InRelief.org

Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief is one of the many missions for the US military. Due to the broad and diverse composition of organizations that respond to Disaster Relief efforts, an open, low-barrier-to-entry, bandwidth-efficient solution for collaborative environments is required. InRelief is designed to freely provide such an environment with all, based on the Oslo Guidelines established for Disaster Relief. InRelief.org is a collaborative environment used to promote information sharing between International Organizations, Non-Governmental Organizations, Government Organizations, and Military groups responding to a natural or man-made disaster.

InRelief is a US Navy effort that is managed by San Diego State University (Registered NGO) to promote better interactions and results when disasters strike. InRelief is based primarily on Google technologies. However, InRelief is committed to providing the best environments to share information, so please do not hesitate to make recommendations regarding a variety of technologies or processes. InRelief humbly asks you to try InRelief; it is a safe, free, and secure environment to collaborate with all. Licenses are not required to view information, however, if you would like a license for the site so you may build your own site within InRelief, just ask. The managers of InRelief only need proof that you are a member of an NGO, IO, government agency or military (foreign or domestic). You do not have to work with organizations within InRelief, only ensure that appropriate data your organization wishes to share is publically available. InRelief is a wholly owned enterprise that is managed by San Diego State University. Google does not monitor nor does it have administrative access to InRelief.org.

The principles that guide the use and design of InRelief.org are directly from the Oslo Guidelines:

Humanity: Human suffering must be addressed wherever it is found, with particular attention to the most vulnerable in the population, such as children, women, and the elderly. The dignity and rights of all victims must be respected and protected.
Neutrality: Humanitarian assistance must be provided without engaging in hostilities or taking sides in controversies of a political, religious, or ideological nature.
Impartiality: Humanitarian assistance must be provided without discriminating as to ethnic origin, gender, nationality, political opinions, race, or religion. Relief of the suffering must be guided solely by needs. Priority must be given to the most urgent cases of distress.

Stockholm International Peace Research Institute2008–Effectiveness of Foreign Military Assets in Natural Disaster Response.

“The USA has deployed its military assets most frequently and in the greatest volume-15 times between 2003 and 2006 for Disaster Relief. The USA has an explicit policy of making its military forces available for international humanitarian work.”

InRelief.org

InRelief is working to provide a collaborative environment that is free to participant organizations, to reduce the chaotic nature of early response through collaborative technology, and to ensure a neutral environment for sharing information regarding logistics, medical concerns, geospatial data, professional organizational structure, etc.

Assurance: You can be assured of the purpose of InRelief, is widespread information sharing in a safe, secure, and low barrier to entry environment that works in the field as well as in the office. For access to InRelief.org, click on the InRelief picture on the right-side of the C4SP homepage.