Not enough money for emergency relief? Get used to it

The Philippine government estimates Typhoon Haiyan displaced nearly 4.1 million people. Photograph: Dondi Tawatao/Getty ImagesNearly 800,000 refugees in Africa are receiving severely reduced food rations because of a shortage of funds in the World Food Programme and in the UN refugee agency, UNHCR. At least half of them are children for whom poor nutrition can have life-long negative consequences.
This is happening despite the increase of humanitarian funding globally. Between 2006 and 2011, the world provided just over $2bn to help victims of humanitarian emergencies through the Central Emergency Response Fund. Since then, humanitarian funding has continued to rise. The average annual humanitarian spending doubled from $7.6bn in 2000-2009 to more than $14.3bn a year between 2010-2013, and already surpasses $10bn in just the first half of 2014.
But needs are expanding much faster than funds. We live in exceptionally troubling times, with the humanitarian community facing multiple massive crises simultaneously. It is highly unusual to have any overlapping "level three" disasters – the highest category to be declared by the UN – yet in recent months we have had to contend with four of them simultaneously: the situation in Syria and nearby (now compounded by events in Iraq), civil war in South Sudan, sectarian violence in the Central African Republic and the consequences in the Philippines of the strongest typhoon ever recorded to make landfall.
The number of people pushed out of their homes is growing exponentially. In June, UNHCR reported that there are now more than 51 million people who have been forcibly displaced from their homes. This is the highest number since the second world war.
There is no light at the end of this tunnel: we must get used to a "new normal", where we face multiple challenges with finite resources. A world of higher fragility is here to stay, because of climate change, population growth and the rise of extremism.
What can the humanitarian community do in these new circumstances? There are no easy solutions and what remedies we can bring to bear will require our constant focus and attention.
First, funding humanitarian emergencies must be a top priority – simply put, when needs are growing so fast, we need to come up with more money. For the 800,000 refugees in Africa the shortfall is $225m. The European Commission will tap into its emergency reserves, and I hope others will also do more. It is particularly important for new donors to be more generous – with more wealth comes more responsibility.
Second, we have to strive for more efficient use of our scarce resources. Better targeting of humanitarian spending, more coordination among humanitarian organisations and a relentless focus on results are crucial to stretch every dollar, euro or pound to the fullest.
Third, we also need the governments of countries affected by crises to do more so help can reach those who need it at lower costs. Take the example of South Sudan: we have urged the government and the opposition to ease obstacles for humanitarian deliveries and guarantee access to nearly 1.1 million internally displaced people – a task becoming ever more urgent because of the threat of famine resulting from a failed harvest and continuing fighting. Our calls have fallen on deaf ears and now we must airlift aid at 11 times the cost of delivery by land and water.
Last but not least, we must recognise that in this increasingly fragile world, relying only on humanitarian action won't be good enough. It is not sustainable for humanitarians to do all the heavy lifting. There is no humanitarian solution to what has forced these children, women and men to become refugees in the first place. We need coordinated action on the security, development, political and diplomatic fronts to tackle fragility with all the instruments at our disposal.
We must focus our attention and development resources on fragile countries and on communities at highest risk of natural disasters and conflicts. Resilience is more than a buzzword – it is the only way to prevent more suffering and an ever-growing humanitarian bill. Development funds need to be directed more into building up the coping capacities of vulnerable communities and investing in disaster preparedness and conflict prevention, as well as in providing peace-keeping resources promptly to douse the flames of incipient war.
We need all this not only because it is morally right but because it is in our self-interest for refugees who saw their rations cut to know that we stand by them. We know from the surge in the numbers of desperate people risking their lives to arrive on European shores that trouble travels.
Kristalina Georgieva is EU commissioner for International Cooperation, Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Response. Follow @KGeorgievaEU on Twitter.
Read more stories like this:
• 10 ways to make humanitarian efforts complement development
• Resilience: meaningless jargon or development solution?
• Five things they tell you about refugees that aren't true
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Typhoon Rammasun: Philippines suffers widespread destruction video report

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Typhoon Rammasun kills 18 in China
Strongest typhoon to hit southern China in 41 years leaves death and destruction in its wake as it heads towards Vietnam

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Typhoon Rammasun puts Philippine disaster preparedness to the test

