|PIC1|The Red Cross has released its annual World Disasters Report earlier this week. The report scrutinises on how aid agencies could have responded better to recent natural disasters around the world, especially the Indian Ocean tsunami.

Upon reviewing how different international and local agencies responded to the chaos, the report stated that coordination between agencies and working with local charities are both key to a successful disaster response.

Though it was inevitable that relief and development would be difficult in the tsunami aftermath, the Red Cross report recommends that a lot of chaos can be prevented by international organisations working with local charities and asking local people for their opinions and advice.

The Red Cross’ report backs the policy of Christian Aid, which has been working through local organisations for the past 60 years.

Christian Aid funds strong local charities that have been working long enough in their communities to know who is in need of help. When a disaster strikes in the area, these charities can respond immediately to the crisis because they are part of the community as they live and work in the area.

|QUOTE|“Our partner organisations were on the scene within hours of the tsunami striking, helping to identify and clear bodies and providing food and clothing for the survivors,” a Christian Aid report stated.

Since then, these local organisations across India and Sri Lanka have been helping people rebuild their homes, provide counselling and put their lives back on track.

Christian Aid has also made sure that there is coordination between agencies on the ground. For example, in Trincomalee, on the east coast of Sri Lanka, coordination meetings were held by Christian Aid staff for all charities and organisations working in that area.