Indian Ocean Tsunami: Disaster, Generosity and Recovery

Abstract

This paper is an exploratory investigation into the nature and effectiveness of international humanitarian aid effort after the Indian Ocean tsunami disaster. Relief assistance poured in quickly and copiously, and helped avert 'second mortality' from exposure and starvation in the tsunami-affected countries. Foreign aid also provided vital leeway in the reconstruction phase, but limited the aid absorptive capacity of the recipient countries and excessive competition among aid organizations (mostly non-government organizations) hindered effective aid utilization. The findings of the present study make a strong case for designing policies and programs for dealing with disasters as an integral part of national development strategies and highlight the need for combining international aid commitments with solutions to the limited aid absorptive capacity of disaster-affected countries.