There are three books I reached for the moment I got back to my office after the holidays.
Rising from the Ashes: Development Strategies in Times of Disaster, Mary B. Anderson and Peter WoodrowPosted by MartialWhy? Because it rocks and no one should even begin thinking about disaster response without reading it.
U.S. Military/NGO Relations During Humanitarian Interventions, Chris Seiple
Why? Because it very clearly outlines the issues of military interaction with NGOs. In the case of a disaster like the tsunami, these issues will be on the very top of the table. And because nobody else will be giving this interaction the serious thought it needs.
The SPHERE Handbook (online here)
Why? Because it's crucial. From the Forward:
" In a remarkable international initiative aimed at improving the effectiveness and accountability of disaster response, the Sphere Humanitarian Charter and Minimum Standards in Disaster Response sets out for the first time what people affected by disasters have a right to expect from humanitarian assistance. The aim of the Project is to improve the quality of assistance provided to people affected by disasters, and to enhance the accountability of the humanitarian system in disaster response. "