Skip to main content

Response to and Emergency Relief Efforts for the Selected Disasters

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Disaster Relief Aid
  • 658 Accesses

Abstract

Since the beginning of this century, more than 100 major natural and man-made disasters occurred in different parts of the world. Each one of these disasters was followed by a massive emergency relief operation that lasted months. Five of these operations have been selected to evaluate the effectiveness of each one of them by exploring weaknesses and strengths of each selected operation. In doing so, basic statistics associated with each selected disasters, and domestic and international response, along with economic, health, and other impacts, are discussed. The selected disasters are: the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami, 2005 Hurricane Katrina, 2005 Kashmir Earthquake, 2010 Haiti Earthquake, and 2017 Famine in South Sudan. Although each relief effort was confronted with unique challenges and problems, and achieved varying degree of success, there are many commonalities among their operations. The information presented in this chapter is essential for improving both public and private response to future disaster relief operations. Additionally, each of the operation considered in this chapter is fundamental for understanding the dynamics of the relief process.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 119.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 159.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 159.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • Altman, M.J. 2017. 5 Things to Know About Famine in South Sudan. WFP. https://wfpusa.org/articles/5-things-to-know-about-famine-in-south-sudan/. Last Accessed 1 June.

  • AP (Associated Press). 2005. Foreign Aid to U.S. for Katrina Relief. 10 Sept. http://www.nbcnews.com/id/9282598/ns/us_news-katrina_the_long_road_back/t/foreign-aid-us-katrina-relief/#.WTV4zesrJhE. Last Accessed 2 Jan 2008.

  • AP (Associated Press). 2017. UN Food Agency Warns South Sudan Conflict Is Fueling Famine. May 30. https://www.yahoo.com/news/un-farm-agency-south-sudan-avoid-famine-help-124239445.html. Accessed on 31 May 2017.

  • ARC (American Red Cross). 2010. Bringing Help, Bringing Hope: The American Red Cross Responses to Hurricane Katrina, Rita and Wilma. Washington, DC.

    Google Scholar 

  • Barnshaw, J. 2005. Continuing Significance of Race and Class Among Houston Hurricane Katrina Evacuees. Natural Hazards Observer 30 (2): 11–13.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bigg, M. 2010. Aid Group Shocked over Lack of Shelter for Haitians’. Reuters. Mar 5. http://www.reuters.com/article/2010/03/05/idUSNo5225127_CH_.2400. Last Accessed 21 May 2017.

  • Breennan, R.J., and R.J. Waldman. 2006. The South Asian Earthquake Six Months Later—An Ongoing Crisis. The New England Journal of Medicine 354: 1769–1771.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Brown, G. 2005. Making a Tragedy Out of a Disaster. The World Today 61 (2): 7–8.

    Google Scholar 

  • Butterbaugh, L. 2005. Why did Huricane Katrina Hit Women So Hard? Off Our Backs 35 (9/10): 17–19.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cavallo, E.A., A. Powell, and O. Becerra. 2010. Estimating the Direct Economic. Damage of the Earthquake in Haiti. IDB Working Paper Series No. IBD-WP-163, Inter-American Development Bank, Washington, DC.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chia, E.S. 2007. Engineering Disaster Relief. IEEE Technology and Society Magazine 26 (3): 24–29.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Clark, N. 2005. Disaster and Generosity. Geographical Journal 171 (4): 384–386.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Coles, J.B., J. Zhuang, and J. Yates. 2012. Case Study in Disaster Relief: A Descriptive Analysis of Agency Partnerships in the Aftermath of the January 12, 2010 Haitian Earthquake. Socio-Economic Planning Sciences 46: 67–77.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cook, J., and N. Robins-Early. 2017. Aid Workers in 4 Countries Facing Famine Warn Trump’s Cut Could Cost Lives. The Huffington Post, Apr 12. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/aid-workers-somalia-south-sudan-yemen-nigeria-famine_us_58dea89fe4b0c777f7872e18.

  • Cooper, C., and R. Block. 2007. Disaster: Hurricane Katrina and the Failure of Homeland Security. New York: Henry Holt and Company LLC.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cruz, A.M., and E. Krausmann. 2008. Damage to Offshore Oil and Gas Facilities Following Hurricanes Katrina and Rita: An Overview. Journal of Loss Prevention in the Process Industries 21: 620–626.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Defense Watch. 2005. Where Was the Army National Guard When They Were Needed at Home? 20 Sept.

