Think before you donate to disasters.

In the wake of floods, hurricanes and other recent disasters, many people with the best intentions will flood to donate to the survivors. Some will like posts on Facebook and share the news, others will donate blankets, clothes and other items. The government disaster response teams will provide food, shelter and clean water. There will also be other smaller groups that may be interested in going down to volunteer and bring aid to the survivors.

In reality, not all aid is equal. In some scenarios, the canned food and bottled water given to survivors create a second disaster of waste management. Even the biggest NGOs on the field are unable to distribute clothing, toys and blankets well, and once soiled, it may breed bacteria and cause health problems.

Following any disaster, waste management is a big issue. Although it is important to support the survivors, rushing to donate old clothes and other non-essential items may not be a good idea as most NGOs don’t have the capacity to manage these non-essential logistics. It will be left aside and get damage and in time, create more problems.

On the case of bottled water, this is the worst thing to send. It does not make sense at all, both financially and logistically. Sending 100,000 liters of water a day for 40,000 people can cost up to $300,000 and for large NGOs to purify the same amount of water, will cost $300 and there will be no plastic waste.

Donating to large international NGOs usually mean that a lot of foreign relief aid will be imported into the affected countries. Most disasters, even the large scale ones are rather isolated. Floods and earthquake areas rarely extend over 10km, and there will be local businesses which are open for business post disasters, but they will be excluded from relief by the international NGOs. The businesses in the foreign countries will be the ones who benefit from the disaster.

In the long run, these aids do affect the local economies adversely and your well intentioned donations will cause harm to the financial eco-system. What’s worse, some international organizations are managed off site in another country and bureaucracy may cause massive waste and inefficiencies.

So what can you do?

There are always many innovative locals with solutions on hand. During Hurricane Sandy, a group Occupy Relief Sandy hacked the Amazon Wedding Registry to create a disaster registry. People with needs can get the things they need, like diapers, milk formula, detergents and flashlights, and nothing goes to waste.  Local groups usually buy locally and donating to them will benefit the local eco-system.

Instead of donating immediately, you can hold back donations and think about visiting the disaster areas when things are more stabilized to spend tourism money which goes directly into the local eco-system. Buying local products from the affected area is one of the most important things to do to help recovery as the economic recovery is usually ignored by most organizations.

Contact friends / alumni / colleagues in the disaster areas. Their local knowledge and by the fact they are right there in the disaster area, will know which is the most effective way of supporting the survivors. Every disaster is different and getting ground knowledge on the ever changing disaster is the most effective way to provide the right kind of support needed.

The people in the disaster areas are not victims, and do not need your pity. They are survivors and despite the great disaster, they still prevail. They did not ask for your help and do not expect gratitude. A doctor is still a doctor, and disasters destroy infrastructure but local capacity remains. We need to engage survivors and support them in the recovery. Disasters create survivors and it is our collective responsibility that we do not create a system which turns them into refugees.

-- Robin Low

Disaster Recovery through Art - Come be part of Social Innovation

Art Impact Nepal is coming to Singapore in August. (https://www.facebook.com/artimpactnepal/)

This event was launched in Kathmandu in April, and has been to Providence, Boston, San Diego and Rosarito so far.

I've learn a lot engaging with artists and meeting the visitors to the event. this event was the idea of various artists from Nepal and I'm learning something new all the time. There were a lot of unintended consequences.

Art Impact Nepal is not an art show. It is not about art appreciation and not about art education. The artists are Nepal fine Artists who are award winning artists, and they are there to display their art and share their experience during the earthquake. They will also talk about the progress of the recovery and how they are leveraging on art for disaster recovery.

One of the artist -- Ajit Sah is already training survivors in the earthquake to make handicrafts and the handicrafts are already sold in Kathmandu to allow the survivors of the earthquake to earn more money for rebuilding of their homes.

One of the goals of Art Impact Nepal is to raise funds to build a residential art studio in Lumbini, training and allowing more survivors to make handicrafts and sell handicrafts for a living. Foreign artists can visit the residential studios to work with the artisans, learning local art, as well as sharing their crafts with each other.

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After running this art exhibition for some time, I've already learn so many new things.

1) Art Therapy.

