Introduction
Natural disasters are known to have an undesirable effect on humanity. The aftermath of such occurrences is often characterized by mass suffering and dependency on human aid for the victims to survive. All over the world, there are many organizations that play a significant role in ensuring victims receive the necessary support. Different types of disasters present various kinds of challenges. It is upon these lines that humanitarian support is structured. To mount a successful humanitarian aid, there is need to understand the unique challenges involved and structure tailor-made solutions. For earthquakes, a number of challenges have been reported. Such obstacles make it difficult to reach the victims. This paper addresses some of the significant challenges associated with providing humanitarian aid and relief in response to earthquakes. A close analysis of the Haiti earthquake reveals a number of problems that humanitarian organizations faced in providing assistance to the victims. The paper will discuss the challenges in relation to the Haiti earthquake.
Accessibility/ reaching the remote areas
This problem cuts across all disasters. In order to extend a helping hand to the victims of earthquakes, movement is critical. Mountainous and high altitude areas, however, pose a major risk. Landslides are some of the effects of earthquakes. When this is the case, it becomes impossible to reach small clusters of victims. Offering humanitarian aid effectively involves transportation of necessities such as food and clothing (Aronin 86). As a matter of fact, earthquakes are characterized by destruction of infrastructure, including the road network. Depending on the magnitude of the disaster, accessibility differs from case to case.
A good example of how accessibility is an important challenge is by analyzing the Haiti earthquake and the effects it had (Ha 40). Reports show that the magnitude of the earthquake was 7.8. According to the Haiti Earthquake Appeal Response Review (jointly commissioned by the Humanitarian Coalition of Canada), accessibility to remote areas proved to be a significant challenge. It was almost impossible for the big trucks to supply construction materials and relief to the destroyed homes. This led to more casualties as more victims died of hunger and lack of some basic necessities.
Lack of Coordination
Lack of coordination during the relief exercises has been witnessed on many occasions. As a matter of fact, this has been one of the most consistent problems whenever international efforts are put in place to offer humanitarian aid. In the world today, there are more than a hundred NGOs that seek to provide humanitarian relief during such natural disasters. As much as this may have a positive impact, no one seems to take charge. Different organizations have different styles of operations, priorities and rules of engagement. In addition, almost all these organizations depend on public donations to make the humanitarian help possible (Oosterom et al., 45). This brings about competition for resources amongst them. Because they intend to serve a similar set of individuals, they end up duplicating each other’s efforts, thereby getting into each other’s way.
This challenge was common during the Haiti earthquake. Described as one of the worst ever disasters ever to strike, there was bound to be human outcry in support of the victims. A number of NGOs moved to provide humanitarian relief to the victims of the earthquake. Issues dealing with coordination of the exercise were handled by two organizations: the US Military and the UN. The UN was keen to ensure that the ‘Cluster System’ was implemented for the purpose of the exercise. On the other hand, the US military controlled the airport, thereby becoming the de facto coordinator. The major problem that arose is that these bodies wanted to work autonomously. They all wanted to take the lead role; neither wanted to be on the shadow of the other. They publicly collided and it became impossible for them to work together, despite championing for the same course (Laferrière et al., 33). Later, UN would term the situation as ‘utter chaos and a joke’. There is no doubt that the organizations taking part were frustrated by each other’s efforts. After the quake, there was a leaked mail that revealed frustration of the exercise. The UN, in particular, was not pleased by the supremacy battle with other organizations to take control of the situation. As the mail revealed, little coordination had been achieved. Such a move led to lack of capacity and independency in handling issues. As a result of this, there emerge doubts as to whether a body is well equipped to handle such disasters.
There have been recent claims that the NGOs are competing for public trust. Because of the scale of the quake, taking a lead role in the exercise would definitely expose an NGO to the public. This is what led to the battle, and the subsequent lack of coordination. Whereas the UN prides itself for being the worldwide body recognize to handle such events, the US military controlled the airport. This made it almost impossible to settle on a specific strategy of handling the pertinent issues that arose during the exercise.
