World Disasters Report 2006 launched in the Bahamas

In 2005, emergency aid reached at least US $17billion - outstripping any other year, the World Disasters Report says, yet millions of people are missing out on vital aid despite record-breaking donations from governments and the public.

But while high-profile cases such as the Indian Ocean tsunami and Hurricane Katrina attracted donors, countless other crises were neglected, it says. It calls on governments, aid agencies and the media to redress the balance.

Speaking at the Caribbean launch of the World Disasters Report in the Bahamas, Ms Julia Brothwell said there was much to be proud of the generosity in 2005 which enabled millions of people to eat, drink safe water, find shelter from rain and snow and start rebuilding their lives and livelihoods after disaster.

However, she noted that there were still many neglected crises in the world. She said while many people think the larger the disaster, the greater the media attention, the fact is that the brighter the media spotlight shines on high visibility catastrophes, the deeper into shadow fall more chronic – and often more deadly – humanitarian crises. 

“No one records, for example, how many migrants die in the Sahara or in small boats in the seas surrounding Europe whilst attempting to reach that continent to make a better life for themselves and their families.”

She added that in Guatemala, as in many countries, the main disaster databases fail to record the vast number of small, localized floods, mudslides or earthquake. “Yet these small crises add up to more deaths and affect many more people than a few major events.” Recurrent crises, she said create a cumulative impact ratcheting up vulnerability to large hazards in the future. Smaller crises erode the already meager livelihoods of millions of people.

Little attention is also paid to secondary disasters – those that arise within or as a result of a major or complex disaster. Sexual or domestic violence and the trafficking of women, problems with resettlement and land grabs together with long term disability from injuries sustained during a disaster.

Ms Brothwell went on to say during hurricanes in the Americas, the greatest cause of death is not wind or storm surge but flooding and landslides. “Those issues seldom receive direct analytical, programmatic or media attention. While they are secondary to the storm itself, they are also secondary to other drivers such as decades of land degradation and deforestation.”

Mr. Gerald Sawyer, president of the Bahamas Red Cross said everyday they are faced with crises. “Many people do not recognize that there are those in our society that do not have food or shelter. These are the issues that we deal with. These are crises. While it may not be at a national level it is a personal crisis that many people have to deal with.”

The Bahamas Red Cross has many programmes that cater to the less fortunate on the islands. Some of these programmes include “Meals on Wheels” where the Bahamas Red Cross delivers at least 200 meals on a daily basis to those people that are not able to provide for themselves. In Grand Bahama they provide milk for students. The Red Cross also has an “After School” project where students can get help with their home work and supervision where necessary.

Ms Brothwell continued: “The continuing cycle of neglect and misery must be interrupted by governments, donors, the media and aid organizations willing to think and act differently to address neglect.”