporting frameworks developed by Kulling et al[ii] and Bradt[iii] and the 2003 EU Workshop Report on ‘Lessons Learned’[iv] (“the Stockholm Report”). The applicability of this proposed framework to the Norwegian event is examined, together with some key contextual evaluation issues, likely key stakeholders and sources of information.

The event and its consequences have wide-ranging implications for the Norwegian authorities, those affected and Norwegian society in general, including in the areas of security, health and multiculturalism, and will play an important role in shaping Norway’s future disaster management strategies.

[i] Cosgrave J, Ramalingam B, Beck T. Real-time evaluations of humanitarian action. An ANLAP Guide. Pilot Version. Overseas Development Institute; 2009. (Hard copy distributed to students in MEH5060.)
[ii] Kulling P, Birnbaum M, Murray V, Rockenschaub G. Guidelines for Reports on Health Crises and Critical Health Events. Prehospital and Disaster Medicine 2010; 25(4): 377-383.
[iii] Bradt DA, Aitken P. Disaster medicine reporting: The need for new guidelines and the CONFIDE statement. Emergency Medicine Australasia 2010; 22: 483-487.
[iv] European Union. Report: Disaster Medicine Lessons Learned. EU Workshop Stockholm; 18-21 September, 2003. (Electronic copy distributed to students in MEH5060.) Available from: http://ec.europa.eu/echo/civil_protection/civil/prote/pdfdocs/sv_report_en.pdf. Accessed 29 November 2011