There are impacts of our 'connectedness' we cannot even conceive of at this time. Video game addicts and social network perverts aside, I worry about the flow of information and misinformed intent. News travels so fast, from so many sources, it tends to travel irresponsibly.
I'm happy to hear that so many around me (currently in South Florida) want to reach out to those in need. People are up in arms about Japan and spending lots of money trying to lend a hand. What I want to know is, why have we already forgotten about Haiti? Haiti is our brother, just 700 miles out to sea, and yet we never hear a word anymore: not in the news, not on the radio, not anywhere. Suddenly supporting Haiti isn't fashionable anymore. Now is the time more than ever that Haitians need our help. Forget the clothing and canned food donations, real relief comes from disaster preventative support, community outreach and infrastructure development. We lose sight of that. We log on, we see images of suffering and we react immediately, but not always effectively.
This year we've jumped from the mines of Chile, to the floods of Australia, to the quakes in New Zealand and now Japan...and most of us have responded each time. But have we really helped?
This is a call to action, but informed action. Don't just spread news and opinions without taking the time to reflect and investigate. ESPECIALLY as it relates to disaster relief. In Miami now everyone's talking about galas, exhibitions, social functions and fundraising for Japanese relief, but where is all that money going? To who? For what purpose?
The Japanese government is actually limiting international assistance now. The Japanese Government and the UN filed a report evaluating the extent of damage and what level of international assistance is actually needed.
Quoted from GoodIntents.org
Following the [UN] team’s visit to Miyagi Prefecture on 23 March and after discussion with Government of Japan counterparts, [UN] notes: (1) that even though the scale of the damage following the earthquake and tsunami was significant and resulting humanitarian needs remain considerable, (2) Japan is a highly developed country and has, in principle, enough resources as well as the ability to respond to existing humanitarian needs. The country can both produce and procure relief supplies domestically and has the capacity to deliver those supplies to the affected population. Japan has a consolidated disaster management system for disaster response although coordination and logistical challenges have yet to be fully overcome. [UN's] initial observation is that the need for any further international humanitarian presence or internationally procured relief supplies is limited and any such assistance should only be provided upon the request of the Japanese Government and in accordance with their stated criteria. In addition it is important not to overburden affected prefectures and local communities who are working at full capacity and do not have the resources to coordinate unsolicited offers of assistance. As a next step, [UN] is currently planning to visit Iwake and is determining how to access Fukushima in order to better understand residual humanitarian needs in those prefectures.
Don't believe me? Read the UN report for yourself.
What does this mean? This means the Japanese government is politely saying it can handle itself, and that while assistance is appreciated sometimes it only creates more problems on the ground. Japan currently receives assistance from 133 countries and 33 established international organizations. Of these, it only accepts relief from 24 countries. Get it? I do, it's a clear message saying that your money and efforts while not unappreciated may be better used elsewhere.
We always mean well, but sometimes with international aid we tend to get it wrong. We've sent pork flavored military MREs to the Islamic Middle East, when all that was needed was rice. We've sent canned foods and inappropriate clothing to Russia, only to inadvertently offend the locals. We've sent money to orphanages in Indonesia, which made it easier for families to give up their children rather than fight to stay together. We tend to send everything, before we even take the time to put our ears to the ground and find out exactly what the locals need.
Please don't misunderstand me. I'm not saying to stop giving aid, what I am saying is to think twice about what it means to effectively give aid. We're taught from a very young age that throwing money at a problem isn't the solution, so remember that next time your heart's strings are pulled.
At the risk of great controversy, please comment and leave your thoughts below.
Also, see my next post for a guide of 'Do's and Don'ts of Disaster Donations.'
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