Haitian disaster
Posted by Philip Dunne, MP for Ludlow, at 12:23, Thu 28 January 2010:
The earthquake in Haiti on 12th January with huge loss of life has stunned us all. It is difficult to imagine the scale of suffering by Haitian people, but for the pictures on our TV screens.
As we have come to expect, the British people are digging deep to do what they can to help. Shropshire is playing its part with several initiatives in the Ludlow constituency, with local branches of Oxfam, Red Cross and other charities as well as Lions, Rotary and Church groups all making efforts to raise funds and send aid.
It is uplifting to see the impact which the entertainment industry, in this country and the US, can make in raising awareness and funds for the Disasters Emergency Committee appeals here and their equivalent abroad.
The focus at the moment must clearly be on saving lives and getting food, medical help and shelter to the millions who need it.
But concerns have been raised about the effectiveness of systems for coordinating the British response to disasters. After the earthquake and floods in East Asia last year, there were reports of problems with the coordination of the British response effort and difficulties in arranging transport to the region for NGOs. We must ensure that there is no repeat of this situation in relation to Haiti.
All political parties should consider how our response to these types of disaster might be improved. A Conservative government, if elected, will instigate a full review of Britain’s emergency response process; push for better coordination between governments, NGOs, and bilateral and UN agencies in emergencies; and encourage more sustained funding for ‘silent’ emergencies.
Donations can be made to DEC's Haiti appeal via www.dec.org.uk or by calling 0370 60 60 900.
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