“Tsunami Effect” Likely to Hit Africa

In January, international donors quickly met the UN appeal for US$977 million for tsunami relief operations. That same month, member countries gave only US$21 million of the US$29 million requested by the UN World Food Program, resulting in ration cuts for some African nations. This disparity reflects a serious problem: While the international community has quickly responded to the tsunami catastrophe in South Asia, it has virtually ignored Africa's deadlier man-made and natural disasters, including famine and peacekeeping operations. Officials at the World Food Program and other relief organizations worry of a "tsunami effect." If funds are drawn away from humanitarian programs in Africa, casualties from Uganda and Ethiopia could be added to the tsunami's toll. – YaleGlobal