One of the artists in Nepal experienced a lot of loss, and almost quit art. But when he saw the artists coming together for this project, he started painting again with mixed media. He realized that his post disaster art is much darker than his original art. Now, he is using all dark colors, showing broken temples and bells.

He realized that he could express what he could not vocalize with art, and it was good for his mental health to release his feelings bottled inside him.

As such, art is also used to understand the mental health of the survivors, and used as a therapy, a channel for some of the troubled survivors to express themselves.


2) Caste System.

I learn a lot more about the caste system, and how different castes will not come and support because of the type of art on display (lower caste)

In Nepal, I ran the exhibition and managed to get the various people to come, however, in the US, evidently, the community was fragmented and it was hard to get support from the Nepal community.

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If you are in Singapore, please come by and support and show your solidarity to the artists. If you can please come and buy some handicrafts as well. There are organic soap and other handicrafts made by the villagers using only sustainable locally found materials and vegetable dyes.

I'd like to introduce conscious consumerism and you can support Nepal recovery by shopping in the new Singapore way, instead of donations. We can enable the survivors to support themselves and rebuild their communities by buying the things we need or meaningful gifts.

-- Robin Low

Relief B2V - Nepal Earthquake

The 2015 Nepal Earthquake is an unforgettable disaster for many. 14 districts were badly damaged, and villages like this one saw many buildings damaged. In Phulbari, Many villagers have their homes damaged and the school was also badly damaged.

Fortunately, donations were available to support the rebuilding of temporary buildings and within a month, the students were in schools again.

This community has a cooperative with over 200 farmers as members. The funds consolidated was able to allow them to fix the homes and patch up some.

As for now, the farmers who were already rather poor are ok as the earthquake did not destroy their crops. They would be more adversely affected if there was a drought.

I visited the village and shared with them my experience in Japan and wanted to see if I could support them in any way. They said they needed an ambulance. The reason: during the earthquake, they realized that no one had any way to transport the injured to the Hospital, and it was too far away.

After brainstorming and some discussions, they agreed that a van would serve the same purpose of transporting the injured, and yet be able to send their produce to the market.

But how would they be able to fund the van, especially after the earthquake when their homes are damaged?

Relief B2V

I recorded a video interviewing the villagers, asking 4 questions:

1) What happened during the earthquake?
2) What did you lose?
3) How much do you need?
4) What are you going to use the money for?

And currently I'm talking to the Fast Food Association and other F&B business association to see if they were interested in supporting this village.

I'm not asking for donation, but rather, a loan for the van, and in return, the villagers will pay back the loan with their produce, delivered to the restaurants.

There will be detailed contracts on harvest details and cost for each vegetable type.

This will allow the villager to get support they need, and the businesses that want to support to the villagers with something tangible, yet with a long term goal, of connecting the Cooperative in the village to the restaurants direct, hopefully allowing them to earn more (without the middleman) and the restaurants to know where their food is coming from.

Buy Local, Eat Local!

Please share with me if there are other villages which you can use similar ways to support and connect them with businesses.

-- Robin Low

Good business to support Nepal Recovery

Nepal has been hit hard in the twin earthquakes. More than 8,800 people were killed and 20,000 injured.

Nepal, a country that is largely dependent on foreign aid is still charging taxes on import of aid. While aid agencies refuse to pay customs duties and the government refuse to back off, survivors receive nothing.

Criminal gangs have been threatening development committee officials with death and attacking them in an attempt to take control of aid for victims of the recent earthquake in Nepal sent by the government of Kathmandu and the international community. Survivors in the remote areas have failed to receive food and emergency supplies as a result of irregularities in the distribution of supplies.

Relief materials are being heavily misused in the absence of one-door distribution policy. Political meddling is rampant in relief distribution, so much so that some people with close ties with local politicians are collecting relief supplies on daily basis.

The government began distributing identity cards which provides each homeowner 15 thousand Nepalese rupees (about 130 euro) to facilitate the purchase of zinc plates useful for building temporary shelters. But this initiative has led to "false survivors" who are chasing state aid.

To pocket the government announced cash relief, even those people who did not suffer any loss in the earthquake have been found registering their names as the victims, says the report. Cases of joint families splitting to claim more cash relief are also common. Distribution of cash relief has become difficult since the number of quake-affected families has risen dramatically as compared to the latest census data.

