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Disasters and Role of Aid Organziations

Posted on 03/11/11 by User_image_bgJeanne

User_image_bg Jeanne View Profile
Member since 25 February 2011
  • 3 Posts
  • 15 Comments

The earthquake in Japan and resulting tsunami brings up an issue that countries face after a disaster. When disaster strikes, what is the role of the humanitarian sector?

Even when a government is equipped to respond to a disaster, the humanitarian sectors is among the first responders and often has a presence in the country for years after. Using the millions, and sometimes billions, of aid dollars that pour in from private donors and governments, the humanitarian sector typically has the resources to move quickly in the face of a disaster.

However aid organizations, as a group, are largely not monitored or held to standards of practice as you might see in the private sector. Furthermore aid organizations are often in competition with one another for securing donations. This rivalry fosters an environment where organizations do not work closely with one another, which can lead to scattered aid initiatives that lack an overall approach to recovery.

That being said, governments are often unable to respond effectively to disasters and the role of aid organizations is extremely important to those people, communities and countries impacted by disasters.

I would love to hear your thoughts on disaster recovery and the humanitarian sector!

To see what many NGO’s are doing to respond to crises and disasters, visit: http://www.trust.org/alertnet/.

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Comments

  • on 03/11/11, by Remy:

    You ask some great questions here. As campaign finance reform is to politics, so is aid reform to development agencies; as you point out, there's not nearly enough oversight (or internal pressure for standards IMHO). Oxfam ran a pretty cool initiative recently, the Listening Project: http://www.oxfamamerica.org/articles/listening-and-learning-to-improve-aid which hints at ways big NGOs can start evaluating the efficacy of their work
  • twinkiehouse

    on 03/11/11, by twinkiehouse:

    The "humanitarian sector" has no role in disaster relief, except in developing nations. No individual or government donates to aid organizations hoping that they'll spend the money helping American or Japanese people.

  • on 03/13/11, by jkcarillo:

    @twinkiehouse The humanitarian sector does have a huge role in disaster relief. They're the ones who are witnessing everything and are hands on rather than just a money donation. Natural disasters like what has happened to Japan recently does not need money, they need proper food and shelter. For me personally, if we're sincere to help the Japanese victims, we shouldn't donate money to the humanitarian sector. We should donate canned goods and warm clothes. You have to admit, you sometimes get lazy to think what to give for them so your best solution is to give money. This is a common habit that we all have. It should stop though.

  • on 03/14/11, by Jeanne:

    Thanks for all of these great comments! It's a really interesting topic. I would like to jump back in the discussion and make a comment. I think that what Japan needs is both money and supplies. Now and in the coming months, food, shelter and medical care are at the top of the needs list, and I know that while I can't leave my job to go and help in Japan, I can donate money so that the Japanese people get what they need to survive. For example: My favorite disaster-relief organization collects medicine and medical supply donations and sends them to countries in the middle of disasters. If I donate $10, I know that money will go directly to the cost of shipping (either via air or by boat) those supplies. While I agree that throwing money at aid organizations is not a long-term solution to disaster relief or recovery, a well-thought out donation to a good organization can make a huge difference in someone's life.

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