According to the International Red Cross report, it has been recorded that nearly $17 billion US was donated for the rehabilitation of tsunami victims; however, $14 billion went to help the survivors.
Sufferers of Hurricane Katrina in the United States and the South Asian earthquake in Pakistan were also well shored up by donors, who included governments and individuals.
In contrast, a huge deluge in Guyana and deadly drought in Malawi and Niger received little attention. Victims there got less than $27 each from donors, while tsunami victims received $1,241.
For instance, in Malawi, the victims sold their commodities along with land since they never got the benefit of aid neither did they receive any resources for rehabilitation.
Itani, who headed Red Cross operations in the Pakistan earthquake, accused the media for not covering the entire state of affairs consequent upon which, the funds could not be properly allocated.
As was the case of Hurricane Katrina which received 40 times more media treatment than Hurricane Stan, which actually resulted in nearly 800 more casualties than the former one.
What could be done?
In order to combat this variation, the Red Cross report advises that contributors must put forward their donations to aid agencies rather than for specific disasters. In addition, it has also urged for more timely intercession in a disaster, heading off crises before they detonate.
Itani said endowments must persist in the months and years after a disaster has struck. Since very less attention is paid in ‘recovery and reconstruction’ which is the aftermath.