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Preparations for typhoon Rammasun are under way in the Philippines. Here, a resident of Las Pinas city, south of Manila, reinforces his roof. Photograph: EPAIn June 2013, at the beginning of the rainy season, the Philippine interior secretary announced that the government was aiming for a casualty-free typhoon season. Just five months later, the country was devastated by the deadliest storm in its history.
While the island state struggles to repair the damage wreaked by typhoon Haiyan, which killed more than 6,000 people, preparations have long been under way for the next season. The Philippine meteorological agency, Pagasa, recently announced the beginning of this year's rainy season and warned that 18 typhoons could hit the country by the end of December.
For the country's Climate Change Commission, discussions on how to prepare for the forthcoming year began nearly 12 months in advance. "Both national and local governments are bracing themselves. Typhoon Haiyan was such an enormous event," said the commission's vice-chairman and executive director, Lucile Sering.
The government also started preparing for the typhoon season early, and admitted to learning important lessons from Haiyan, or Yolanda as it is known in the Philippines. "We have learned a lot from typhoon Yolanda. Our prepositioned goods before were not enough, numbering about 20,000 to 30,000 food packs. We are now preparing at least 50,000 food packs," said Corazon Soliman, secretary for social welfare and development.
The arrival this week of typhoon Rammasun, the fiercest storm to threaten the Philippines since Haiyan, is poised to be the first real test of the country's disaster preparedness. The typhoon left at least 10 people dead and knocked out power in many areas on Wednesday but Manila was largely spared the typhoon's 150kph (93mph) wind.
Evacuations began in earnest – ferry services were suspended and schools closed in parts of Luzon island as the category-one storm headed towards the Philppine capital. On a storm scale of one to five, five is the most severe. Haiyan was a category-five "super-typhoon".
With each major storm that hits the Philippines, the majority of funding is usually focused on the relief effort, with not much cash left over to prepare for any future disasters. But non-governmental agencies say this approach is changing.
"Historically, there has been less support for response and intervention, education and child protection because many of the contributions and donations initially go to water, sanitation and health, as far as Unicef is concerned," said Nonoy Fajardo, a Unicef Philippines disaster risk-reduction expert. "For the first time, donor agencies are now more open to support emergency preparedness unlike before when the emphasis was more on emergency response."
Many Haiyan victims died because they failed to evacuate. A large number of people remained in their houses because they were not fully informed on the strength of the incoming typhoon and the consequences of a storm surge.
"No matter how good the system or capability of the government, at the end of the day, it's our people who are exposed to the weather and they have to know," said Alexander Pama, chief undersecretary of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC).
As a result, a large component of preparation this year has been angled towards education. Training workshops are being offered to every level, from residents to first responders to local government officials. However, with experts warning of stronger typhoons to come, training sessions have had to take on a new element this year, educating people of the "new norms" that the Philippines can expect to experience as climate change causes typhoons to intensify.
"The first thing people need to be educated about is climate change. Filipinos are not new to typhoons, however, what they knew then may not be appropriate to things that are happening right now," Pama said.
Unicef Philippines has a programme on disaster-risk reduction, which recently included climate change adaptation. "This is the first time this part has been established," Fajardo said.
Funding has also poured into data collection. "One of the lessons learned is that the government [local and national] has to gather more data on hazard and risks and then strive to make everyone aware of it," said Roderic Salve, disaster management services manager at the Red Cross.
Project Noah (Nationwide Operational Assessment of Hazards) was set up in 2012 as a monitoring and early warning system. It has collated a series of interactive maps, which show the different areas of vulnerability from natural disasters such as typhoons. It is thus able to anticipate the impact of a hazard in a locality and implement the appropriate preparedness.
The NDRRMC is building a new operations centre, which is likely to be a "game-changer", according to Pama. The new 600sq m nerve centre will improve coordination between the different agencies, using satellite communications with real-time video, voice and data transmission.
The whole project, which will be funded mainly by local and international donors, is expected to cost P250-300m (£3.4-4m) and will be ready in time for next year's rainy season in April.
This year, a major focus has been on the consolidation of different government agency responses during a disaster. "Response differs between people so we need one standardised response," Sering said.
The government has introduced a system called Pre-Disaster Risk Assessment under which disasters are approached in three to four thematic areas: prevention and mitigation; preparedness; response and recovery; and rehabilitation. Each area has a different cluster of agencies acting on the issues, and representatives from each area meet regularly to ensure cohesion.
"The way a typhoon is being looked at this year is different," Pama said. "We are approaching this in a tactical way. Before, everyone looked at it with their respective mandate. There needs to be more emphasis on the right hand knowing what the left hand is doing. We're consolidating the different government groups."