    Google Scholar 

  • DesRoches, R., M. Comerio, M. Eberhard, W. Mooney, and G.J. Rix. 2011. Overview of the 2010 Haiti Earthquake. Earthquake Spectra 27 (S1): S1–S21.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • de Ville de Goyet, C., and L. Moriniere. 2006. The Role of Needs Assessment in the Tsunami Response. London: Tsunami Evaluation Coalition.

    Google Scholar 

  • Edmond, K. n.d. NGOs and the Business of Poverty in Haiti. NACLA. https://nacla.org/news/ngos-and-business-poverty-haiti. Last Accessed 11 June 2017.

  • Eikenberry, A.M., V. Arroyave, and T. Cooper. 2007. Administrative Failure and the International NGO Response to Hurricane Katrina. Public Administration Review 67 (S1): 160–170.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Elder, K., S. Xirasagar, N. Miller, S.A. Bowen, S. Glover, and C. Piper. 2007. African Americans’ Decisions Not to Evacuate New Orleans Before Hurricane Katrina: A Qualitative Study. American Journal of Public Health 97 (S1): S124–S129.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Elliot, J.R., and J. Pais. 2006. Race, Class, and Hurricane Katrina: Social Differences in Human Response to Disaster. Social Science Research 35 (2): 295–321.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Financial Tracking Service. 2017. https://fts.unocha.org/appeals/overview/2017. Last Accessed 23 Mar 2017.

  • Flint, M., and H. Goyder. 2006. Funding the Tsunami Response. London: Tsunami Evaluation Coalition.

    Google Scholar 

  • Griffin, T., M. Joseph, B. Concannon, and S.M.R. Dougherty. 2010. Neglect in the Encampments: Haiti’s Second-Wave Humanitarian Disaster. Boston: Institute for Justice and Democracy.

    Google Scholar 

  • GWWC (Giving What We Can). 2014. Emergency Aid, July. https://www.givingwhatwecan.org/research/other-causes/emergency-aid/. Last Accessed 16 June 2017.

  • Harrington, L., J. Gordon, and B.K. Paul. 2006. Southeastern Louisiana Evacuation/Non-evacuation for Hurricane Katrina. In Learning from Catastrophe: Quick Response Research in the Wake of Hurricane Katrina, 327–352. Boulder: Hazards Research Center, University of Colorado Boulder.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hebblethwaite, B. 2011. Haiti Earthquake (2010). In Encyclopedia of Disaster Relief, ed. K.B. Penuel and M.M. Statler, 258–262. Newbury Park: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • HHI (Harvard Humanitarian Initiative). 2011. Disaster Relief 2.0: The Future of Information Sharing in Humanitarian Emergencies. Washington, DC and Berkshire, UK: UN Foundation & Vodafone Foundation Technology Partnership.

    Google Scholar 

  • Holguin-Veras, J., M. Jaller, and T. Wachtendrof. 2012. Comparative Performance of Alternative Humanitarian Logistic Structures after the Port-au-Prince Earthquake: ACEs, PIEs, and CANs. Transport Research Part A 46: 1623–1640.

    Google Scholar 

  • Holguin-Veras, J., M. Jaller, L.N.V. Wassenhove, N. Perez, and T. Wachtendorf. 2014. Material Convergence: Important and Understudied Disaster Phenomenon. Natural Hazards Review 15(1): 1–12.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • HRC (Hazards Research Center) (ed.). 2006. Learning from Catastrophe: Quick Response Research in the Wake of Hurricane Katrina, 327–352. Boulder: HRC, University of Colorado Boulder.

    Google Scholar 

  • Iaccino, L. 2017. South Sudan Famine: Russia and US Disagree on Where Blame Lies. International Business Times, Mar 24. www.ibtimes.co.uk/south-sudan-famine-russia-us-disagree-where-blame-lies-1613505. Accessed 2 June.

  • IFRC (International Federation of Red Cross) and Red Crescent Society (RCS). 2006. Pakistan: Earthquake. Operations Update, 30 May.

    Google Scholar 

  • IRIN (Integrated Regional Information Network) Pakistan. 2006. When Disasters Strike: The Response to the South Asian Earthquake, the Role of Military in the Pakistan Earthquake. www.irinnews.org/InDepthId=6&ReportsId=34370. Last Accessed 9 Jan 2007.

