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05/10/2005
Aid agencies overwhelmed by tsunami
The scale of last year’s Boxing Day tsunami in Asia overwhelmed aid agencies, a report by the British Red Cross has claimed.
The World Disasters Report suggested that rivalries between agencies had resulted in a lack of co-ordination of aid.
However, the report was adamant that no lives had been lost as a result of the problems.
Matthias Schmale, International Director of the British Red Cross, said that there had been chaos in the areas affected by the tsunami. He said: “In Sri Lanka there were 300-400 agencies responding and trying to provide help - we have to acknowledge that’s difficult to manage. Effective co-ordination did not happen...
“Did it lead to people being disaffected with the response? The result is yes.”
Christian Aid welcomed the Red Cross’ report, but said it was inevitable that getting relief to areas affected by the tsunami would be difficult, due to the “unprecedented amount of loss of life and destruction”.
However, the charity said that, as the Red Cross recommended, it conducted its work by working with local charities and people to ensure that aid reached those who needed it.
Around 250,000 people are believed to have died in the Boxing Day tsunami in 2004.
(KMcA/SP)
The World Disasters Report suggested that rivalries between agencies had resulted in a lack of co-ordination of aid.
However, the report was adamant that no lives had been lost as a result of the problems.
Matthias Schmale, International Director of the British Red Cross, said that there had been chaos in the areas affected by the tsunami. He said: “In Sri Lanka there were 300-400 agencies responding and trying to provide help - we have to acknowledge that’s difficult to manage. Effective co-ordination did not happen...
“Did it lead to people being disaffected with the response? The result is yes.”
Christian Aid welcomed the Red Cross’ report, but said it was inevitable that getting relief to areas affected by the tsunami would be difficult, due to the “unprecedented amount of loss of life and destruction”.
However, the charity said that, as the Red Cross recommended, it conducted its work by working with local charities and people to ensure that aid reached those who needed it.
Around 250,000 people are believed to have died in the Boxing Day tsunami in 2004.
(KMcA/SP)
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