Today is a day of observance mostly unknown to people outside of the international relief and development world — the International Day for Disaster Reduction.
But with the American media largely preoccupied with the goings-on of our dysfunctional political environment, I’m taking the opportunity to commemorate this day you’ve likely never heard of by talking about four disasters you’ve probably not heard too much about.
These disasters impact vulnerable children and families, and they deserve more attention.
Drought and famine in the Horn of Africa
Dek and his family wait to be registered at Dadaab Refugee Camp, Kenya. ©2011 Jon Warren/World Vision
What’s going on: Five countries — Kenya, Ethiopia, Somalia, Tanzania and Djibouti — have been severely impacted by drought and famine, causing major population displacement as people escape areas affected by food shortages and famine.
Scale of disaster: Needs and stats vary by country, but some 13 million people face food insecurity as of September. In Somalia alone, the United Nations reports that there are 450,000 malnourished children — 190,000 of whom are suffering severe acute malnutrition.
How it got this bad: Consecutive failed rains, inflated food prices, reduced crop yield, and eroded coping mechanisms all contribute to the current devastating state of food insecurity.
What World Vision is doing: World Vision is implementing life-saving interventions for 2.5 million children and families across four countries, in the areas of food security; nutrition; water, sanitation, and hygiene; livelihood recovery; and child protection.
Read more posts about the East Africa food crisis. Donate to our Horn of Africa Food Crisis Fund.
Typhoons in the Philippines
Families line up in the floodwater at a World Vision food and water distribution just one week after Typhoon Nesat and Nalgae. ©2011 Crislyn Joy A. Felisilda/World Vision
What’s going on: Back-to-back typhoons Nesat and Nalgae significantly impacted multiple regions of Luzon Island, including the metropolitan area surrounding Manila, the capital city of the Philippines.
Scale of disaster: Some 3 million people are affected, with a death toll of at least 100.
What World Vision is doing: World Vision will implement a six-month emergency response plan, responding to at least seven towns in Isabela and 32,000 families in the impacted areas of Bulacan and Zambales with relief goods and psychosocial support for children.
Read more about our response to the typhoons in the Philippines. Donate to World Vision’s Disaster Response Fund.
Severe flooding in Cambodia
What’s going on: Widespread, severe flooding has hit areas throughout the country — the result of typhoons and higher than expected rainfall.
Scale of disaster: More than 200,000 households have been affected; the known death toll at this time is 172 (52 of whom are children). Additionally, 17 of Cambodia’s 24 provinces are impacted, with more than 300 schools closed.
What World Vision is doing: World Vision is carrying out assessments to determine the immediate needs of children and families in our development program areas, which have been severely affected.
Donate to World Vision’s Disaster Response Fund to support our relief efforts in disasters like this one.
Monsoon rains in Thailand
What’s going on: Severe flooding following torrential monsoon rains has caused the worst flooding Thailand has seen in 50 years. Cities and industrial zones are under water, massive areas of rice fields are flooded, and the government is struggling to manage the flow of millions of cubic meters of water headed south toward Bangkok, the capital city. It’s estimated that the flooding will have a $3.4 billion impact on the economy.
Scale of disaster: The government of Thailand has declared disaster areas in 30 of Thailand’s 76 provinces; the death toll is currently uncertain.
What World Vision is doing: World Vision will support families in the rehabilitation process in at least four area development programs and in areas where needs are most pressing. Our team aims to reach 9,000 people.
Donate to World Vision’s Disaster Response Fund to support our relief efforts in disasters like this one.
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When disasters like these strike, families living in poverty are often hit first and hardest — and they have the fewest resources available to cope and recover. In a time when economic uncertainty affects so many American families, it is also good to remember others in the world whose hardships are life-threatening. Today offers an opportunity to reflect on how we can help reduce the impact of disasters on vulnerable families everywhere.
What other global disasters or crises deserve more public attention? Why? How can we build more awareness around them and inspire more action?
Elizabeth Ranade-Janis is a program officer with World Vision’s humanitarian and emergency affairs team. Based in Washington, D.C., Elizabeth has degrees in international studies from Ohio State University and a master’s degree in public policy & international development from Georgetown University.
Ms. Ranade-Janis: I did not think you were slamming America at all – rather, you rightly point out that our media is the culprit. We can only learn about what we read or see, and if the media is slanted toward certain stories about our government, then we will have to dig deeper to find other news. Thanks for your blog so that we have other options!
I would like to share this TED talk which illustrates how this media problem is being exacerbated by customized news and search filters: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bOE1HFEL8XA&feature=share
I don’t view the words regarding the American media as a slam; rather, I think it’s a fairly objective assessment that attempts to provide a reason for why we are largely unaware that these events are even occurring.
This article appears to be addressed to Americans, by an American. If it was being addressed to or by someone from another country and the “American media” comment was made, I would have a different understanding of their intent (though I suppose they could have said “our media”).
I believe that what was said was a fairly important thing to state. Our reality is entirely based on our perceptions, and much of what we base our perceptions on is media input. And right now (in particular), it’s very easy to establish the nature of what exists and is important in our reality as politics and Lady Gaga–simply by nature of what’s getting the most airtime in many mainstream media channels.
What I think we (or at least I) can take away here is that we need to be more proactive about what we include in the media channels that we follow. Everyone (myself very much included) gets stuck in a rut as far as what we go to for information. This has inspired me to take a look around and see what else is out there beyond what is usually in my scope of vision.