Such competition meant that the organizations overlapped in their roles. Because they were scrambling for the same resources, it became difficult to strategize on the way forward. The only way through which this can be handled and be solved is by ensuring that sanity is maintained. There is need for the humanitarian organizations taking part to address these issues at the earliest opportunity possible in order to draw boundaries of work and how to carry out the exercise. It would be prudent, for instance, to define the roles that each organization will be playing. When this is the case, humanitarian resources will not be wasted as there will be proper mechanisms to channel them to the victims. Coordination also ensures that the organizations supplement each other, instead of competing against each other.
Infrastructure
The Haiti earthquake is the best example on how infrastructure (or lack of it) dictates humanitarian relief. As a matter of fact, Haiti does not boast of the best infrastructure. Haiti is characterized by runaway corruption and high levels of poverty. This, compounded by the fact that the region had suffered numerous natural disasters previously, meant that its ports, airports, highways, and roads were under strain. Even before the earthquake, the infrastructure system in the country was fragile. With the intensity of the quake, the system was significantly paralyzed and as a result, made it impossible to facilitate humanitarian relief. Not only did the roads block; there were massive destructions of the port (Donlon et al., 28). Such a situation would make it almost impossible to handle the victims with the required urgency.
During the Haiti earthquake, logistical problems affiliated to infrastructure were evident. Lack of enough airports meant it was impossible to reach the victims at the earliest opportunity. Because only Port-au-Prince airport was functioning, some planes were turned away. This meant that relief workers were stranded and the relief supplies, that were desperately needed, could not be channeled to the victims in time. Such a delay meant that some of the goods meant for the victims perished even before being handed over.
Challenges related to breakdown in communications
During natural disasters and the subsequent moves to avail humanitarian relief to the victims, communication is essential. Whether from the victims to the humanitarian NGOs or within the NGO staff, circulation of information is important in various aspects. Whenever communication breaks down, suspense strikes; it becomes almost impossible to coordinate the events taking place.
The earthquake in Haiti destroyed the communication systems that were put in place. The Information Minister of Jamaica by then, Daryl Vaz, argued that the systems had completely failed, and went on to describe it as ‘total madness.' Logistical efforts, as a matter of fact, depend on communication. In such uncertainty, the operations are often paralyzed.
Top government officials play a significant role during such disasters. The president, for instance, has to be in constant communication with the ministers in order to give them directions. The Chief of Police and the Minister of Interior also need to be in constant communication to ensure that security is enhanced. In Haiti, this was initially not the case. What followed, as a result, was a breakdown in security communication, allowing rogue individuals to take advantage and loot property.
Communication was also needed in order to ensure that the relief workers had adequate information on where aid was needed. In this case, there was reliance on satellite phones which were expensive and difficult to access in order to get such information. At times, the humanitarian workers were forced to drive long ways with a view to pass important messages. This communication breakdown hindered the speed with which the humanitarian services were provided (Sylves et al., 33). By the time the humanitarian relief was transported to where it was needed, most of the victims had succumbed to death.
Physical and psychological toll on humanitarian workers
Most disasters, including earthquakes, leave a trail of undesired effects. Earthquakes are known to have adverse implications on survivors. Survivors and humanitarian workers alike can be traumatized. The human instincts of the relief workers means that they will be psychologically affected by the aftermath of the disaster.
The Haiti disaster witnessed mass loss of lives. There were a number of challenges for relief workers who had never participated in such an exercise before. The number of bodies, the buildings which had collapsed, cries of pain from the survivors, the scent of bodies that were decomposing and other situations made it difficult for workers with human instincts to work in such a place. For some of the workers, this was the first time they were working under such conditions. This would affect them psychologically, reducing their ability to offer the required manpower in the relief mission. Whereas there were several experienced workers, the intensity and scale of the earthquake meant that the number of workers needed was high. Lack of preparedness meant that it was almost impossible to find experienced workers, hence the use of volunteers (Farmer 123).
