Aid Effectiveness: Facets of humanitarian concern

                              Aid Effectiveness: Facets of humanitarian concern

-         Bhuwan Adhikari

Whatever is the ratio of demand and supply of relief and response or efficiency of delivery and proportion of actual recipients the aftermath of mega earthquake in Nepal is being observed with influx of humanitarian support in all forms including kind or cash. The multitude and adversity of mega earthquake demands and deserves such kind of noble deeds and generosity. So far the supply side of humanitarian support has been encouraging enough to clog the one and only international airport of the country. The wrath of the people needs warmth from its well-wisher, which has been readily observed at least from friends of international diaspora and gradually motivating all of us. Not to blame anyone except state mechanism of working full- capacity but still incapable due to limitations in resources and deficit in preparedness. To make the survival more lifesaving and make the revival more regulated the various dimensions and implication of aid should be brought under the light of internationally accepted framework that clearly gives the direction of building new Nepal with more ethical approaches thus by regulating and prioritizing aids.

 However the efforts made by country men in resource limited and preparedness deficit country and the ongoing struggle to dispose offering is appreciable. With international cooperation surveillance mechanism the aid effectiveness is a filter to distil pure aid that reach to people comes in to play. Though the humanitarian aid and military aid do not come under Official Development Assistance (ODA) as pledge by all UN member states, the chances of mismanagement, inefficiency delivery and embezzlement of finances is higher while humanitarian aid is not regulated. And not be hesitant, with aid also comes the vested interests. In given scenario of influx of aid the aid effectiveness surveillance is been observed in challenged mode while it is also exposes that the humanitarian concern have various facets. Above all else these aids are aimed at saving lives which should not be delayed for manmade systematic obligations but an open eye should be vigilant all the time when financial resources are concerned. The time for revival should not start or be entangled in massive embezzlement as it hinders the transformation from destruction to re-construction and also promotes and  carries the old legacy of corruption. Though it might sound unpopular to make the aid effectively delivered as per universal ethos and norms but it is need of the time to domesticate stringent measures for gate keeping and also to lay a foundation for newer Nepal with transparent vigour.

In the after math of disaster induced humanitarian crisis where life is important above all else the focus of humanitarian support should include rescue and instant relief operations that includes health services, food, water and shelters. Then comes the reconstruction which normally starts at three months' time with proper planning and under state's regulation. The resources needed for re-establishing deteriorated societies and un-perturbed supply chain of commodities and supplies of services is secondary. The financial need of the country needs international cooperation for reconstruction. This can be acted upon after a while when exact figures are mapped out. But in our context people in various forms and disguises are collecting funds without instant rescue and relief element. In a scenario which is close to worst-case money is less valued than life. In the context where people are still under rubble the focus should be on relief and rescue not finance. This applies to voluntary initiation from various local philanthropic and charitable organizations.

The regulations of such aid are state's responsibility and fund should be generated with proper plan and proposition in hand. Moreover citizens willing to help should offer food, water and shelter rather than its equivalent sum in form of currencies. In addition to this there some other opportunistic actors and factors that also contributes in embezzlement of financial resources where people are donating rampantly just guide by their emotion and patriotism. The effectiveness of aid is challenged in such scenario. To ensure the effectiveness of aid not only the monetary support but also the quality of food and medicines should also come under boarder scrutiny of aid surveillance. 

Currently it observed that even the organizations preaching and pondering aid effectiveness are shifting focus from relief to other mundane tasks that revolve around funds. With so generous beginning the state will be able to collate the resources and assistance in building more robust and resilient country and countrymen. It is up to its citizen to prioritize the importance that physical labour and material supports rather than the disbursing earnings generated through one's labour. The fear of continuation of old traditional politically favoured and donor driven reconstruction and reestablishment can be minimized with nominal caution.

Likewise media should transform itself from pros to cons and break the cocoon of trauma and cloud of despair by promoting hopes and cooperation rather than clinging to cause of earthquake or info-graphing aid received. Meanwhile rather than urging for donation state should motivate people to offer kind above cash. The vigilance over the aid should come under state radar and surveillance antennae and it should be regulated through one door so as to avoid any kind of duplication or omission. The accountability over aid should not be compromised rather it must be more humanly responsive  for the time being and subsequently more systemic in the days to come.

(Writer is development communications expert associated with International organization- [email protected])