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New 'Plaza-opoly' Board Game Inspired by Iconic Hotel

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What happens when an iconic hotel meets a classic board game? Plaza-opoly. Debuting later this month, the game features Plaza-inspired instructions, playing cards and themed board spaces. Players can challenge one another to become the wealthiest winner by purchasing hotel-branded squares. The board game is the first venture into the game world for the property. It is $60 at and sold The Plaza Boutique. Six game tokens are characters and amenities inspired by The Plaza, including Eloise’s pug dog Weenie, her turtle Skipperdee, a luxury car, a champagne bottle, a tea cup and (The Big) apple. After checking in at the Front Desk, players roll the dice to move around via The Rose Club, The Eloise Suite, The Plaza Food Hall and even Home Alone 2, filmed at the hotel. Players can take their "winnings" straight to the bank and "purchase" their favorite Plaza destinations, such The Champagne Bar, explore "The Great Gatsby" in The Fitzgerald Suite, The Grand Ballroom and The Shinn Murals. Each space has a corresponding Title Deed Card that provides a value and details of each location. Players get cards such as “Order Room Service” or “Carriage Ride in Central Park." Instead of jail, players risk getting sent to Hotel Security. PHOTO: This month, The Plaza Hotel will be introducing its first ever Plaza-opoly board gameYou are using an outdated version of Internet Explorer. Please click here to upgrade your browser in order to comment.
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Space Bins Promise More Overhead In Flight Storage

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Ever found your way to your airplane seat only to find there's no more room for your carry-on bag in the overhead compartment? Yes, answers everyone who has taken a flight, ever. The problem that plagues virtually every flier may be on its way to being solved. Boeing announced its new Space Bins will stow six bags, two more than the current pivot bins installed on Next-Generation 737s. That's based on a standard size carry-on bag measuring 9 x 14 x 22 inches. Space Bins will be an optional feature on all new 737s and 737 MAX aircraft. ‘Sky Whale’ Future of Flight? The Future of Airline Seating? Let’s Hope So Alaska Airlines will be the first airline outfitted with Space Bins. The airline will begin installing Space Bins on all new deliveries as soon as the larger bins become available in late 2015. In addition to holding more bags, the Space Bins have a lower bin lip height, providing "increased visibility into the back of the bins and make bag loading even easier. They're also as easy to close as the current pivot bins," Boeing said. Space Bins are also available for retrofit on in-service Next-Generation 737s. You are using an outdated version of Internet Explorer. Please click here to upgrade your browser in order to comment.
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Watch: Epic Proposal Includes Sky-High Prank

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ABC News | ABC Sports News Copy Frank that a proposal as one Southern California firefighters. -- his girlfriend into a moment she will never forget. Here's how it all happened. Skydiving has been a normal hobby during much of... See More Frank that a proposal as one Southern California firefighters. -- his girlfriend into a moment she will never forget. Here's how it all happened. Skydiving has been a normal hobby during much of Brandon -- been in the -- Now the most -- knows relationship. But -- -- -- popped the big question thousands of feet in the air his girlfriend was shocked as you can see in this video set to the song. First day of my life by bright eyes and okay. What happened next might have been even more shocking. Show me accidentally dropped the ring in midair or at least that's what his girlfriend the real rain was waiting on the grounds. All along. -- She of course said yes later saying she wouldn't have it any other way. As for that fake ring that he dropped. -- -- says he bought it on Amazon just for nine dollars. This transcript has been automatically generated and may not be 100% accurate.
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Hilarious and Most Hair-Raising Travel Advice Ever

