Lesson 21 — Activity 2: Nations in Need
Completion requirements
Lesson 21 — Activity 2: Nations in Need
Warm Up
Foreign aid is given in various ways depending on the situation that created the problem and the country that needs it. In this activity, you will learn about the circumstances that lead to a country's need for aid.
Some foreign aid focuses on a long-term commitment.
Long-term foreign aid involves providing local communities with things such as education and skills. In such cases, a need can be assessed carefully and the response planned. Most of this type of foreign aid goes to undeveloped and developing countries that need help over many years. These are usually nations with some stability and a government that is working towards improving the country's economy and the quality of life for its citizens. The aim here is to help the country as it develops and emerges from poverty.
Natural disasters, such as earthquakes, volcanoes, and floods, can occur anywhere in the world. In poorer nations, the infrastructure is not in place, the services are not available, and the money is not available to deal with a disastrous event.
Sgt. Aaron Leblanc / Public domain
When one occurs, immediate aid is needed.
This is sometimes known as short-term foreign aid (or emergency aid).
This may include providing the area where the disaster occurred with
things like food, water, and medical aid.
This type of aid usually involves a massive response from many nations. Given the urgency of the situation, these responses are often disorganized and inefficient, but to prevent further loss of life, they are necessary despite these difficulties.
Rajan Journalist / CC BY-SA
On April 25, 2015, when a powerful and deadly earthquake shook Nepal, killing nearly 9,000 people, many foreign aid organizations worked around the clock to provide medical care and perform search-and-rescue operations.
This type of emergency assistance is usually given unconditionally, which means the receiving country is not expected to pay it back. Although the initial response to a disaster is quick, the recovery efforts can last for years.
Canada also
offers foreign aid to people following another type of tragedy that may
take years to unfold. This comes when a country is devastated by war or
drought. Sometimes, the drought may be the result of years of war. It
can often take some time before those in a position to offer foreign aid
recognize the magnitude of these problems.
Canada also offers foreign aid to people following another type of tragedy that may take years to unfold. This comes when a country is devastated by war or drought. Sometimes, the drought may be the result of years of war. It can often take some time before those in a position to offer foreign aid recognize the magnitude of these problems.
Building destroyed by a bomb in Syria.
Another
problem that sometimes delays relief is that the situation is too
dangerous for relief workers to go into a country. After the need is
recognized and it is determined that aid workers can enter the country
safely, aid can then flow.
Building destroyed by a bomb in Syria.
Another problem that sometimes delays relief is that the situation is too dangerous for relief workers to go into a country. After the need is recognized and it is determined that aid workers can enter the country safely, aid can then flow.
Long-term aid comes with expectations of changes in the way the receiving nation is managed. The expectation that the nation will support improvements to human rights is often one of the conditions of the aid.
This type of aid may involve supporting programs that send doctors and other medical staff to offer basic health care or teachers to train people in these nations to teach. Sometimes it means building hospitals and schools or digging wells for reliable sources of fresh water. Teaching more efficient methods of farming is another area where Canada helps.