  • IRIN (Integrated Regional Information Network). 2010. Pakistan: IRIN—Critiques of the 2005 Quake Reconstruction. UNISDR, 13 May. http://www.preventionweb.net/news/view/13912. Accessed 5 June 2017.

  • Jenson, J.M. 2005. Reflections on Natural Disasters and Traumatic Events. Social Work Research 29 (4): 195–197.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jonkman, S.N., B. Maaskant, E. Boyd, and L.M.L. Levitan. 2009. Loss of Life Caused by the Flooding of New Orleans After Hurricane Katrina: Analysis of the Relationship Between Flood Characteristics and Mortality. Risk Analysis 29 (5): 676–698.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Karan, P.P. 2011. Introduction: When Nature Turns Savage. In The Indian Ocean Tsunami: The Global Response to a Natural Disaster, ed. P.P. Karan and S.P. Subbiah, 1–31. Lexington: The University Press of Kentucky.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kasfir, N. 2005. Sudan’s Darfur: Is It Genocide? Current History 104: 195–202.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kirsch, T.D., E. Leidman, W. Weiss, and S. Doocy. 2012. The Impact of the Earthquake and Humanitarian Assistance on Household Economies and Livelihoods of Earthquake-Affected Populations in Haiti. American Journal of Disaster Medicine 7 (2): 85–94.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Klarreich, K., and L. Polman. 2012. The NGO Republic of Haiti: How the International Relief Effort After the 2010 Earthquake Excluded Haitians from Their Own Recovery. The Nation, Oct 31. https://www.thenation.com/article/ngo-republic-haiti/. Last Accessed 11 June 2017.

  • Knox, R. 2015. 5 Years After Haiti’s Earthquake, Where Did the $13.5 Billion Go? http://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2015/01/12/376138864/5-years-after-haiti-s-earthquake-why-aren-t-things-better. Last Accessed 29 May 2017.

  • Kweifio-Okai, C. 2014. Where Did the Indian Ocean Tsunami Aid Money Go? The Guardian, Dec 25.

    Google Scholar 

  • Large, T. 2005. Analysis—Big Tsunami Donors Rank Poorly in Generosity. Reuters, June 24. http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L23032450.htm. Accessed 30 June 2005.

  • Lavelle, K., and J. Feagin. 2006. Hurricane Katrina: The Race and Class Debate. Monthly Review 58 (3): 52–66.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Maestas, C.D., L.R. Atkeson, T. Croom, and L.A. Bryant. 2008. Shifting the Blame: Federalism, Media, and Public Assignment of Blame Following Hurricane Katrina. The Journal of Federalism 38 (4): 609–632.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Margesson, R. 2005. Indian Ocean Earthquake and Tsunami: Humanitarian Assistance and Relief Operations: CRS Report for Congress. Washington, DC: Congressional Research Service.

    Google Scholar 

  • Margesson, R., and M. Taft-Morales. 2010. Haiti Earthquake Crisis and Response. Washington, DC: Congressional Research Service.

    Google Scholar 

  • Marshall, L. 2005. Were Women Raped in New Orleans? Addressing Human Rights of Women in Times of Crisis. Off Our Backs 35 (9): 14–15.

    Google Scholar 

  • Maru, M.T. 2013. The Real Reasons Behind South Sudan Crisis: The Escalating Proves That Secession Is Not a Panacea for Peace and Democracy. Aljazeera, 27 Dec.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mattera, P. 2005. Debunking Wal-Mart’s Hurricane Relief Efforts. Corporate Research E-Letter No. 55. https://www.organicconsumers.org/old_articles/btc/katrina102805.php. Last Accessed 23 July 2007.

  • McGirk, J. 2005. Kashmir: The Politics of an Earthquake. Open Democracy, 19 Oct. https://www.opendemocracy.net/conflict-india_pakistan/jihadi_2941.jsp. Last Accessed 5 June 2017.

  • McGreal, C., and E. Addley. 2010. Haiti Aid Agencies Warn: Chaotic and Confusing Relief Effort Is Costing Lives. The Guardian, Jan 18. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2010/jan/18/haiti-aid-distribution-confusion-warning. Last Accessed 12 June 2017.

  • Museveni, Y. 2014. Uganda Troops Fighting South Sudan Rebels. BBC News, Jan 16.

    Google Scholar 

  • News24. 2016. South Sudan Is Dying, and Nobody Is Counting. 11 Mar 2016.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nijman, J., P.O. Muller, and H.J. de Blij. 2016. World Today: Concepts and Regions in Geography. Hobeken, NJ: Wiley.