There's an incredible thirst for travel advice. Luckily, the Web is loaded with it, thanks to an array of tips from vacation bloggers, tourism employees and international experts. My advice veers toward the practical, like ways to get through security faster or how to find the cheapest flights. In other words, don't look to me for fashion tips but there's plenty out there. For example, take this blogger's warning for tourists in New York City: "Please do not wear your backpack on your front, you look silly." Then there's Lifehacker's whimsical tip on "How to Design and Sew a Custom Backpack." And this guidance from a news site: "Avoid storms on beach trip." Hard to argue with that. Some advice is hilarious. Some is scary. Much is pretty good. Here are some favorites. Best Scary Wildlife Tip: A U.S. National Park Service warning for visitors to Yellowstone: "Many people think that the reason for most bear attacks is that the bear wants to kill and eat you. In reality this is almost never true!" Uh, does it matter? But do as they say and bone up on "predatory" and "defensive" bear attacks since each requires a different reaction. But the good news is, "More people [are] hurt by bison than by bears each year." Best Etiquette Tip for the White House: Do we really need to be told not to wear a bathing suit when touring the president's home? WikiHow thinks so. The article also suggests using the bathroom before the tour since the White House does not have public restrooms and, "no, you will not be able to use the president's bathroom." Best Nightlife Tips for Los Angeles: If you believe one southern California "survival guide," there isn't much evening action: "Your day will start at 6 and end at 10. LA's a morning town." So much for those (alleged) Hollywood orgies. Best Quirky Tips: The Quirky Travel Guy reminds us that fun stuff is not limited to major cities. He's been all across the U.S. perusing everything from sock monkey statues in Rockford, Ill., to the oddly named Zzyxx Road in Baker, Calif. He's also been to the Grand Canyon and sadly notes that "lots of people have died there" over the years (accidents, medical problems) but don't worry, the park service offers plenty of tips to keep Grand Canyon hikers safe including, "Mules have the right of way." Best Shopping Tip for Venice, Italy: The homepage of the Visit Venice Italy site prominently displays a section called "Useful Addresses" and lists twelve of them. Number one is "Consulates." Number two is "Shoemaker." That's what I call getting your priorities straight. Best Unusual Las Vegas Tip: The VitalVegas blog recommends the Cupcake ATM at the Sprinkles store. Put your money in the machine ($4.59) and get a customized cupcake. "Yes, that's one expensive cupcake," writes the Vegas blogger, tongue firmly in cheek, "but you can’t put a price on a unique Las Vegas experience." And to think some visitors go for the gambling. Best Destination Wedding Tip for Guests: An article warns guests at Caribbean ceremonies not to complain about the heat and humidity but if it's that uncomfortable, there is some good news. The writer claims anyone who braves the heat and spends all that money to show up at a Caribbean wedding need not bring a gift. Which may be big news to the bride and groom! Best Attitude Tip about New York City: Don't call it the Big Apple, don't stop in the middle of the sidewalk, and don't be surprised by the attitude, or so says Time magazine: "If you're treated rudely here, don't take it personally. It's just a local's way of welcoming you to the city." A final fashion tip: "Save wearing your new 'I Heart NY' hat until you're back home." You are using an outdated version of Internet Explorer. Please click here to upgrade your browser in order to comment.
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Dropping in on the 'door to hell' in pictures

 Photograph: George Verschoor/National Geographic Channels The crater has become a minor tourist attraction in Turkmenistan, though Kourounis says he didn't have any trouble with crowds of people turning up to watch him. Only a few "tourist outfits" and a couple of people with camels passed by."Once you're there – if you can find the place – you can drive up, get out of your car, walk over to the edge, and jump right in, if you want," he says. "The choice is yours. And I'm so far the only person who has actually done that".
Photograph: George Verschoor/National Geographic Channels Kourounis compared his experience of descending into the pit with what it might feel like to land on another planet. He describes it as a "coliseum of fire" made up of thousands of small flames, which together sound as loud as a jet engine.
Photograph: George Verschoor/National Geographic Channels "You feel very, very small and very vulnerable in a place like that," says Kourounis.
Flying over fire Kourounis and the team were happy with the results of their expedition, and believe it may even help to inform potential space missions in the future searching for signs of life outside of our solar system.
"We did find some bacteria living at the bottom that are very comfortable living in those high temperatures, and the most important thing was that they were not found in any of the surrounding soil outside of the crater," he says. "Outside of our solar system, there are planets that do resemble the conditions inside this pit, and [knowing that] can help us expand the number of places where we can confidently start looking for life outside of our solar system."
Photograph: George Verschoor/National Geographic Channels Turkmenistan is one of the most isolated countries in the world, yet its fledgling tourism industry hopes to capitalise on crater as an attraction for thrillseekers. Because it’s not fenced off, visitors can stand right on the edge of the crater, despite the safety hazards.
Photograph: George Verschoor/National Geographic Channels
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Washington wildfires destroy 100 homes and displace hundreds

