A Second Tsunami?

Abstract

"The convergence of individuals and organisations into an area following disasters may inadvertently cause a subsequent human-made disaster. Following the Indian Ocean Tsunami in 2006, the wave of national and international individuals and agencies that arrived in some tsunami-affected areas was so large and difficult to manage that it has been referred as “a second tsunami” (Iskandar-Dharmawan, 2005). A disaster makes it more difficult for affected communities to control who enters the area, as well as the nature of the interaction. At the same time disaster-affected communities are often in a position of great need of external assistance. This paper reviews the ethics of coming into disaster-affected communities, using Aceh following the 2006 tsunami as a case study. It discusses the impact of entry into disaster-affected communities general and presents issues specific to research. To avoid becoming a part of the second tsunami, the needs of the community have to be the foremost concern of any organisation or individual considering arrival for research, aid, or any other purposes. Ethical entry into a community requires recognition of and mitigation of the potential impacts of entry into a community, for example culturally and socioeconomically. Ideally, ethical engagement requires an approach beyond community involvement or even community partnership, so that the community holds ownership and leadership of the processes"