    Google Scholar 

  • Otterman, S. 2005. What Is the Controversy Over the U.N. Oil-for-Food Program? Washington, DC: Council on Foreign Relations.

    Google Scholar 

  • Oxfam. 2011. From Relief to Recovery Supporting Good Governance in Post-earthquake Haiti. 142 Oxfam Briefing Paper. http://www.oxfam.de/sites/www.oxfam.de/files/20110106_fromreliefrecover_379kb.pdf. Accessed 25 July 2017.

  • Ozerdem, A. 2006. The Mountain Tsunami: Afterthoughts on the Kashmir Earthquake. Third World Quarterly 27: 397–419.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Paul, B.K. 2007. 2004 Tsunami Relief Efforts: An Overview. Asian Profile 35 (5): 467–478.

    Google Scholar 

  • Paul, B.K. 2011. Environmental Hazards and Disasters: Contexts, Perspectives and Management. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley-Blackwell.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Paul, B.K., and M. Nadiruzzaman. 2013. Religious Interpretations for the Causes of the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami. Asian Profile 41 (1): 67–77.

    Google Scholar 

  • Paulsen, D. 2017. Episcopal Agencies Weigh Renewed Aid Efforts in South Sudan After Famine Declared. ENS News Service, Feb 29.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pew Research Center. 2005. Two-in-Three Critical of Bush’s Relief Efforts: Huge Racial Divide Over Katrina and Its Consequences. Washington, DC.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pew Research Center. 2010. Haiti Dominates Public’s Consciousness: Nearly Half Have Donated or Plan to Give. Washington, DC: Pew Research Center—20 Jan. http://people-press.org/2010/01/20/haiti-dominates-publics-consciousness/. Last Accessed 29 May 2017.

  • Quinn, B. 2017a. Famine Declared in South Sudan. The Guardian, Feb 20.

    Google Scholar 

  • Quinn, B. 2017b. UK’s £100m Response to South Sudan Famine Comes from Cash Already Allocated. The Guardian, Feb 23.

    Google Scholar 

  • Quinn, B. 2017c. EU and UK United in Effort to Combat Famine in South Sudan. The Guardian, Feb 22.

    Google Scholar 

  • Qureshi, J.H. 2006. Earthquake Jihad: The Role of Jihadis and Islamist Groups After the 2005 Earthquake. HPN, July. http://odihpn.org/magazine/earthquake-jihad-the-role-of-jihadis-and-islamist-groups-after-the-2005-earthquake/. Last Accessed 5 June 2017.

  • Rashid, A. 2005. Post-quake Giving United Pakistan. The New York Times, Oct 27.

    Google Scholar 

  • Real World Survivor. 2015. 5 Deadliest Natural Disasters Since 2000, 23 Feb. http://www.realworldsurvivor.com/2015/02/23/5-deadliest-natural-disasters-since-2000/#bularnw-nl. Last Accessed 2 June 2017.

  • Renner, M., and Z. Chafe. 2007. Beyond Disasters: Creating Opportunities for Peace. Washington, DC: Worldwatch Institute.

    Google Scholar 

  • Renton, A. 2005. Money, Not Excuse. The Guardian, Nov 20.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rofi, A., S. Doocy, and C. Robinson. 2006. Tsunami Mortality and Displacement in Aceh Province Indonesia. Disasters 30 (3): 340–350.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schuller, M. 2010. Haiti’s Disaster After the Disaster: The IDP Camps and Cholera. Journal of Humanitarian Assistance (13 Dec).

    Google Scholar 

  • Seto, T., and Y. Nishimura. 2016. Crisis Mapping Project and Counter-Mapping by Neo-Geographers. In Japan After 3/11: Global Perspectives on the Earthquake, Tsunami, and Fukushima Meltdown, ed. P.P. Karan, and U. Suganuma, 288–303. Lexington: University Press of Kentucky.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sieff, K. 2017. South Sudan’s People Are Starving, and Fighters Are Blocking Aid. The Washington Post, Mar 31.

    Google Scholar 

  • Slagh, C.L. 2010. Managing Chaos, 140 Characters at a Time: How the Usage of Social Media in the 2010 Haiti Crisis Enhanced Disaster Relief. A Master thesis, Georgetown University, Washington, DC.

