Disasters and

This flyer tells you:

– How the world responds
to major disasters

Emergencies
– What you can do to help
save lives and assist
people under
threat in an emergency

Overseas:
How you can help

Simon Peter Esaku/World Vision

Jon Warren/World Vision
Susan Markisz/UNICEF
 Why How
is it often the poorest people affected by disasters? does New Zealand respond to disasters overseas?
Disasters and emergencies caused by natural hazards In emergency situations NGOs are often able to reach those in
(e.g. floods, earthquakes or cyclones) or conflict often impact need quickly and effectively through community partnerships.
the poorest people the hardest. Poverty makes communities They are frequently the first on the ground in the disaster zone.
more vulnerable to disasters by reducing their ability to cope A number of Aotearoa New Zealand based NGOs respond regularly
when one strikes. Enabling communities to cope with disasters to disaster situations around the world.
requires an immediate response when lives and property are NGOs may deploy their own experienced personnel to the disaster
threatened, along with efforts to deal with underlying issues such zone to assist those on the ground with initial needs assessments
as poverty and inequality that make people vulnerable. and relief activities. In the days and weeks that follow a disaster,
these teams work alongside local organisations to ensure that
people affected by the disaster have access to food, clean water

What
and emergency shelter as quickly as possible.
New Zealand’s International Aid and Development Agency (NZAID)
leads the New Zealand Government’s response to humanitarian
crises in developing countries, whether these arise from natural
disasters or conflict. NZAID works with a variety of organisations
happens immediately after a major disaster? when responding to disasters.
– After any major disaster local communities and emergency In the longer term, the reconstruction of disaster-affected areas
services in the country affected respond immediately. in developing countries often takes several years. The rebuilding
– If the disaster is too big for them to cope alone, their government of homes, businesses and roads is done by local people often
may request help from other countries or the United Nations. with outside assistance. Aotearoa New Zealand based NGOs and
At the same time, humanitarian agencies already working in the NZAID often assist with long term reconstruction efforts and work
country will quickly gather information and requests for help from to reduce poverty in developing countries that can make people
local people. vulnerable to disasters.
– International humanitarian agencies send specialist
disaster assessment teams to the affected country to
work with local authorities to decide how best the world
can support the country.
Enabling communities to cope with disasters
– Once the initial assessment is made, governments and
requires an immediate response when lives
humanitarian agencies, as well as the United Nations, the
International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent and property are threatened, along with
and Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), provide efforts to deal with issues such as poverty
equipment, medicines, food, shelter and people to help that make people vulnerable.
the country cope with the disaster.
 Kathryn Grusovin/UNICEF

