Disaster Relief and the Philippines: Inform Your Good Intentions

Tacloban TyphoonAt the beginning of November, Typhoon Haiyan swept through the Pacific and across East Asia, causing massive amounts of damage and a tragic loss of life. After ­­crossing the islands of Micronesia and Palau, Haiyan made landfall in the Philippines, leaving devastation in its wake before moving on to southern China and finally Vietnam. The superstorm was the strongest typhoon in recorded history to make landfall. According to the Philippine National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, approximately 5,800 people were killed, more than 27,000 were injured and nearly 2,000 are still missing.

The Gwangju community’s response to the disaster has been truly inspiring. I have personally seen dozens of people participate in fundraising, coordinate events and organize donation drives. This desire to do good is a huge part of what makes the Gwangju community so wonderful. Unfortunately, good intentions are not always enough, and too often they can do more harm than good. As a public health professional and active member of the online global health community, I have seen the same well-intentioned mistakes repeated in response to humanitarian disasters. As you gear up to help the Philippines, please keep the following in mind.

1467365_10202860732298546_943956814_nDon’t take up a collection of used goods. This is the most common mistake that disaster relief professionals have to deal with. First, it takes a lot of manpower to properly sort through these goods, and the people who are in the Philippines who spend time sorting could be doing more urgent things like distributing food and water or transporting people to shelters or hospitals. Also, many items that people send are not appropriate for the climate or the culture of those who receive them. Second, and more importantly, even useful items can undermine local businesses. There are many textile factories in the Philippines, and plenty of people who make their living by selling secondhand clothes and shoes. A large influx of these items for free can put hundreds of people out of business. With the economy already struggling after a huge disaster like this, depriving people of their livelihoods can make the situation that much worse.

Don’t send food, medicine or baby formula. This mistake goes hand-in-hand with used goods. Even donations of canned and dried goods can clog up shipping channels for more important items like building materials or medical supplies. It is much more cost-effective, and better for the country’s economy, to re-distribute food that is already in the country or buy it from local farmers. Medicines that people send can be expired or not necessary, and extra effort is needed to make sure they are disposed of properly. Sending baby formula can accidentally lead mothers to believe that it is better for their children than their own breast milk, and if they do not have access to clean water, the formulas can make babies very sick.

Don’t go. This one, admittedly, is tough. A lot of people want to take their summer or winter vacations to go to the Philippines and help rebuild. While volunteering may seem like a good idea, you will probably not be able to do much unless you have specialized skills. Some aid organizations organize trips, and while this is better than showing up alone, it still probably will not be all that helpful. More importantly, local people need simple jobs like picking up debris or building and painting houses, as many of them will be out of work. They do not want to sit back while outsiders rebuild their communities. Banding together and helping each other get back on their feet gives them more empowerment and dignity than a stranger’s volunteer work.

Do give money – to a carefully chosen organization. This is by far the most effective and powerful way to help. Throw your energy into researching different organizations, and choose one that has experience in disaster relief in the region. Give the money that you would have spent on shipping donations or airfare to volunteer, and don’t earmark it – aid organizations need as much flexibility as possible to best respond to the needs of the people they are serving.

941506_10202860899902736_368244140_nIt is fantastic that the Gwangju community has been so generous and willing to help people in need. The Philippines (or anywhere that has experienced a natural disaster) absolutely needs our help, but the best way to respond is to make sure that we help effectively.

Jessica Keralis has a master’s of public health and three years of experience working on public health projects. She has been an active member of the American Public Health Association’s International Health Section for four years. Jessica has been teaching English in Gwangju for 18 months as a change of pace but has still maintained her professional activities in the public health field.

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