Complex Humanitarian Emergency - Essay Example

Download file to see previous pages... Distributing food nor relief goods do not abate the hardship of the victims since there are other factors that act as an obstacle in giving humanitarian aid. One of the most pronounced factors would be political forces. When an underdeveloped country is hit by a disaster, the government might not be that organized in addressing the situation. There may be international donors willing to give a vast amount of relief goods but the government is laden with bureaucracy and red tape thereby hindering the equitable distribution of resources. It is also ironic to learn that corruption also happens even during times of crisis. Some officials would use the disaster to pursue their political agenda instead of merely helping victims. Some government officials would even hoard supplies for their local town which just violates the concept of impartiality in the Humanitarian Charter. During the case of typhoon Ondoy in the Philippines, there was a local official who used the pump boat to save his family first before taking care of his constituents. Public service simply went out of the picture.
An emergency also becomes complex in poor countries since the victims themselves already belong to the marginalized sector of society. Having no adequate nutrition, they are the first casualties who die of hunger when rescue efforts are delayed. More often than not, young children who are malnourished die quickly in evacuation centers. This is a sad reality considering that the right to adequate food according to humanitarian law includes the availability of food in sufficient quantity and its accessibility (The Sphere Project, 2004). Housing is also a major issue that contributes to the complexity of emergencies. While people may be housed in an evacuation center, they are compressed together like sardines.  ...Download file to see next pagesRead More