Palani Mohan/UNICEF
How can you help?
Donate to an appeal Make a regular donation
It is likely that several Aotearoa New Zealand based NGOs will This helps NGOs and other humanitarian organisations to build up
respond to a major disaster overseas. They will appeal for funds to their funds, allowing them to respond to emergencies immediately.
assist those in need. Donating to an appeal is the most appropriate It may also be used by an NGO to help reduce communities’
way you can help people affected by disasters. Appeals are often run vulnerability to disasters through helping them to prepare for future
on TV and radio and in national newspapers. Check the websites of disaster situations and addressing issues of poverty.
NGOs to find out how you can make a donation. You can also assist
The media attention that disaster events can attract often results
organisations running appeals by:
in serious under-funding of many equally critical ‘silent emergencies’.
– Volunteering to staff appeal phone lines or providing public Consider making a simultaneous donation to a separate appeal
information. Register with the organisation in advance of a outside of the media spotlight or make a regular donation to a
disaster occurring. humanitarian agency.
– Organising local fundraising events through your community
organisations, schools or workplace and donate the proceeds
to an appeal.
And remember, on behalf of all New Zealanders, NZAID responds Do not go to the disaster area
to disasters and emergencies overseas, as well as its long-term If you lack the specialist skills required to assist in humanitarian
work to fight global poverty. operations travelling to a disaster affected area can do more harm
than good. Do not travel to a disaster area as there is a high chance
Register to assist that in addition to using up crucial travel, accommodation, food,
(if you have the specialist skills required) or translation resources you will not effectively contribute to the relief
People with specialist skills are sometimes required in disaster effort and make it more difficult for those who can.
situations. If you have the necessary skills and wish to be considered
for future disaster relief operations register online with the Register Do not collect and send goods
of Engineers for Disaster Relief (RedR) New Zealand. If you want to A common response to disasters overseas is to organise the
equip yourself to work in this field you can seek advice from RedR collection and donation of goods that are thought to be urgently
New Zealand about their relevant training programmes. needed. Receiving goods that are not needed or are inappropriate
Speak out on behalf of the poor for recipients can be a hindrance for humanitarian operations.
Please avoid donating goods that haven’t specifically been requested
You could speak out about the problems facing developing countries
by a humanitarian agency, as these items can clog up airports and
and become actively engaged in fighting the global poverty that can
docks and prevent essential supplies from reaching people in the
make people vulnerable to disasters. Signing an email petition, writing
disaster-affected area.
in the media and to your local MP are ways that you can get involved.
If food, clothing and medical supplies are needed, major NGOs and
other agencies are geared up to provide bulk supplies quickly, without
the need for sorting, packing, finding transportation costs or seeking
permits. A cash donation to an appeal helps them to buy whatever
is needed most.
 New Zealand
based organisations
making a difference:
NGO Disaster Relief Forum (NDRF) NZAID
http://www.cid.org.nz/emergencies/NDRF/index.html http://www.nzaid.govt.nz/

– Arena NZAID’s Humanitarian Assistance to Natural Disasters and

– Adventist Development Relief Agency New Zealand Complex Emergencies programmes reflect NZAID’s commitment
– Caritas Aotearoa New Zealand to provide assistance for a wide range of humanitarian needs.
– ChildFund New Zealand Humanitarian support is provided through multilateral agencies,
– Christian Blind Mission international voluntary agencies, Aotearoa New Zealand-based
– Christian World Service NGOs and direct bilateral assistance. Activities include
– Oxfam New Zealand immediate humanitarian assistance, reconstruction activities
– RedR New Zealand and preparedness programmes.
– Rotary New Zealand World Community Service In addition, NZAID provides annual core funding to key humanitarian
– Save the Children New Zealand agencies (United Nations, International Federation of Red Cross and
– Surf Aid International Red Crescent and the International Committee of Red Cross and
– TEAR Fund New Zealand Red Crescent). This support, accompanied by NZAID engagement
– The Leprosy Mission New Zealand in agency governance, policy and evaluation processes helps ensure
– The Salvation Army New Zealand that capacity and readiness is maintained at a high level.
– UNICEF New Zealand For more information visit:
– World Vision New Zealand http://www.nzaid.govt.nz/what-we-do/humanitarian-assistance.html
These Aotearoa New Zealand based international NGOs are
all members of the NGO Disaster Relief Forum (NDRF). RedR New Zealand
The NDRF is an autonomous sub committee of the Council for http://www.redrnz.org.nz
International Development (CID). It is an open forum for Aotearoa
New Zealand based NGOs that are involved in international RedR stands for “Register of Engineers for Disaster Relief”.
humanitarian response and emergency/disaster management. RedR assists in relieving suffering in disasters by selecting,
It provides a collective civil society voice and forum for cooperation training and providing competent and effective relief personnel
and shared learning around humanitarian action. to humanitarian agencies worldwide.
 to humanitarian agencies worldwide.

Dev-Zone
http://www.dev-zone.org

If you are interested in finding out more about the problems

that developing countries face and how you can help to make
a real difference to the lives of millions of people living in poverty,
visit Dev-Zone: Aotearoa New Zealand’s resource centre on
international development and global issues.

Many New Zealand based NGOs are affiliates of large international networks. This enables these organisations to
respond to humanitarian need around the world as soon as a disaster occurs. This map highlights some of the countries
where New Zealand based NGOs currently have disaster preparedness, relief and reconstruction activities.