Disaster Skills

Among the "Ten Myths About Disaster Relief":

" 7. Relief needs are so intense that almost anyone can fly to the scene to offer help

Professionals with specialized skills and overseas disaster experience are often deployed to disaster sites. Volunteers without those skills can do more harm than good, and siphon off critical logistics and translations services. Hiring disaster survivors is much more cost efficient and provides much needed employment. "

Relief professionals have skills. They know about food distribution, sanitation, construction, and trauma. Some of the other things they know how to do include needs assessment, gender analysis, environmental impact assessment, mapping social dynamics, and conflict impact assessment. If you can't do those, stay at home and send money.

OK, in all honesty, most relief professionals can't do all of those things. But there is a bottom line: if you've never heard of the SPHERE Standards, then no matter what skills you have you really shouldn't be there getting in the way of the professionals.

If you feel you really must help, physically, on the ground, then check out the International Rescue Committee. In general, they take volunteers. But not for the tsunami relief effort!

" If you are interested in volunteering with our relief efforts for the Asian tsunami disaster, please understand that although we appreciate your generous interest, because of the nature of the crisis, we are unable to accept volunteers.

You can best support the life-saving aid we are providing by making a donation. "

They suggest you donate. Make sure you select "Where Most Needed"!

Posted by Martial