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The scale of the earthquake is not in just deaths and injuries, what is really shocking is, because the earthquakes is situated near Kathmandu, where most of Nepal's economic activity happen, the relative cost to Nepal can be close to 50% of its GDP.

There are definitely issues with aid and giving. With people getting so little, desperation sets in and its survival and self preservation that matters. With the donations limited as there are clear issues with distribution, more problems will arise.

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With much losses in real economic terms, it is VERY important that Nepal be on the path of economic recovery. Most of the time, international aid will take a long time before a stead state will be seen, and for a government to refocus on economic recovery, months or sometimes years will pass before any plans conceived is put into place. Meanwhile, business owners wait for the non-existent support and workers remain jobless, compounding to the problems, creating more people requiring aid.

This however can be mitigated by business communities coming together to support economic growth. I plan to be in Nepal next week, from June 15th, on a Economic Recovery trip, to support business recovery.

I hope to meet up with business owners who are affected by the earthquake and share their stories on the kind of support they need. If they need a small loan, I will try to gather local Nepalese business owners to source business to business loans to restart businesses. Hopefully, this will expedite employment for the survivors and allow them to earn money to support themselves.

I plan to work with local entrepreneurs, and run a social business bootcamp, where they can think of solutions to solve local problems, and I plan to connect these entrepreneurs to crowdfunding sites, and hopefully, they will get your support and be funded in their social businesses.

I strongly believe in economic recovery and economic growth, and businesses can play a big roles in supporting with business loans or even looking at ways to collaborate with Nepalese businesses or support economic development.

Being a landlocked Nation,  Nepal is challenged with imports and exports, and hence very few international businesses are doing business with them. With few international business connections, like Haiti, support by multinational enterprises is very limited.

Nepal is among one of the poorest nation in the world, however, with 28 million residents and the evolution of businesses, it could be an attractive market one day. Business giving may not seem strategic today, however, Nepal and Kathmandu -- with its location near everest -- does see a fair share of millionaires and rich visitors visiting before climbing the world's highest peaks, and Nepal could have tremendous reach to many that have much resources.

The U.S. pharmaceutical company Merck gave out Streptomycin for free to post-war Japan when it was ravaged by tuberculosis. Today, Merck has become one of the leading U.S. drug companies doing business in Japan.

There many be much opportunities for business to relook at Nepal for developments as providing business opportunities in Nepal supports them with more than just aid, but with jobs, locals can afford to buy their own food and rebuild their homes.

The cost of land ownership or doing business with locals will probably be low and I could already see some good exports like Strawberries (which are air flown) and tourism and hospitality industry being very attractive.

This is not exploiting people, but doing business and supporting locals with jobs is a good way for them to be on the path to economic recovery.

-- Robin Low

Can't bring extra luggage on MAS for Nepal

I was planning on a trip again to Nepal for Recovery phase, and as there is always a need for more supplies on the ground, I was checking with the airlines whether they can allow me any extra allowances if I were to bring aid like medicine or a tent along.

After booking with Malaysia Airlines, a relatively decent trip at a decent price with 1 stop over, I sent them this email.

Traveling for Disaster Recovery. 

I am going to Nepal for Disaster Recovery and I decided to book Malaysia Airlines. I was wondering if there are any additional allowance to bring aid to Nepal when I fly there on June 15, 2015?


I was simply looking for an answer like, "How much extra allowance do you need?" or "We would allow 5 - 10 kg extra to support Nepal"

This was their reply.

Dear Mr Low,

Greeting from Malaysia Airlines,

In regards to your email below, please be informed if passengers’ baggage exceeds the FBA limits (per class of travel), the excess weight is considered as excess baggage and the relevant charges will apply. The free baggage allowance (FBA) is as follows:

·         First Class             - 2 pieces weighing 50kg in total

·         Business Class      - 2 pieces weighing 40kg in total

·         Economy Class     - 2 pieces weighing 30kg in total

Should you require further assistance or information, kindly contact our Call Centre at 1-300-88-3000 toll-free number within Malaysia or +603 7843 3000 outside Malaysia. We will be glad to assists and serve you better.

