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Purpose: Through the case of the response to the 2017 Mocoa mudslide, the purpose of this paper is to contribute to a deeper understanding of why and how humanitarian response should be locally led, particularly in more complex contexts such as those affected by conflict. Design/methodology/approach: The study draws on qualitative data collected during a four-month period in 2017, with a focus on the immediate April 2017 emergency phase which presented the largest diversity of local, national and international actors. Findings: The study has found that competing legitimacy claims between the state and non-state response blocs led to tensions and confrontations between disaster response actors and consequently a problematic response process and outcome. The institutional map that was plotted based on locally perceived actor legitimacies indicates a local state-led response would have better served the broader goals of humanitarian support, development and peacebuilding. Practical implications: These findings have significant implications for the understanding of how the locally led response should be understood. Better alignment with local needs and feasibilities requires a differential outlook on what is to be understood as "local." This study puts forward the insider/outsider lens as a tool to identify the actors who possess local trust and legitimacy and are thus best suited to bridge the elements of the humanitarian-development-peacebuilding triple nexus. Originality/value: This study gives a voice to state actors, which was largely absent in previous studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose – Inclusion of animals in emergency contingency planning is not yet common practice in many countries. The purpose of this paper is to assess the need for and viability of such inclusion in Latin America. Design/methodology/approach – The study surveyed 1,882 pet owners in urban areas in Colombia, Costa Rica and Mexico to evaluate perceptions of pet owners with regard to their animals in emergencies. Findings – Overall 74.5 percent (confidence interval 72.5-76.5) said they would take their animals if evacuated. Only 16 percent (14.5-17.8) would leave their animals behind. Regular vaccination was carried out by 70.5 percent of owners (68.0-72.5): from 63.6 percent (60.8-66.2 percent) in Mexico to 87.5 percent (84.3-90.0) in Colombia. People in lower socio-economic levels were less likely to take animals to the vet, or to vaccinate or identify them, and more likely to leave their animal behind during evacuation. Practical implications – Results indicate both the need and the likely success of an animal contingency planning process in urban areas of Latin America. Originality/value – This is the first survey of its kind concerning disaster preparedness for pets in developing countries, and counters the common perception that in such countries owners are less attached to their pets and that inclusion of animals in emergency contingency planning is not important. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]