Without quick, coordinated action in the wake of disaster, the disruption to daily life can make communities more susceptible to violence and conflict. This often involves providing people with immediate needs such as food, water and shelter. But humanitarian relief often encompasses much more — from education to medical care and cultural programs. The Taiwan Buddhist Tzu Chi Foundation’s Joe Wang discusses how better cooperation can help humanitarian organizations prepare for the next disaster and why meeting a community’s medium- and long-term needs is crucial for their path back toward stability.
The Latest @ USIP: International Cooperation in Disaster Responses
Related Publications
From Ruins to Resilience: The Path Toward Recovery in Ukraine
Despite the destruction wrought by Russia’s invasion, Ukraine has continued to provide services to its people at an exemplary level throughout the war. This commendable resilience stems from significant investments and reforms made over the last 30 years. Notably, bolstering institutional capacity, the digitalization of public services, robust engagement with civil society, and a deeply rooted culture of voluntarism have all played crucial roles. Furthermore, the U.N. Development Programme (UNDP), where I serve as Ukraine’s resident representative, has been instrumental in building resilience across all strata of Ukrainian society.
In Earth’s Climate Crisis, Africa Demands a Fairer Sharing of Costs
Earth’s intensifying storms, heat, droughts and floods underscore that humanity is falling behind in its race against climate change. With global powers and institutions still debating how to transform economies and share the costs of surviving a destabilizing climate, the planet’s most vulnerable continent managed partial advances this month toward a regional consensus. The first-ever Africa Climate Summit amplified demands for a robust, fairer collective response to a warming planet — but fell short of forging a unified African position. Critically, it missed a chance to outline a strategy for dealing with the combined impacts of climate and violent conflicts.
The Latest @ USIP: The Local Aspects of the Global Fragility Act
The best strategy to save lives, disrupt cycles of violence and build lasting peace is to prevent conflicts before they happen. The U.S. Global Fragility Act (GFA) and associated U.S. Strategy to Prevent Conflict and Promote Stability both center this approach within U.S. foreign policy, helping partner countries get ahead of the curve. Assistant Secretary of State Anne Witkowsky discusses how the GFA and the Strategy aim to eliminate the drivers of instability and conflict; why the 10-year GFA plans offer a chance for policymakers to learn and adapt to changing environments; and why those on front lines of conflict are the ones most likely to understand where solutions may be found.
The Latest @ USIP: Climate Change is Driving Migration in the Horn of Africa
Climate change is already an acute issue in the East and Horn of Africa. Agricultural and pastoral communities are now facing their sixth straight season of drought, and without a way to shield themselves from the impact, they have very few options but to move. Amy Pope, the director general-elect of the International Organization for Migration, discusses how global aid agencies must continue providing life-saving assistance to those already displaced — but should also help vulnerable communities anticipate and mitigate the impacts of climate change to protect their livelihoods and avoid displacement altogether.