The first part of Chapter 1 defines salient features of disaster relief operations and briefly chronicles the development of global humanitarian assistance programs. The next section of Chapter 1 summarizes major criticisms of disaster aid provision and also outlines the need for disbursement of assistance to disaster survivors. This is accomplished in part by providing several definitions of natural disasters wherein the need for emergency relief aid for survivors of extreme natural events are either explicit or embedded. The chapter concludes with the book's objectives and chapter outline.

Disaster Relief Aid

Background of Humanitarian Assistance

Criticisms of Disaster Aid Provision

Need for Disaster Relief Aid

Objectives of this Book

Chapter Arrangements

Chapter 2 explains how disaster aid flows from a plethora of private, public, humanitarian, business, and non-profit organizations, as well as individuals from both affected and non-affected areas/countries, to survivors of extreme natural events. This chapter also covers other relevant information such as providers and distributors of emergency aid and issues associated with participation of domestic and foreign military forces in disaster relief operations. This is followed by a final section dealing with problems and challenges associated with disaster aid flows.

International Humanitarian System

Flash Appeal

Pledge and Flow of Relief Aid

Needs Assessment, Logistics and Management

Providers of Disaster Aid

Participation of Foreign Military Forces

Participation of Domestic Military Forces

Funding Guidelines (GHD and Others

Determinants of Disaster Aid

Crucial aspects of disaster relief (e.g., timeliness, appropriateness, and coordination and cooperation) that ultimately determine the success of any single operation are presented in Chapter 3, along with a discussion on how agencies involved in disaster relief operations and maintain partnerships and networks. This chapter provides background for understanding the strengths and weaknesses of disaster aid disbursement. Several disaster relief and network models are also discussed.

Success/Failure Indicators of Disaster Relief Operations

Timeliness

Coordination and Cooperation

Inequitable Distribution

Human Right Violations

Partnership and Networking

Numerical Disaster Relief and Networks Models

Chapter 4 provides an overview of the nature and extent of emergency relief efforts undertaken in countries impacted by the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami (IOT), Hurricane Katrina, and the Kashmir and Nepal earthquakes, along with some basic statistics regarding these disasters. The weaknesses and strengths of each one of these disaster operation are reviewed. This review is essential for improving future emergency relief operations. Additionally, each of the operation considered in this chapter is fundamental for understanding the dynamics of the relief process.

The 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami

Global Generosity

Competition and Cooperation

The 2005 Hurricane Katrina

Official Response

Non-
About the Author: Bimal Kanti Paul is a Professor of Geography at Kansas State University, USA. His core areas of geographic research are in human-environment interactions, population and health geographies, geospatial analysis and application.