29 March 2011
Tearfund welcomes the findings of Lord Ashdown’s Humanitarian Emergency Response Review in relation to UK aid and disasters. The Christian relief agency is hopeful that the key recommendations will be picked up by the Government when they respond in May.
Robert Schofield, Disaster Management Director at Tearfund, said:
'The UK Government must ensure that UK relief aid is making an increasingly critical difference as we see more and more disasters. As the report notes, a central component of this must be building resilience within vulnerable communities before disaster strikes.
'Tearfund’s own report, Investing in Communities, which the Secretary for State for International Development referenced today, demonstrates that investing in reducing disaster risk shows good returns. Our study in Malawi demonstrated that for every £1 invested in building resilience, communities saw a benefit equivalent to £24. If we can work among communities, helping them find their own innovative ways to reduce the risks of disasters, this will limit aid dependency.
'As the report points out, resilience must be integral to all of DFID’s programmes in the countries most at risk. It must integrate the threat from climate change and other potential hazards into all development planning.
'The report also highlights the work of faith groups in the relief sector and their "potential to improve responses through their strong links with and access to local communities."
'Tearfund works through the local church because it is part of a community. It knows where the vulnerable families are before the disaster hits them. It’s there in the thick of it from day one and it doesn’t get up and leave.
'Last week when earthquakes hit eastern Burma, local churches were not only among those most affected – one was flattened during a women’s meeting killing 25 – but they were also among the first on the scene to respond.
'We need to include communities in our thinking and decision making. They are a crucial part of any response. And it is important that aid donors are responsible to these communities for delivering results – so we welcome the recommendations relating to beneficiary accountability.'
NOTES TO EDITORS
For further information contact Jonathan Spencer in the Press Office on 020 8943 7901 or out of hours call 07710 573749.
Tearfund is a Christian relief and development agency building a global network of local churches to help eradicate poverty. Tearfund is a member of the Disasters Emergency Committee.