The difficulties to handle the survivors also proved to be a major challenge. Due to the shock and the misery the survivors underwent, it was difficult for them to come into terms with reality. Surviving such an earthquake can only have a devastating effect to an individual. The psychological trauma they face makes it virtually impossible to belief in any course. It was difficult for the survivors to open up to the workers on matters pertaining to their suffering without breaking down (Coppola 54). In addition to this, language barrier proved to have a negative impact. Most of the relief workers in the Haiti earthquake were sourced from various parts of the world. The United Nations, for instance, has its workers from all angles of the world. This being the case, it was difficult for the survivors to communicate with the workers without the services of a translator. This resulted in a number of the victims dying at the hands of the humanitarian workers without being helped in any way. The fact that the communication system had already been affected means it was difficult to call for external reinforcement.
Lack of adequate facilities
Natural disasters such as earthquakes lead to destruction of property. This means that the basic needs of the victims are cut off. As such, humanitarian organizations are expected to cater for everything for the survivors, including food, shelter and clothing. Most of the relief agencies and organizations depend on public donations to carry out their operations. The effectiveness of their work, therefore, is shaped and determined by the public (Miles et al. 90). In cases where a large number is affected, there are always challenges associated with providing for the affected individuals. Haiti was one such example.
Despite the fact that there were several organizations that were taking part in providing relief, the number of victims overwhelmed them. This meant that some of the victims were not adequately attended to. Reports indicate that at times, the basic commodities such as food were exhausted, forcing the relief workers and the victims to go long hours before having a meal (Spennemann, 18). Families with young children faced a number of challenges too. The fact that facilities were affected meant that it would be impossible to access adequate medical care and other related facilities.
Overcoming these challenges
As explained above, the Haiti earthquake was a wake-up call on disasters and the effect they can have in life. Without proper planning, it will be impossible to deal with the aftermath of earthquakes. This calls for proper and adequate disaster preparedness. Several challenges (some of which are discussed above) can be mitigated only by adequate planning. Some of the ways through which these challenges can be addressed are as follows:
Proper coordination
In the Haiti earthquake, the fact that several organizations took part proved to be catastrophic, instead of being a blessing. The supremacy battles by some of the organizations and their desire to play the lead role threatened to break the exercise. A good example is analyzing how the United Nations differed with the US military (Vitoriano et al. 17). When providing humanitarian relief, it is advisable to have one integrated program that all the players should follow. When this is the case, it becomes possible and easy to direct relief workers without overlapping their functions. Because of the ‘cold war’ between the two organizations in the Haiti earthquake, it was difficult for the victims to be sufficiently addressed. With proper coordination, there is no doubt that the victims will be handled effectively.
Using technology to overcome challenges
Breakdown in the communication systems and infrastructure during the disaster proved to have a major negative impact in the whole process. Transportation of humanitarian relief from one place to the other became difficult, leading to some of the goods perishing before reaching their destinations. Lack of adequate communication also proved to be a hindrance. To address these issues, humanitarian organizations and governments should invest in technology to ensure that transport and communication can be effected at any time. With the technological advancement in the current century, one can expect the governments to put in place adequate mechanisms to tackle this (Henningfeld, 43). This is one of the ways through which such disasters can be handled.
Having in place trained workers
Dealing with extreme disasters such as earthquakes can be traumatizing. This calls for experience and better training for the relief workers to ensure they are competent for the job. Governments and humanitarian organizations should ensure that they consistently train their workers and expose them to such conditions. If this is adequately done, there is no doubt that they will have the relevant experience to handle such situations.
Conclusion
There is no doubt that disasters adversely affect the economy of any nation. On the humanitarian front, the victims of such disasters need to be embraced and be taken care of. To effectively achieve this, there is need for all the relevant stakeholders to prepare well. Putting in place such aspects of proper training and technology is likely to make the efforts to reach the victims seamless. Whereas some of these challenges can be taken care of by prior planning, others are impossible to predict. Proper controlling should also be put in place. This is the only way that the humanitarian organizations will work together.
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