When natural disasters strike, time becomes the most precious resource as lives hang in the balance amid the rubble. Ensuring rapid delivery of relief supplies has emerged as a pivotal challenge in humanitarian operations. At the 2016 World Humanitarian Summit in Istanbul, Kunio Mikuriya, Secretary General of the World Customs Organization (WCO), highlighted customs' evolving role in global disaster response.
Summit Context: Global Challenges and Customs' Responsibility
Invited by then-UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, Mikuriya participated in the inaugural World Humanitarian Summit on May 23-24, 2016. During a high-level roundtable on natural disasters and climate change, the WCO leader emphasized customs' contributions to expediting relief clearance and member training on WCO standards. This underscored how border agencies have transformed from mere regulatory bodies into vital components of life-saving supply chains amid growing humanitarian crises.
Three Pillars of Effective Customs Response
Drawing from operational experience, Mikuriya outlined three critical lessons for optimizing disaster response:
Communication: Establishing Clear Channels with Aid Partners
Effective coordination begins with robust information exchange between customs and humanitarian organizations. Key measures include:
- Implementing regular consultation mechanisms to align on operational plans
- Designating dedicated liaison officers for consistent point-to-point contact
- Developing digital platforms for real-time policy and procedure updates
Coordination: Governmental Collaboration for Unified Action
Disaster response requires seamless interagency cooperation across health, transportation, and security sectors. Essential steps involve:
- Forming cross-departmental task forces with defined responsibilities
- Streamlining multi-agency approval processes to eliminate bottlenecks
- Establishing clear operational protocols to prevent jurisdictional overlaps
Protection: Safeguarding Border Personnel
With frontline officers facing health risks and security threats in disaster zones, protective measures must include:
- Providing appropriate PPE and medical supplies
- Enhancing safety training for hazardous environments
- Offering psychological support for trauma exposure
WCO Commitments: Institutionalizing Best Practices
The organization pledged to consolidate member experiences into actionable frameworks through:
- Creating a global repository of operational case studies
- Developing standardized training curricula based on proven methods
- Providing technical assistance for capacity building
A Netherlands-funded initiative was announced to equip and train West African customs agencies, particularly in regions affected by Ebola outbreaks, demonstrating WCO's proactive approach to pandemic preparedness.
Data-Driven Efficiency Improvements
Performance metrics offer quantifiable ways to enhance customs' humanitarian effectiveness:
- Clearance Duration: Tracking time from border arrival to release helps identify procedural inefficiencies
- Supply Chain Integrity: Monitoring cargo loss rates reveals vulnerabilities in handling and storage
- Resource Allocation: Assessing personnel and equipment utilization prevents operational waste
- Response Timeliness: Measuring mobilization speed highlights decision-making bottlenecks
- Stakeholder Feedback: Systematic surveys capture beneficiary perspectives for service improvements
Conclusion: A New Frontier for Border Management
The WCO's summit participation marked a paradigm shift in recognizing customs authorities as strategic humanitarian partners. Through institutional learning, technological integration, and multilateral cooperation, border agencies are poised to deliver more agile, effective disaster response - turning logistical choke points into lifelines for vulnerable populations.