Efficacy of International Non-governmental Organizations in Aid Delivery Following Catastrophes: A Comparative Case Study of the 2010 Haiti Earthquake and 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami and Earthquake

Abstract

International Non-Governmental Organizations (INGOs) respond to various disaster and catastrophes around the world each year. Disaster organizations provide various forms of aid to support the core elements of human survival � food, water, shelter, heat, and security � to victims who are in desperate need of immediate assistance and support for future recovery. This research examines the differences associated with catastrophic events and the efficacy of INGO response to them. Catastrophes and failed states are key variables in determining the effectiveness of INGO actions. Unstable countries � failed states and unorganized areas experiencing armed conflict � impede the ability of INGOs to deliver much-needed aid and spur recovery after these tragic events. Nonetheless, INGOs can, and, do, seek to intervene and provide assistance.In some sense, the response to catastrophes in the midst of failed governance is the height of the INGO mission. However, recent news media accounts and emergency management research has called the efficacy of these organizations� response and recovery activities into question. A comparative research study of INGO actions following the 2010 Haiti earthquake and the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami is offered as a comparison to assess INGO effectiveness. The study focuses on the long-term recovery of the housing sector as its unit of analysis and finds that legitimate governmental institutions are necessary conditions for effective recovery operations. Criticisms of the INGO recovery in Haiti have some merit, but the failed state presented substantive obstacles to recovery that could not be readily overcome. When those barriers are not in place, such as in the Indonesian catastrophe, INGO efforts are considerably more efficient. Thus, these groups do have flaws (transparency being a critical one), but they perform adequately well when circumstances allow them to push forward the recovery effort.