PHA-Exch> Nonprofit InSTEDD Takes New Approach to Improving Global Health, Humanitarian Efforts, and Disaster Relief (2)

[Claudio Schuftan]

   From:    lanfran at yorku.ca

Before writing InSTEDD off I would like to make a couple of
observations with regard to, in particular, disaster relief.

There are numerous other agencies in existence that do excellent
work in the area of disaster relief, yet there is much more that
could be done, and much of it has to do with logistics and quick
response strategies.

The history of IMF/World Bank Structural Adjustment Programs, and
shifting funding ideologies, has almost in all cases resulted in a
decreased ability of countries to build a decent emergency and
disaster relief capacity. This ranges from a lack of standard medical
and fire infrastructure, Nairobi, Kenya, with a population of 3
million has one municipal fire station, to an inability of regions
vulnerable to natural disaster (floods, earthquakes, volcanoes) to
stockpile emergency supplies.

One would hope that InSTEDD understands that it is just one more
"new kid" on the playing field, and that it is humble enough to
learn from others, smart enough to collaborate, and bright enough
to realize that there are powerful, frequently external, forces at
work that cripple the ability of vulnerable regions to build their
own emergency preparedness, and brave enough to confront that issue
as well.
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