Introduction
The task of mitigating the risks stemming from natural disasters through aid to the populations is complicated by numerous obstacles that are frequently neglected by international organizations. One of the examples of this phenomenon is the occasional earthquakes in Haiti, and the lasting nature of their problems is determined by inefficient interventions. The goals set by the activists are reportedly not achieved for the benefit of the affected citizens, and the examination of the origin of this failure is essential for understanding the mechanisms behind this practice.
Summary of the Article
The news article under consideration narrates the negative response of the Haitian population to the provided natural disaster aid. As follows from this source, the interventions of international agencies for meeting the region’s needs have been unsatisfactory for the past decade. The main problem in the cases of numerous earthquakes over the years was the inappropriate distribution of allocated funds resulting in the impossibility for the people who needed help more than others to get it (Gottesdiener & Graham, 2021). The donations were made to organizations instead of the government, and this practice led to confusion since they were apparently misused (Gottesdiener & Graham, 2021). As a result, the citizens had no other choice but to start a social media campaign, increasing the awareness of other countries about the fact that the only way for them to receive aid is through official institutions.
The Pitfalls of Disaster Relief
The information provided in the article represents the typical pitfalls of natural disaster relief conditional upon the failure of initiators to assist the affected persons due to the selection of improper means for this objective. In this situation, the sole focus on the allocation of funds while neglecting the practical considerations, including the actual use of the money, led to drastic consequences. The efforts were unsuccessful as the ones who benefited from them were the people and entities receiving the aid for their personal needs rather than sharing it with the target population. This challenge seems to be universal in nature because the countries which decide to interfere in the process of recovery after hurricanes, floods, or earthquakes, have no mechanisms for monitoring their actions’ outcomes.
Analysis of the Situation
The examined case correlates with several issues highlighted by the scholars as the reasons for the failed attempts to assist other countries in addressing natural disasters and their aftermath. First, the provision of aid to the regions that cannot cope with the problems on their own, as in the situation of Haitian residents, was complicated by poor communication between organizers of initiatives and stakeholders (Pritchard, 2020). Second, “the neglect of human element” was reflected by the orientation of the entities pursuing their personal interests instead of the collective good (Pritchard, 2020). Third, the flaws in the plan itself were critical as it did not incorporate any instruments, allowing it to verify its effectiveness and actual suitability for individuals’ needs (Pritchard, 2020). In this way, the specified circumstances prevented the initial intentions of corresponding agencies from practical implementation.
Conclusion
To summarize, the experience of Haiti with the earthquakes and the absence of effective means of external aid supports the opinion of researchers that there are factors that might prevent entities from assisting the populations. In this context, the application of natural disaster aid is a dubious approach when issues related to communication, the human factor, and monitoring of the actions come into play. Thus, the analysis of the situation described in the article showed that victims could not access the allocated funds without eliminating the discussed risks.
References
Gottesdiener, L., & Graham, D. (2021). Haiti quake revives anger over aid response to past disasters. Reuters. Web.
Pritchard, S. (2020). Six disaster recovery pitfalls and how to avoid them. Computer Weekly. Web.