    Google Scholar 

  • Spiegel, P.B. 2005. Differences in World Response to Natural Disasters and Complex Emergencies. Journal of American Medical Association 293 (15): 1915–1918.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Storm, S. 2006. Foreign Experts Critique U.S. Red Cross on Katrina. The New York Times, Apr 5.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stout, D. 2005. Bush and Congress Announce Inquiries on Federal Response. The New York Times, Sept 6.

    Google Scholar 

  • Street, A., and G. Parihar. 2007. The UN Cluster Approach in Pakistan Earthquake Response: An NGO Perspective. http://odihpn.org/magazine/the-un-cluster-approach-in-the-pakistan-earthquake-response-an-ngo-perspective/. Accessed 21 May 2017.

  • Tamamoto, M. 2005. After the Tsunami, How Japan Can Lead. Far Eastern Economic Review 168 (2): 15–19.

    Google Scholar 

  • Telford, J., and J. Cosgrave. 2007. The International Humanitarian System and the 2004 Indian Ocean Earthquake and Tsunamis. Disasters 31 (1): 1–28.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • The Economist. 2006. Pakistan’s Earthquake. 6 May.

    Google Scholar 

  • The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation. 2005. Survey of Hurricane Katrina Evacuees. Washington, DC: The Henry J. Kaisser Family Foundation.

    Google Scholar 

  • Thomas, E. 2005. What Went Woring: The Story of Katrina—And a Disastrously Slow Rescue. News Week (US Edition), Nov 17, http://www.newsweek.com/what-went-wrong-story-katrina-and-disastrously-slow-rescue-118069. Last Accessed 16 Nov 2017.

  • Travis, J. 2005. Scientists’ Fears Come True as Hurricane Floods New Orleans. Science 309: 1656–1659.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ugra, S. 2005. Island of Apathy. India Today, Jan 17, 8–12.

    Google Scholar 

  • U.N. (United Nations). 2006. Tsunami Recovery: Taking Stock After 12 Months. New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • U.N.-ESC (United Nations-Economic and Social Council). 2005. Strengthening Emergency Relief. Rehabilitation, Reconstruction, Recovery and Prevention in the Aftermath of the Indian Ocean Tsunami Disaster. New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • US Department of Health and Human Services. 2010. Information for U.S. Citizens Returning from Haiti. http://www.hhs.gov/haiti/repatriationprogram.html. Accessed 26 Feb 2010.

  • US Department of Homeland Security. 2010. Statement from Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano on Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haitian Nationals. Jan 15 2010. http://www.dhs.gov/ynews/releases/pr_1263595952516.shtm. Accessed 4 Feb 2010.

  • US Institute of Peace. 2010. Haiti: A Republic of NGOs? Peace Brief 23, 26 Apr. https://www.usip.org/sites/default/files/PB%2023%20Haiti%20a%20Republic%20of%20NGOs.pdf. Last Accessed 11 June 2017.

  • US State Department. 2013. Foreign Aid to U.S. for Katrina Relief. http://www.nbcnews.com/id/9282598/ns/us_news-katrina_the_long_road_back/t/foreign-aid-us-katrina-relief/#.Wg4E4VVKthE. Last Accessed 16 Nov 2017.

  • Valley, P. 2006. Review of the Year: Disasters—Natur’s Assaults Have Shaped a New Reality for Mankind. The Independent, March 13, 11(4).

    Google Scholar 

  • Versluis, A. 2014. Formal and Informal Material Aid Following the 2010 Haiti Earthquake as Reported by Camp Dwellers. Disasters 39 (S1): S94–S109.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Waugh Jr., W.L. 2005. The Disaster That Was Katrina. Natural Hazards Observer 30 (7): 7–8.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wehrfriz, G., and J. Cochran. 2005. Charity and Chaos. Newsweek 17: 30–32.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wilhelm, I. 2005. Sharing a World of Experience: Foreign-Aid Groups Offer Advice in Hurricanes’ Aftermath. Chronicle of Philanthropy, Oct 6. http://philanthropy.com/free/articles/v18/i01/01002701.htm. Accessed 6 Aug 2006.

  • Zimmermann, K.A. 2015. Hurricane Katrina: Facts, Damage & Aftermath. Life Science. 27 Aug. http://www.livescience.com/22522-hurricane-katrina-facts.html. Last Accessed 3 June 2017.

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Bimal Kanti Paul .

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2019 The Author(s)

About this chapter

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this chapter

Paul, B.K. (2019). Response to and Emergency Relief Efforts for the Selected Disasters. In: Disaster Relief Aid. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-77282-0_4

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics