Ten months after Cyclone Pam ravaged the South Pacific Ocean nation of Vanuatu, 18 containers of unrequested donated goods sat on the wharf — accumulating $1.5 million in storage, handling and container rental fees.
Natural disasters, which can be devastating to developing countries, particularly in the Pacific, are often followed by an outpouring of support and charity from neighboring countries such as Australia and New Zealand.
A new report from Australian Red Cross released Monday shows that despite the good will, some donations — such as those languishing in Vanuatu — cause more harm than good for developing countries recovering from a disaster.