Critical Infrastructure Failure

Unique identifier / Notation

TL0011

Synonyms

Not identified.

Critical Infrastructure failure is defined as the failure in one or more of the physical structures, facilities, networks and other assets which provide services that are essential to the social and economic functioning of a community or society (UNGA, 2016).

Primary reference(s)

UNGA, 2016. Report of the open-ended intergovernmental expert working group on indicators and terminology relating to disaster risk reduction A/71/644. United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). Accessed 8 November 2020.

Additional scientific description

Paragraph 18 of the Sendai Framework on Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030 calls for the global target of:

d. Substantially reduce disaster damage to critical infrastructure and disruption of basic services, among them health and educational facilities, including through developing their resilience by 2030 (UNDRR, 2015).

The Sendai Framework identified as priorities for action (Priority 4: Enhancing disaster preparedness for effective response and to ‘Build Back Better’ in recovery, rehabilitation and reconstruction) this example of reducing critical infrastructure hazards and failures:

c. To promote the resilience of new and existing critical infrastructure, including water, transportation and telecommunications infrastructure, educational facilities, hospitals and other health facilities, to ensure that they remain safe, effective and operational during and after disasters in order to provide live-saving and essential service (UNDRR, 2015).

The United Nations General Assembly report of the open-ended intergovernmental expert working group on indicators and terminology relating to disaster risk reduction, defines the following of relevance to critical infrastructure failure:

“A sudden onset disaster is one triggered by a hazardous event that emerges quickly or unexpectedly. Sudden onset disasters could be associated with, e.g., earthquake, volcanic eruption, flash flood, chemical explosion, critical infrastructure failure, transport accident” in the Disaster impact definition (UNGA, 2016).
“Corrective disaster risk management activities address and seek to remove or reduce disaster risks which are already present and which need to be managed and reduced now. Examples are the retrofitting of critical infrastructure or the relocation of exposed populations or assets” in the Disaster risk management definition (UNGA, 2016).
“Examples of physical assets that are the basis for calculating direct economic loss include homes, schools, hospitals, commercial and governmental buildings, transport, energy, telecommunications infrastructures and other infrastructure; business assets and industrial plants; and production such as crops, livestock and production infrastructure. They may also encompass environmental assets and cultural heritage” in the Economic loss definition (UNGA, 2016).
“Technological hazards originate from technological or industrial conditions, dangerous procedures, infrastructure failures or specific human activities. Examples include industrial pollution, nuclear radiation, toxic wastes, dam failures, transport accidents, factory explosions, fires and chemical spills. Technological hazards also may arise directly as a result of the impacts of a natural hazard event” in the Hazard Definition (UNGA, 2016).
“The medium and long term rebuilding and sustainable restoration of resilient critical infrastructures, services, housing, facilities and livelihoods required for the full functioning of a community or a society affected by a disaster, aligning with the principles of sustainable development and ‘build back better’, to avoid or reduce future disaster risk” in the reconstruction definition (UNGA, 2016).

Critical infrastructure is essential for community, national, regional and global resilience. It includes water, transportation and telecommunications infrastructure, educational facilities, hospitals and other health facilities that ensure that all remain safe, effective and operational during and after disasters in order to provide lifesaving and essential services.

Metrics and numeric limits

The Sendai Framework Monitor calls for all UN member states to report on the agreed global targets. Of note is Global Target D: Substantially reduce disaster damage to critical infrastructure and disruption of basic services, among them health and educational facilities, including through developing their resilience by 2030 (UNDRR, 2017).

D1 (compound) Damage to critical infrastructure attributed to disasters.
D2 Number of destroyed or damaged health facilities attributed to disasters.
D3 Number of destroyed or damaged educational facilities attributed to disasters.
D4 Number of other destroyed or damaged critical infrastructure units and facilities attributed to disasters. The decision regarding those elements of critical infrastructure to be included in the calculation will be left to the Member States and described in the accompanying metadata. Protective infrastructure and green infrastructure should be included where relevant.
D5 (compound) Number of disruptions to basic services attributed to disasters.
D6 Number of disruptions to educational services attributed to disasters.
D7 Number of disruptions to health services attributed to disasters.
D8 Number of disruptions to other basic services attributed to disasters. The decision regarding those elements of basic services to be included in the calculation will be left to the Member States and described in the accompanying metadata.

