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Natural Disasters

How do countries help each other after a natural disaster strikes?

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Humanitarian aid is assistance given to people who need help. This aid could be for food, clothing, and water, or it might be relocating people to a shelter, home, or hotel.

man drinking water from tank, south india

When natural disasters, like hurricanes, earthquakes, tornadoes, and tsunamis occur, many people are left in need. Homes are destroyed, electricity is often out for days or weeks, and food and clean water are scarce. What do people in these situations do to survive? One thing they do is rely on others to help them.

Volunteers & national guard assembled at New Dorp High School to render aid to people recovering from Hurricane Sandy.

The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) is in charge of coordinating responses to emergencies. It works with other organizations to provide assistance to countries that have been affected by a natural disaster. Countries support this cause by donating money, materials, and supplies to help those in need.

Tohoku Earthquake
and Tsunami of 2011

The Great East Japan Earthquake in Iwate

Tsunamis, floods, typhoons, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and tornadoes are some of the biggest natural disasters that cause catastrophic damage.

The Tohoku earthquake was an undersea earthquake with a magnitude of 9.1. It was the most powerful earthquake Japan has ever recorded. The earthquake caused a tsunami, or massive tidal wave, which swept across the Japanese mainland.

The outbreak of the unprecedented Great East Japan Earthquake and tsunami

Some waves reached as high as 133 feet tall. Over 15,000 people were killed during this earthquake and tsunami. Japan was in desperate need of humanitarian aid.

As many as 116 countries and 28 international organizations offered assistance and support to Japan afterwards.

World Map: Countries in blue reached out to aid Japan.

clicker Click image to enlarge.

Original file: User:NuclearVacuumEdit: kahusi (會話) [CC BY-SA 3.0], via Wikimedia Commons

The countries of China, Australia, and South Korea, along with many others countries, sent search and rescue teams, and the United States sent military units. Many countries also sent medical staff and supplies, food, water, and volunteers to provide more humanitarian aid. Hundreds of millions of dollars were raised by countries around the world in the aftermath of this disaster.

Two Japanese women raising money for donations.

Attila Viktor Molnár [CC BY-SA 3.0], via Wikimedia Commons

2010 Haiti Earthquake

Rubble after the Haitian earthquake of 2010

Photo Marco Dormino/ The United Nations United Nations Development Programme [CC BY 2.0], via Wikimedia Commons

In 2010, 3 million people were affected by the Haiti 7.0 magnitude earthquake. Neighboring country Dominican Republic provided water, food, and heavy-lifting machinery. They also allowed injured Haitians to be transported to Dominican Republic hospitals. Nations all over the world sent money, supplies, and volunteers to help the Haitians.

Haiti earthquake relief efforts by the US Army
World Map: Countries in green reached out to aid Haiti.

clicker Click image to enlarge.

Pozos [CC BY 3.0], via Wikimedia Commons

Hurricane Matthew

An aerial view of flooding from Hurricane Matthew on October 9, 2016 in Wilson, NC.

Hurricane Matthew hit the Atlantic coast of the U.S. in 2016 as a category 5 storm. North Carolina took a direct hit from the storm, causing widespread flooding and damage. Over 900 people had to be rescued because of high water.

Hurricane Matthew 2016 Fayetteville, North Carolina, National Guard rescue

Other countries, like Cuba, the Dominican Republic, and Haiti, were also affected by this hurricane. In fact, Haiti was still recovering from the earthquake of 2010 when this hurricane struck. Because of this and because Haiti is a developing country, it needed more help from other countries to rebuild. The UN organized relief efforts to supply food and water to those in need.

The UN continues to urge countries to step up their efforts to help countries affected by natural disasters like hurricanes and earthquakes.

Doctors of a Non-Profit organization taking notes and treating patients of victims after earthquake disaster