Thank you

Yours sincerely,

Mrs Linda

(RESVNS)

Malaysia Contact Centre|

Global Customer Contact Centre|

www.malaysiaairlines.com

So even after all the plane disappearance, crashes and mishaps, the decision to support any groups going to Nepal for relief and recovery is still a no?

I am quite disappointed. Well, it just mean that the rest of my team will not fly with Malaysia Airlines from now on.

-- Robin Low 

Its time for Nepal Recovery.

The Nepal Earthquake in April 25 and another big one just weeks apart has left a big trail of disaster. In all, more than 8,600 people died and thousands were left homeless. The future looks bleak to many of them as aid and relief is slow to come and besides losing their homes, many lost their jobs.

The International Response is weak compared to other disasters, and one of the reasons is due to the lack of business interaction between Nepal and other countries. In most disaster relief, the support for donation and aid is spearheaded by businesses and it makes business sense to help business partners recover, but in this land locked nation surrounded by mountains, they do not have much dealings with other countries.

There was a good response during the search and rescue, but the job is not done then. Recovery is like a marathon, and the search and rescue is just the initial phase, and there is still a long way to recovery.

I've written several articles on disaster recovery and relief.

Disaster relief is not just for experts and special teams

What you can do to help Nepal's recovery

The recovery phase is usually forgotten and not supported. Like the Rohingya crisis, Nepal is at the point of inflection. With enough aid, Nepal can be rebuilt stronger and more resilient. Businesses need to be supported to restart and the people can gain employment and get on with their lives.

Without support and with dwindling aid, the survivors will be turned into refugees, leaving their homes to search for jobs in other lands.

I plan to go to Nepal to support the business recovery and get more ground information from the ground. If you wish to support, I'm running a fundraiser here.

Sustainable Nepal Recovery (Nepal Earthquake 2015)

Lets show the survivors in Nepal that we care.

-- Robin Low

Sustainable Disaster Recovery for Nepal.

The recent 7.8-magnitude earthquake in Nepal is a heartbreaking disaster with thousands dead and much of the infrastructure destroyed in Kathmandu.

Nepal is a poor country. Nepal’s GDP per capita was only $694 in 2013, unemployment is at about 40% and overseas workers account for 30% of the economy.

The disaster relief phase will be in the headlines as many countries send armies on the ground for search and rescue missions and medical support, saving lives. Providing much needed shelter, food and water will also be very prominent and large NGOs like Red Cross and Global Giving will raise a lot of funds for this purpose.

For people who donated and supported in the relief efforts, I really respect you for taking action and making a difference to the survivors after the earthquake. In disasters however, the rebuilding process is not as easy as providing shelter, food and water. In poorer countries like Nepal, the rebuilding process is extremely complex as the stability of the government is in question and even with a lot of funds from donations, it may never recover to even the state before the earthquake.


From my experience in Haiti after the earthquake in 2010, even with US$3.5 billion in aid, Haiti still has not recovered much and in some areas, the situation seems to get worse. The local economy that is supply similar products will find increasing difficulty to earn a living and resort to relying on just foreign aid to get by.

I have worked with a few great organizations in Haiti like Haiti Partners' Children's Academy which does great work and empowers the next generation of youths with holistic education with affordable education. However, there are also a lot of other NGOs which does not provide real social impact. Many NGOs still provide free services or free food, 5 years after the disaster, and local businesses are affected badly.

The situation of Haiti and Nepal may be quite similar, I would like to look at the disaster as an opportunity to rebuild an infrastructure for growth to reduce poverty. My experience at different disaster areas and getting inspired by the great projects and people I met over the years, I believe I have a lot of value to add to the disaster recovery efforts in Nepal.

I'm interested in forming a Relief 2.0 recovery team for the following tasks:

1) Deliver donated products to partners on the ground. (Solar panels, 3G connection, etc.)
2) Relief B2B, helping local businesses to restart, giving them access to crowdfunded loans (locally or online)
3) Gather information about local capacity and state of business and infrastructure. Find out what is needed to help economic recovery.
4) Gather and share information about marginalized communities and connect them to social enterprises in the world to find solutions collaboratively.
5) Document with photos, accurate information about the magnitude of destruction. Perhaps follow up in the future on the progress of recovery and what else needs to be done.

-- Robin Low