R.E.A.C.T. Asia Pacific Disasters

In September and October of 2009, Asia Pacific was struck by a series of natural disasters. Samoa was hit with an earthquake followed by a tsunami. Indonesia suffered two earthquakes near Padang. Typhoons Ketsana and Parma affected the Philippines and Vietnam. These situations require coordinated response efforts to assist in the most timely and effective manner. Global Hand has information and partnership opportunities for those wanting to engage.

Responding to Emergencies with Appropriateness, Coordination and Timeliness.

If you have information to contribute, or if you need information you cannot find here, please let us know at enquiries@globalhand.org.

“Partnerships between humanitarian actors and private sector companies should be developed in which the core competencies of both parties are valued and leveraged. Though financial contributions may sometimes be easier for humanitarian actors to accept and use, humanitarian action would benefit significantly from access to the expertise, resources, and global, regional, and local networks of the private sector.”

[Source: WEF/OCHA Guiding Principles for Public-Private Collaboration for Humanitarian Action]

PARTNERING OPPORTUNITIES

Several organisations within the Global Hand community and beyond have responded to this situation. Those indicated below with a [*] are Global Hand verified NGOs.

DONORS

Would you like to donate to NGOs who are responding to this crisis?

You are welcome to place an offer of freight, human resources, funding or goods on the Global Hand site. Validated Global Hand members will be able to respond to your offer and use it in an appropriate and responsible manner. Please indicate in the description of your offer that you would like to respond to the Asia Pacific disasters.

IMMEDIATE NEEDS (information sourced from OCHA Situation Reports and BBC news updates):

  • Potable water
  • Food (rice needed in the Philippines)
  • Sanitation facilities
  • Emergency shelter
  • Health care
  • Clothing (Samoa)

Click here to offer freight, human resources, funding or goods

Would you like further information?
Click here to see questions we are frequently asked by donors.

FOR YOUR REFERENCE

Further links you may find helpful regarding the Asia Pacific disasters.

  • Global Hand guide for community groups
    Global Hand has produced a guide to help community groups respond to disaster with appropriate action.
  • Alertnet
    Reuters humanitarian news website which contains regularly updated information regarding current crises.
  • ALNAP Lesson Papers
    ALNAP has published papers on Flood Disasters (2009) and Responding to Urban Disasters (2009), both of which may be of help to agencies responding to Tropical Storm Ketsana in the Philippines.
  • How Can My Company Help? – A Guide for Country Managers in Responding to Natural Disasters
    This resource is intended to help companies prepare for a local corporate response to crises in their country or region. The guide includes information on building partnerships with relief agencies, assessing on-the-ground needs and identifying the products and services a company may be able to donate.
  • Interaction Members responding
    Interaction members accepting contributions for assistance they or their affiliates are providing to those affected by the disasters in Asia Pacific.
  • International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies
    Website provides information concerning IFRC humanitarian activities in respect to Asia Pacific.
  • ReliefWeb
    ReliefWeb is a United Nations website providing information to humanitarian relief organisations. Updated daily, the website includes press releases, policy documents and situation reports regarding current disasters.
  • ReliefWeb Map Centre
    United Nations website containing detailed maps of the affected regions in Asia Pacific.
  • Sphere Humanitarian Charter and Minimum Standards in Disaster Response
    The Sphere Project sets out minimum standards for four sectors: water, sanitation, and hygiene promotion; food security; nutrition and food aid; and, settlement and non-food items and health services. The cornerstone of the handbook is the Humanitarian Charter which describes the rights of people affected by disasters.
  • WEF/OCHA Guiding Principles for Public-Private Collaboration for Humanitarian Action
    The World Economic Forum (WEF) and the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) have devised this set of principles to guide public-private collaboration for humanitarian action (disaster response).

Would you like to contact us?
If you would like to discuss a response to the Asia Pacific disasters further, feel free to contact us:

Email:
enquiries@globalhand.org

Phone:
+852 2272 9390 for Hong Kong office, HQ (Katey Kenworthy)
+44 7792 419903 for UK office (Ben Solanky)


Categorisations

Regions / countries / territories

Asia: Philippines; Vietnam

Disasters

Philippines: Earthquake - Sep 2009; Typhoon Ketsana - Sep 2009; Typhoon Parma - Oct 2009