Disaster Relief Aid: Changes and Challenges

ISBN-13: 9783030084189 / Angielski / Miękka / 2019 / 262 str.

Bimal Kanti Paul

Spis treści

The first part of Chapter 1 defines salient features of disaster relief operations and briefly chronicles the development of global humanitarian assistance programs. The next section of Chapter 1 summarizes major criticisms of disaster aid provision and also outlines the need for disbursement of assistance to disaster survivors. This is accomplished in part by providing several definitions of natural disasters wherein the need for emergency relief aid for survivors of extreme natural events are either explicit or embedded. The chapter concludes with the book’s objectives and chapter outline.

 

Disaster Relief Aid

Background of Humanitarian Assistance

Criticisms of Disaster Aid Provision

Need for Disaster Relief Aid

Objectives of this Book

Chapter Arrangements

 

Chapter 2 explains how disaster aid flows from a plethora of private, public, humanitarian, business, and non-profit organizations, as well as individuals from both affected and non-affected areas/countries, to survivors of extreme natural events. This chapter also covers other relevant information such as providers and distributors of emergency aid and issues associated with participation of domestic and foreign military forces in disaster relief operations. This is followed by a final section dealing with problems and challenges associated with disaster aid flows. 

           

International Humanitarian System

Flash Appeal

Pledge and Flow of Relief Aid

Needs Assessment, Logistics and Management 

Providers of Disaster Aid

Distributors of Disaster Aid

      Participation of Foreign Military Forces

      Participation of Domestic Military Forces

Funding Guidelines (GHD and Others

Determinants of Disaster Aid

 

Crucial aspects of disaster relief (e.g., timeliness, appropriateness, and coordination and cooperation) that ultimately determine the success of any single operation are presented in Chapter 3, along with a discussion on how agencies involved in disaster relief operations and maintain partnerships and networks. This chapter provides background for understanding the strengths and weaknesses of disaster aid disbursement. Several disaster relief and network models are also discussed.

 

Success/Failure Indicators of Disaster Relief Operations

<      Appropriateness

      Timeliness

      Coordination and Cooperation

      Inequitable Distribution

      Human Right Violations

      Misuse and Non-use of Relief Fund

 Partnership and Networking

Numerical Disaster Relief and Networks Models   

 

Chapter 4 provides an overview of the nature and extent of emergency relief efforts undertaken in countries impacted by the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami (IOT), Hurricane Katrina, and the Kashmir and Nepal earthquakes, along with some basic statistics regarding these disasters. The weaknesses and strengths of each one of these disaster operation are reviewed. This review is essential for improving future emergency relief operations. Additionally, each of the operation considered in this chapter is fundamental for understanding the dynamics of the relief process. 

 

The 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami

     Global Generosity

     Domestic Generosity

     Competition and Cooperation

The 2005 Hurricane Katrina

     Official Response

     Non-official Response

     International Response

The 2005 Kashmir Earthquake

     Global Response

     Participation of Foreign Military

     Earthquake Relief and LoC

     Participation of National Army

The 2015 Nepal Earthquake

     Problems in Organizing Disaster Relief Aid

     Domestic and International Response

     Effectiveness of Emergency Aid

 

Unnecessary and useless relief items to those who have suffered a disaster have been a perpetual problem across the globe. This spontaneous flow of supplies hampers and complicates emergency relief efforts. This post-disaster convergence phenomenon is the subject of Chapter 5. There are three forms of convergence: personal (the influx of emergency response personnel and all types of individuals, including affiliated or non-affiliated local/national and foreign volunteers, and members of search, rescue and medical teams); informational (the flow of information and communication); and material (movement of physical resources, like (solicited or unsolicited) donated goods, supplies, and/or equipment sent by all entities in response to a disaster). All these components of convergence phenomenon and their effects on disaster relief activities are examined in this chapter. 

 

History of Convergence Phenomenon

Convergence of Personnel

Convergence of Information

Convergence of Materials

Advantages and Disadvantages

Current Strategies Used to Control Convergence

Recommendations

 

The final chapter (Chapter 6) outlines the progress so far made in global disaster relief efforts during the last decades, along with the challenges such efforts have confronted in recent years. Based on these challenges, recommendations are made to improve future disaster relief efforts.

 

Problems and Challenges

Lessons Learned

Progress

Recommendations

 

In addition, a glossary of disaster relief-related organizations and agencies (e.g., ALNAP, DAC, DEC, FTS, and GHD) will be included at the end of the proposed book.

 

O autorze

Bimal Kanti Paul is a Professor of Geography at Kansas State University, USA. His core areas of geographic research are in human-environment interactions, population and health geographies, geospatial analysis and application.

Blurb

‘Dr. Paul has again provided an exceptional foundation in disaster studies, this time on the complex and evolving nature of humanitarian aid. Paul effortlessly guides the reader through aid theories, concepts, and processes across the disaster cycle while positing informative case studies, critiques, and prospects for more effective aid in the future. Undoubtedly a valuable text for scholars, practitioners, and policy makers alike.’

Luke Juran, Virginia Tech, USA

Disaster Relief Aid: Changes and Challenges provides a comprehensive analysis of disaster relief efforts undertaken globally during the last several decades, and examines the changes and challenges that have emerged over time. The book evaluates the current state of disaster relief and discusses how it may be improved.  The author examines salient features of disaster relief operations and provides an overview of the development of global humanitarian assistance programs. The book also explores how disaster aid is channelled from non-affected areas to affected areas. Using five major natural and man-made disasters as case studies, the book analyses the nature and extent of emergency relief efforts undertaken for each. The final chapter covers the post-disaster convergence phenomenon; outlines the major challenges of international disaster relief operation and finally, posits recommendations on how to improve future disaster relief efforts. 

This is an essential interdisciplinary text on disaster response for both undergraduate and graduate students as well as an invaluable resource for disaster researchers, managers, and numerous international and national non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and international agencies.