Super Typhoon Haiyan is already considered one of the largest humanitarian disasters in recent memory, and the international community has stepped in from the beginning to lend a helping hand.
Thousands of local and foreign aid workers, development professionals and volunteers have flocked to every relief center in Manila and the hard-hit areas in the Visayas region to donate, repack and distribute relief goods — and many more are coming.
But what should prospective aid implementers keep in mind when engaging in disaster relief like Haiyan? For a 15-year veteran aid worker who has worked in the 2004 Indonesian tsunami and the conflict in Mindanao, an open heart and an open mind — on top of practical tips — are crucial in helping out disaster relief operations.
“When we come in as aid workers, sometimes we have our own set of ideas on how to help but the important thing for a successful relief operation is the ability to listen to what the people really need,” Cecil Laguardia, World Vision humanitarian worker based in Cebu, told Devex. “Maybe the thing that they really need is not what we have in mind as aid workers.”
The national disaster risk management bureau has 30,000 volunteers listed as currently deployed in disaster areas to provide relief, medical assistance and security to the typhoon victims, showing the important role volunteers play in these situations.
“[Volunteers and aid workers] play a very critical role in the whole operation … especially in distribution and manpower,” explained Patrick Fuller, Asia-Pacific communications manager at the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.
Here are some practical tips for prospective aid implementers:
1. For aid workers on the ground, how you carry yourselves matters.
In a disaster situation, victims are under stress, trauma and fatigue, and the best way for volunteers to immediately change the atmosphere in a relief or recovery center is to try to bring back a sense of community to people who lost everything they owned.
“Usually if you do relief work, the organization you’re going to be with should have a set of guidelines that volunteers can follow. As much as possible, we should be low-profile and try to blend in and make it seem like we’re part of the community so the beneficiaries won’t be intimidated,” noted Laguardia.
Wearing proper clothes and a smile on a volunteer’s face can make a big difference, she added. Some of the appropriate articles of clothing include pants, shirts and closed shoes. Face towels, spare shirts, cap and a jacket are also recommended in case of weather changes. Jewelry and any other flashy accessories are discouraged.
Although humanitarian work is a serious matter, aid workers themselves have to be comfortable with the work they are doing and, of course, learn valuable lessons along the way.
“Another important thing is the attitude. They have to keep in mind the way they carry themselves and treat the survivors or the beneficiaries. They have to be more sensitive. They have to keep in mind these people went through a lot of pain. A volunteer should remember he’s coming in as a humanitarian worker, not a tourist,” added the World Vision staff member.
2. For volunteers, if you can bring your own money and food, do it.
Relief work is not an easy task, and the people behind the efforts are humans too. They get tired and hungry. But sometimes, during crunch time at work — especially in repacking and distributing — their needs get overlooked.
Most organizations provide their workers their own food and, sometimes, money as a token of their hard work. But volunteers themselves should know how to take care of themselves, said Fuller.
“On the food, it depends on the [arrangements of the] organization. The idea is for these volunteers to be self-sufficient as well,” he explained.
Laguardia added: “To be sure, bring your own food and money in case of emergencies. Don’t assume there will be some when you volunteer.”
3. For donors, make sure your donations go to credible organizations.
A huge influx of aid has been sent to help the Philippines recover from the tragedy. The country’s foreign aid transparency hub has recorded almost 14 billion pesos (about $102 million) in donations and pledges, which come in cash and in-kind — and more is expected to come in the next few weeks.
Although the majority of the organizations that receive donations are purely humanitarian, instances of bogus charity groups who ask people for donations have been reported. To avoid this, it’s best to confirm and look into these aid groups and the work that they do.
“Make sure that all the donations people make, especially monetary ones, go to well-established organizations in handling disaster management and relief efforts,” said Mars Buan, senior analyst at Manila-based Pacific Strategies & Assessments. “Make a quick phone call to the organization to confirm, or even make a quick Internet search.”
4. For donors, cash donations are preferable.
Donations can be cash or in-kind, but experts and aid workers insist that if people are going to donate, cash is preferable.
Although any type of donations is normally welcome in relief operations, cash donations give humanitarian organizations the flexibility to purchase goods at a lower rate through bulk procurement. Certain aid groups already have their own suppliers and thus transaction costs can be lowered.
“It would be preferable if [the] donations would be in cash because of the flexibility. The organizations know what’s needed and they can buy the exact materials for it. Funds can also be pooled,” Laguardia explained. “The problem with item donations is that it takes time to sort them out.”
Sorting of relief goods have become an issue in the past few days causing delays in repacking and distribution. Some government agencies re-open relief goods brought to them by private groups to make sure the contents are appropriate and not expired.
Do you agree with these tips or can offer more? Please let us know by leaving a comment below.
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About the author
Lean Alfred Santos@DevexLeanAS
Lean Alfred Santos is a former Devex development reporter focusing on the development community in Asia-Pacific, including major players such as the Asian Development Bank and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank. He previously covered Philippine and international business and economic news, sports and politics.
