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World Disasters Report:
Living and dying in the shadows In 2005, the world
responded more generously to people’s humanitarian needs than at any
time in recent history. Emergency aid reached at least US$ 17 billion =
211;
outstripping any other year on record. Yet millions still missed out on vital, potentially life-saving aid
because funds were directed at high-profile disasters, while countless ot=
her
crises were neglected, according to this year’s annual The Report =
shows t=
hat
governments donated over US$ 12 billion in bilateral humanitarian aid in =
2005
– the highest figure since records began in 1970. In addition,
individuals gave over US$ 5.5 billion for survivors of the Indian Ocean
tsunami – the most NGOs worldwide had ever collected in a year. Tot=
al
aid for the tsunami from private individuals and governments totalled over
US$ 14 billion. But aid coverage is inequitable. The tsunami was the best-funded
disaster, with at least US$ 1,241 per beneficiary in humanitarian aid =
211;
50 times more than for the worst-funded crises. Emergency appeals for Cha=
d,
Guyana, Côte d’Ivoire, Malawi and Niger raised on average less
than US$ 27 per person in need. International Federation President Juan Manuel Suárez Del Toro
said such huge disparities are unacceptable. “The generous response=
in
2005 shows people and governments are committed to helping those in need.=
Now
we must ensure aid goes where it is most needed and that it is not skewed=
for
political, security or media reasons.” Media coverage is also uneven. Why did Hurricane Katrina, which killed
about 1300 people, generate 40 times more media coverage than Hurricane S=
tan,
which killed 1600 people in Guatemala shortly afterwards? The World
Disasters Report asks why humanitarian aid is still unfairly distributed. Which
communities languish in the shadows of emergency response and prevention
– neglected by the media, aid organizations, donors, even by their =
own
governments? Why do some crises rate news coverage, donor money, a place =
in
international disaster databases, while others don’t? What is the h=
uman
impact of this neglect and what can be done about it? International Federation Secretary General Markku Niskala called for a
better understanding of the underlying causes of disasters. “For ma=
ny
people, daily life contains the seeds of crisis. Neglecting their
vulnerability turns today’s risk into tomorrow’s disaster.=
221; This year’s Report uses t=
he
examples of food insecurity in Africa, maternal mortality in South Asia, =
the
tyranny of repeated crises in the Americas, irregular migration to Europe=
and
gender inequities in disasters worldwide to reveal the lives of those peo=
ple
living in the shadows. The Report shows h=
ow
the right responses now can help prevent chronic crises flaring up into
humanitarian emergencies. For more information, a VNR on the Report or to =
set
up interviews (ISDN line available), please contact: Mr. Kgosietsile Mari=
pe
maripe@botswanaredcross.org =
=
The International Federation, the National Red C=
ross
and Red Crescent Societies and the International Committee of the Red Cro=
ss
together constitute the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement.
For further information on International Federation activities, please
consult our web site: www.ifrc.org <=
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