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Residents of Pateros on Friday survey the ruins of their home, which was consumed by the Carlton Complex Fire, in Washington. Photograph: David Ryder/Reuters
A wildfire raging east of Washington state's Cascade Mountains has destroyed about 100 homes and displaced hundreds of people, an emergency official said on Saturday, with cooler weather not expected to provide relief for another day.
The four-blaze Carlton Complex fire destroyed homes in and around the town of Pateros, about 120 miles (193 km) north-east of Seattle, said Mark Clemens, a spokesman for the Washington emergency management division.
The town's 650 people were under mandatory evacuation orders, though some began returning on Friday to survey the charred remains of their homes and belongings. "Today is still a little bit dicey," Clemens said.
He said temperatures were not expected to drop or humidity rise until Sunday to help the 625 firefighters battling the blaze which has whipped through areas of timber and grass.
The Carlton Complex fire was triggered by lightning strikes on Monday. It has since burned more than 100,000 acres (40,500 hectares) of parched vegetation. The fire is among more than two dozen burning from southern California to Idaho as drought-parched western states enter their annual fire season.
The biggest fire, the lightning-sparked Buzzard Complex, has burned about 368,000 acres of rangeland in eastern Oregon and is about a fifth contained, said Rita Dyer, a fire spokeswoman.
Washington and Oregon have declared states of emergency as wildfires scorched thousands of acres, destroying homes, outbuildings and crops.

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Typhoon Rammasun makes landfall in China - video

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Typhoon Rammasun kills 18 in China
Strongest typhoon to hit southern China in 41 years leaves death and destruction in its wake as it heads towards Vietnam

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Why Spirit Airlines Wants to 'Hug the Haters'

ABC News | ABC Sports News Copy Don't be a hater. Or do, and and get rewarded. That's the latest message from Spirit Airlines to its many, many critics. But the low-coast carrier Americans love to hate thinks it can embrace all the airline negativity out there and turn it into something positive: free airline miles. As the airline puts it, "We're going to hug the haters." World's Cheapest Airline Is One You've Probably Never Heard of The airline will give away miles up to one billion. Travelers need to go to HateThousandMiles.com and vent on Spirit -- or any other carrier -- in 140 characters or less. The payoff is 8,000 miles. And while that will get you "well on your way" to a free flight, the airline said, the minimum number of miles needed for a free flight is 10,000. The promotional miles can be combined with previously earned miles on Spirit. "Airlines mess up -- but at least Spirit is willing to admit it," the promotional page reads. "We know many customers love us and our approach to air travel," Spirit CEO Ben Baldanza said. We're confident once the haters see how we're different, and how much money they can save, they'll learn to love us, as well." Because as soon as travelers understand that Spirit offers "a cheap seat for a cheap-a**," as the promotional video points out, maybe the mean tweets will stop. You are using an outdated version of Internet Explorer. Please click here to upgrade your browser in order to comment.
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Typhoon Rammasun kills at least 17 in China

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Link to video: Typhoon Rammasun makes landfall in China
A typhoon believed to be the strongest storm to hit southern China in four decades has killed 17 people after claiming 94 lives in the Philippines, officials said.
Typhoon Rammasun killed nine people and left five missing after hitting Hainan island on Friday off China's southern coast, said an official at the ministry of water resources' flood control department said.
Eight others died later in the Guangxi region as the storm ploughed into the mainland on its way north to Vietnam.
The typhoon is the strongest to hit southern China in 41 years, according to the China Meteorological Administration. Wind speeds reached 216kmh (130 miles per hour), with the storm knocking down power lines and damaging buildings, Xinhua news agency said.
Authorities in southern China ordered the highest level of alert and suspended hundreds of buses, trains and flights across the region.
The typhoon had wreaked havoc earlier in the week in the northern Philippines, leaving 94 people dead.
The death toll added to a bleak weekend for China as on Saturday a truck loaded with flammable liquid collided with a bus on a highway in the south of the country, killing at least 43 people. Xinhua said the truck collided with the bus around 3am on the Hukun Expressway in Hunan province, with the truck's driver and passenger among the dead. Five people were also injured.

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