Asia earthquake and tsunamis : Real Time Evaluation report for the Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies

The undersea earthquake in the Bay of Bengal on December 26th 2004 caused damage in the nearest country, Indonesia, and also generated tsunamis that devastated coastal regions of 12 countries, including as far away as East Africa. The nature of this disaster itself is unusual, although not beyond anything that has been experienced before. It is unusual mostly for the simultaneous effect on several countries across such a wide geographic range, and what really is exceptional is the level of international interest. In the affected countries the National Red Cross Society actively and immediately responded to the effects of the tsunami in its own country. Federation and ICRC delegations in the region also reacted. National Societies of countries whose citizens were caught up in the disaster as tourists supported their own national efforts to identify losses, and aid and repatriate people.

In addition an unprecedented number of other National Societies around the world have contributed materially, financially and with staff. The Federation as a whole is likely to have at its disposal over 2 billion Swiss Francs; this comes to an unprecedented degree from public donations, showing the enormous regard in which the RCRC Movement is held. However this also imposes obligations not only (as ever) to use the money well in support of “the mission to improve the lives of vulnerable people by mobilising the power of humanity” that is claimed at the head of the publicly available Operations Updates, but also to be seen to be using it well, in ways beyond or different than what is normally demanded.

These basic facts underlie tensions within and between parts of the Red Cross Red Crescent Movement. Many of these are endemic in this Federation as in any federation, and are brought into sharp focus by these operations. Unsurprisingly the result is a mixed picture: in parts, excellent Red Cross action, committed coordination and cooperation, effective management; and in parts bad humanitarian practice, disregard of all agreements, and ineffective leadership.