WHO technical guidance notes on Sendai Framework Reporting by Ministries of Health (WHO, 2020).

Key relevant UN convention / multilateral treaty

Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015–2030 (UNDRR, 2015).

Examples of drivers, outcomes and risk management

The Sendai Framework is the successor instrument to the Hyogo Framework for Action (HFA) 2005-2015: Building the Resilience of Nations and Communities to Disasters. The HFA was conceived to give further impetus to the global work under the International Framework for Action for the International Decade for Natural Disaster Reduction of 1989, and the Yokohama Strategy for a Safer World: Guidelines for Natural Disaster Prevention, Preparedness and Mitigation and its Plan of Action, adopted in 1994 and the International Strategy for Disaster Reduction of 1999 (UNDRR, 2015).

The Sendai Framework has most significantly a strong emphasis on disaster risk management as opposed to disaster management. The scope of disaster risk reduction has been broadened significantly to focus on both natural and man-made hazards and related environmental, technological and biological hazards and risks. Health resilience is strongly promoted throughout (UNDRR, 2015).

Two examples from the health domain are shared below to show how leadership at a UN level engages to deliver approaches to help at local and national levels to reduce critical infrastructure failures:

Making health facilities safe in emergencies

In emergencies, disasters and other crises, the lives and well-being of the affected population must always be protected, particularly in the minutes and hours immediately following impact or exposure as time is of the essence in saving lives. The ability of health services to be delivered by critical infrastructure such as health facilities without interruption in these situations is a matter of life and death. For a safe health facility to remain intact, accessible and functioning at maximum capacity before, during and immediately following an emergency or disaster, it relies on key factors: health infrastructure that can resist exposures and forces from all types of hazard (e.g., retrofitted towards disaster risk reduction); medicine and medical equipment that are essential, accessible and protected from damage from all hazards (including climate change impacts); community infrastructure and critical services (such as water, food, electricity and medical supplies) that are available to support the delivery of health services; and health personnel who can provide medical assistance in safe and secure settings where and when they are most needed (WHO, no date).

The World Health Organization (WHO)’s safe health facilities’ programme supports Member States to: develop national policies and regulations on making health facilities safe from disasters; protect the lives of the occupants of a health facility; protect the economic investment as well as the functionality of both new and existing health facilities and those identified as priorities (e.g., hub hospital) within the health services network; compile, organise and monitor the implementation of policies as well as national and international regulations on safe health facilities; and make health facilities safe, energy-efficient and resilient to future risks, including climate change (WHO, no date).

The Hospital Safety Index, developed by the WHO is a tool used by health authorities and multidisciplinary partners to gauge the probability that a health facility will continue to be safe and operational in emergency situations. The tool includes evaluation forms, a guide for evaluators, and a safety index calculator (WHO, no date).

WHO Health Emergency and Disaster Risk Management Framework

Launched at the Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction in May 2019, the WHO Health Emergency and Disaster Risk Management Framework is designed to reduce the health risks and consequences of emergencies and is vital to local, national and global health security and for building the resilience of communities, countries and health systems. Sound risk management is essential to safeguard development and implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including the pathway to universal health coverage (UHC), the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015–2030 (Sendai Framework), International Health Regulations (IHR) (2005), the Paris Agreement on Climate Change (Paris Agreement) and other related global, regional and national frameworks (WHO, 2019).

The WHO Health Emergency and Disaster Risk Management Framework provides a common language and a comprehensive approach that can be adapted and applied by all actors in health and other sectors who are working to reduce health risks and consequences of emergencies and disasters. The Framework also focuses on improving health outcomes and well-being for communities at risk in different contexts, including in fragile, low- and high-resource settings (WHO, 2019).

The WHO Health Emergency and Disaster Risk Management Framework emphasises assessing, communicating and reducing risks across the continuum of prevention, preparedness, readiness, response and recovery, and building the resilience of communities, countries and health systems (WHO, 2019).