INTRODUCTION

natural disaster is a sudden event that always causes widespread destruction, major collateral
damage or loss of life, brought about by forces other than the acts of human beings. A natural
disaster might be caused by earthquakes, flooding, volcanic eruption, landslide, hurricanes etc. To be
classified as a disaster, it will have profound environmental effect and/or human loss and frequently
causes financial loss.

However, below are three international disasters that happened.

(1) The 1931 China floods, or the 1931 Yangtze–Huai River floods,

It occurred from June to August 1931 in China, hitting major cities such as Wuhan, Nanjing and
beyond, which eventually culminated into a dike breach along Lake Gaoyou on 25 August 1931.

Fatality estimates vary widely. A field survey by the University of Nanking led by John Lossing
Buck immediately after the flood found "150,000 people had drowned, and that this number
represented less than a quarter of all fatalities during the first 100 days of the flood." The official
report found 140,000 drowned and claims that "2 million people died during the flood, having
drowned or died from lack of food".A cholera epidemic in the subsequent year, from May 1932, was
officially reported to have 31,974 deaths and 100,666 cases. While frequently featured in the list of
disasters in China by death toll, a popular high-end estimate of 3.7 to 4.0 million fatalities is
instrumental in "helping the 1931 flood to secure its position on sensationalist lists of
the world’s deadliest .

GOVERNMENT AND HUMANITARIAN RESPONSE

The 1931 flood was one of the first major tests for the Kuomintang Government. As the scale of the
disaster became apparent, the government established the National Flood Relief Commission under
the auspices of T.V. Soong, a prominent politician in the Kuomintang and brother-in-law of Chiang
Kai-shek. The commission employed a range of Chinese and foreign experts, including figures such as
famous epidemiologist Wu Liande, health minister Liu Ruiheng, public health worker John Grant, and
hydraulic engineer Oliver Todd. It also secured the assistance of the League of Nations. Even the
famous aviators Charles Lindbergh and his wife Anne Lindbergh became involved, as they were
commissioned to conduct an aerial survey of the flood zone. Although Song Ziwen remained the
head of the commission, the day-to-day running the relief effort was entrusted to John Hope
Simpson, a British refugee expert. Charity poured in to help with the relief effort from throughout
the world, with overseas Chinese communities in Southeast Asia being particularly generous. In the
United States, the celebrated author Pearl Buck wrote short stories to encourage charitable
donations. The relief effort became much more difficult following the Japanese invasion of
Manchuria in the autumn of 1931, which caused the Chinese bond market to collapse. Eventually,
the government managed to secure a large loan of wheat and flour from the United States In the
wake of the disaster, the government set up organizations such as the Huai River Conservancy
Commission to address flood problems.However, due to a lack of funding and the chaos of
the Second Sino-Japanese War and the subsequent Chinese Civil War, the various commissions were
only able to construct small dams along the Yangtze River.

(2 )THE 1991 BANGLANDESH CYCLONE

The 1991 Bangladesh cyclone was among the deadliest tropical cyclones on record.Forming out of a
large area of convection over the Bay of Bengal on April 24, the tropical cyclone initially developed
gradually while meandering over the southern Bay of Bengal. On April 28, the storm began to
accelerate northeastwards under the influence of the southwesterlies, and rapidly intensified to
super cyclonic storm strength near the coast of Bangladesh on April 29. After making landfall in
the Chittagong district of southeastern Bangladesh with winds of around 250 km/h (155 mph), the
cyclone rapidly weakened as it moved through northeastern India, degenerating into a remnant low
over the Yunnan province in western China.

One of the most powerful tropical cyclones ever recorded in the basin, the tropical cyclone caused a
6.1 m (20 ft) storm surge, which inundated the coastline, causing at least 138,866 deaths and about
US$1.7 billion (1991 USD) in damage. As a result of the catastrophic damage, the United States and
other countries carried out Operation Sea Angel, one of the largest military relief efforts ever carried
out

GOVERNMENT AND HUMANITARIAN RESPONSE

In the days after the storm, homeless Bangladeshis overcrowded shelters, and many storm victims
were unable to find shelter.
On the island of Sonodia its inhabitants were suffering from diarrhea from drinking contaminated
water, respiratory and urinary infections, scabies and various injuries with only rice for food. Out of
the ten wells on the island only 5 were functional of which only one providing pure water with the
rest contaminated by sea water.
As a result of the 1991 cyclone, Bangladesh improved its warning and shelter systems.Also, the
government implemented a reforestation program to mitigate future flooding issues.

