Disaster Information  
Articles and News  

 

Stop Propagating Disaster Myths Dr. Claude de Ville de Goyet
Pan American Health Organization (PAHO)
1999

 
Relief - Fiasco Frank Greve describes donations distributed in Honduras in the aftermath of Hurricane Mitch.  The description provides excellent guidance on donation issues.
Knight Ridder
March 1999

 
Disaster Response Career Robin Haydon
Center of Excellence in Disaster Management & Humanitarian Assistance
March 2000

 
Clothes Mess Clothing sent for tsunami relief ended up discarded and destroyed for several reasons.  Most often the clothing was not suitable for use, either by its quality or the culture for which it was intended.  Consider the dignity of the tsunami victims.
5 October 2005

 
We Don't Need This Garb Commodities poured into Beslan without regard to community sensitivities, storage and handling requirements, and quality. In particular see the section titled We Don't Need This Garb near the bottom of the article.
10 May 2005

 
Sri Lanka Thongs . . . along with stiletto heels and expired cans of salmon and winter coats . . . more frustrated cargo shipped . . .
11 February 2005

 
Sri Lanka Ski Parkas Items donated by Westerners and shipped to Sri Lank include not only ski parkas, but also moisturizing gel, Viagra, pajama tops (sans bottoms), winter hats, winter tents, and cologne - frustrated cargo.  Inevitable problems of management, storage, and finding a way  to get rid of it logically follow.
3 February 2005

 
Dead Bodies Not a Risk Fears about the dangers that dead bodies pose to the survivors of natural disasters are mistaken.  This is a very common misconception and is perpetuated throughout the world.  editorial - espanol
5 June 2004

 
An Overdose of Dosage

 

 The management of medical donations is very intensive and fraught with potential dangers.  It can far outstrip the need and lead to public endangerment.
1 March 2004

 
Cheap Talk Problem Out of date and bearing toxic compounds if not recycled properly, cell phones no longer suitable in the North American and European markets are anticipated to migrate as donations to developing countries.
31 October 2003

 
Argentine Aid Delayed Aid collected for Argentine need, stalled at the port of reception for excessive period.  A difficult, but not atypical, circumstance.  Washington Post report.
18 November 2002

 

Food Yes, Kwacha No In a country of hunger there is food.  The people of Malawi more often lack the money to eat well.
30 September 2002

 

Stuck in Customs Without itemized lists, red tape on shipped goods gets longer and longer.
27 September 2002

 

Clothing by the Bale Disaster excess exacerbates poverty reduction in development programs around the world. This example highlights Zambia.
22 April 2002

 

SUMA Mitigates Second Disaster When countries are flooded with unnecessary or excessive supplies, management is critical.  Helping to avoid this second disaster is the SUpply MAnagement (SUMA) program of PAHO.
18 April 2002

 

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