From Michael VanRooyen, co-director of the Harvard Humanitarian Initiative and associate professor in the HSPH Department of Population and International Health
VanRooyen said the humanitarian aid industry must improve through self-analysis. "I remain idealistic," he said. Humanitarian aid is an essential part of emergency relief, but provision of it needs to improve.
The way to do that, he said, is to "professionalize the humanitarian effort" by better assessing the needs of disaster-stricken areas, involving the local populations in decision making, offering assistance in a culturally appropriate manner, coordinating efforts among relief agencies, and transitioning rapidly into long-term relief programs.
Twelve Myths and Misconceptions in Disaster Response
- Disasters are random killers.
- The primary victims of war are combatants and warring parties.
- Foreign medical volunteers with any kind of medical background are needed.
- Disasters bring out the worst in human behavior.
- The affected population is too shocked and helpless to take responsibility for its own survival.
- Epidemics and plagues are inevitable after every disaster, and dead bodies create disease.
- Food, aid, and clothing are always needed by victims of a disaster.
- Locating disaster victims in temporary settlements is the best alternative.
- Media attention is usually focused on the most severe emergencies.
- Large-scale relief efforts are the best way to control humanitarian crises.
- Things are back to normal within a few weeks.
- International aid is distributed based on the most acute need.
http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/now/20080201/twelve-myths-and-misconceptions-in-disaster-response.html
1 comment:
Mr. VanRooyen make some important points but also some sweeping generalizations. There exists a broad spectrum of humanitarian aid and there are many providers. Certainly, without this type of aid, there would be far more casualties as a result of war or other disasters. Is there room for improvement? An emphatic yes. Is humanitarian aid a worldwide priority? Certainly not. Many, if not most, of the aid response agencies are working with minimal funds and skeleton crews. The fact that they can provide some relief is sometimes nothing short of a miracle given lack of resources and political climates. Perhaps it would be wise to explore and support methods to improve aid responses rather than create suspicion of all agencies, thereby decreasing the meager support they already receive. If there are agencies with measurably poor track records, they should be noted and weeded out. The agencies that can and do provide a good to excellent measure of humanitarian relief should receive your support as they are dependant upon it for their clients' survival. Generalizations about myths and misconceptions does not help any of the agencies and, ultimately, those that are desperate for help. - Susan
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