(3)THE 2010 HAITI EARTHQUAKE

Acatastrophic magnitude 7.0 Mw earthquake struck Haiti at 16:53 local time (21:53 UTC) On
Tuesday, 12 January 2010. The epicenter was near the town of Léogâne, Ouest department,
approximately 25 kilometres (16 mi) west of Port-au-Prince, Haiti's capital.

By 21st January, at least 52 aftershocks measuring 4.5 or greater had been recorded.An estimated
three million people were affected by the quake.Death toll estimates range from 100,000 to about
160,000 to Haitian government figures from 220,000 to 316,000,although these latter figures are a
matter of some dispute.The government of Haiti estimated that 250,000 residences and
30,000 commercial buildings had collapsed or were severely damaged.The nation's history
of national debt, prejudicial trade policies by other countries, and foreign intervention into national
affairs contributed to the existing poverty and poor housing conditions that increased the death toll
from the disaster.
The earthquake caused major damage in Port-au-Prince, Jacmel and other cities in the region.
Notable landmark buildings were significantly damaged or destroyed, including the Presidential
Palace, the National Assembly building, the Port-au-Prince Cathedral, and the main jail. Among those
killed were Archbishop of Port-au-Prince Joseph Serge Miot,and opposition leader Micha
Gaillard.The headquarters of the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH), located
in the capital, collapsed, killing many, including the Mission's Chief, Hédi Annabi.
Many countries responded to appeals for humanitarian aid, pledging funds and dispatching rescue
and medical teams, engineers and support personnel. The most-watched telethon in history aired on
22 January, called "Hope for Haiti Now," raising US$58 million by the next day.Communication
systems, air, land, and sea transport facilities, hospitals, and electrical networks had been damaged
by the earthquake, which hampered rescue and aid efforts; confusion over who was in charge, air
traffic congestion, and problems with prioritising flights further complicated early relief work. Port-
au-Prince's morgues were overwhelmed with tens of thousands of bodies. These had to be buried
in mass graves.
As rescues tailed off, supplies, medical care and sanitation became priorities. Delays in aid
distribution led to angry appeals from aid workers and survivors, and looting and sporadic violence
were observed. On 22 January, the United Nations noted that they emergency phase of the relief
operation was drawing to a close, and on the following day, the Haitian government officially called
off the search for survivors.

GOVERNMENT AND HUMANITARIAN RESPONSE

Appeals for humanitarian aid were issued by many aid organizations, the United Nations and
president René Préval. Raymond Joseph, Haiti's ambassador to the United States, and his nephew,
singer Wyclef Jean, who was called upon by Préval to become a "roving ambassador" for Haiti,also
pleaded for aid and donations. Images and testimonials circulating after the earthquake across the
internet and through social media helped to intensify the reaction of global engagement.[123]
Many countries responded to the appeals and launched fund-raising efforts, as well as sending
search and rescue teams. The neighbouring Dominican Republic was the first country to give aid to
Haiti,sending water, food and heavy-lifting machinery.The hospitals in the Dominican Republic were
made available; a combined effort of the Airports Department (DA), together with the Dominican
Naval Auxiliaries, the UN and other parties formed the Dominican-Haitian Aerial Support Bridge,
making the main Dominican airports available for support operations to Haiti. The Dominican
website FlyDominicanRepublic.commade available to the internet, daily updates on airport
information and news from the operations center on the Dominican side.The Dominican emergency
team assisted more than 2,000 injured people, while the Dominican Institute of Telecommunications
(Indotel) helped with the restoration of some telephone services.The Dominican Red
Cross coordinated early medical relief in conjunction with the International Red Cross.The
government sent eight mobile medical units along with 36 doctors including orthopaedic specialists,
traumatologists, anaesthetists, and surgeons. In addition, 39 trucks carrying canned food were
dispatched, along with 10 mobile kitchens and 110 cooks capable of producing 100,000 meals per
day.