Dr. Tajuddeen A. Williams

Relief Organizations

· Personal Essays

When disasters occur, relief organizations play key roles of support for affected populations. Relief organizations are often thought only to focus on recovery. However, they are also capable of maintaining stability and providing psychological and emotional support for intervention and postvention initiatives in areas affected by terrorism (O’Keefe & Kirkby, 1997). Different approaches are used to address the needs of affected populations, but with events involving terrorism, psychological, emotional, and physical stabilization are the most significant efforts (Bongar, Brown, Beutler, Breckenridge & Zimbardo, 2007). Without stabilization, affected populations can quickly descend into chaos and widespread panic, further endangering the lives of survivors.

The International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) is one of the oldest and most well-known relief organizations. Working across the globe, in areas such as Africa, Europe, and the Middle East, the IFRC has been instrumental in maintaining stability in war-torn regions for nearly a century (International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, n.d.). The organization’s primary goal is to ensure human dignity and-and peace are maintained during times of crisis and beyond. Despite this structure featuring two symbols representing two of the largest Abrahamic faiths, Christianity and Islam, the IFRC provides aid to all without partiality. This ensures their ability to fulfill their promise of providing assistance to all in need, wherever they may reside (IFRC, n.d.). Furthermore, the IFRC maintains autonomy and neutrality, absolving itself of political leanings.

The American Psychological Association’s Disaster Response Network (APA-DRN) is a relief network focused on the maintenance of psychological stability of disaster victims. Working within the United States and Canada, the APA-DRN consists of about 2,500 licensed psychologist volunteers who are subject-matter experts concerning how trauma and disasters adversely affect psychological health (American Psychological Association, n.d.). Through its partnership with the American Red Cross, APA-DRN members also volunteer with the Red Cross Disaster Mental Health program. Like the IFRC, APA-DRN members focus on intervention and postvention strategies to maintain psychological stability.

The IFRC’s response to disaster relief in the case of terrorism first focuses on interventions designed to minimize continued loss of life. They are active participants in victim and casualty recovery efforts from search-and-rescue to food security, healthcare, and shelter provision. Moreover, psychological health is further stabilized when these needs above are adequately addressed. Furthermore, financial and humanitarian support is provided to ensure a sense of normalcy is achieved to prepare for recovery initiatives (IFRC, n.d.). The response effort could last six months or longer, depending on the severity of the attack. This strategy helps affected populations to begin the process of recovery, to start rebuilding their lives after a traumatic experience.

The APA-DRN intervention efforts have volunteers focus heavily on the psychological needs of survivors and relief workers in areas affected by terrorism and disaster. They focus on grief and loss counselling, emotional support, and other tactics to improve the level of resiliency required for all affected populations to begin moving toward the recovery phase, including fellow responders (APA, n.d.). Additionally, network volunteers communicate with Media to provide first-hand accounts of relief efforts and the general psychological state of affected populations. This helps Media gain an accurate understanding of the state of affairs within affected area, adding a human element to news reports. This tactic serves to help affected populations begin the healing process of facing their fears and worries head-on through psychological support and improved resilience. Without these skills, many survivors and several responders may find themselves dealing with the devastating effects of trauma, death, and destruction.

Furthermore, both the IFRC and APA-DRN have recovery or postvention strategies that assist affected populations and responders in rebuilding a more resilient life and outlook. From shelter construction and infrastructure to consistent psycho-educational programs provided to affected populations months and years after devastating events of terrorism, the IFRC and APA-DRN provide invaluable support and hope of ‘going back to normal’ (Bongar, Brown, Beutler, Breckenridge & Zimbardo, 2007; O’Keefe & Kirkby, 1997). Without these initiatives, society would be in a severe state of chaos and instability which would spread like wildfire from one region to another. The primary goal for relief organizations is to re-establish and maintain stability because, without stability, humanity would dissolve into a twisted parade of death, destruction, and despair.

References

  • American Psychological Association. (n.d.). APA's disaster response network. Retrieved from http://www.apa.org/practice/programs/drn/index.aspx
  • Bongar, B., Brown, L. M., Beutler, L. E., Breckenridge, J. N., & Zimbardo, P. G. (Eds.). (2007). Psychology of terrorism. New York, NY: Oxford University. ↩1 ↩2
  • International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.ifrc.org/
  • O'Keefe, P., & Kirkby, J. (1997). Relief & rehabilitation in complex emergencies. Review of African Political Economy, 24(74), 567-582. ↩1 ↩2

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