Disaster relief efforts: an update

Abstract

A vast literature currently exists focusing on disaster response. This literature clearly suggests that victims of natural disasters need outside support to cope with hardships and distress caused by extreme events. This is particularly true for victims in developing countries, where disasters create demands that cannot be met by domestic resources. However, many hazard researchers claim that relief goods that are often sent are not properly distributed and these goods are often not of the appropriate type nor sufficient in quantity. These researchers further claim that emergency aid is counter-productive and it increases dependency on external sources. The objective of this paper is to critically review the provision of disaster relief in developing countries, with special reference to Bangladesh. The primary emphasis of this paper is on changes that have occurred in the area of disaster relief over the last three decades. This paper provides evidence that, because of these changes, relief efforts have become more integrated with development projects and less burdened with the problems outlined in earlier literature critical of the provision of emergency relief to disaster victims.