Tsunami Disaster of December 26th, 2004: How Americans Responded

By Daniel Hamon

Four years ago today, "the most powerful earthquake in forty years struck the floor of the Indian Ocean, off the coast of the Indonesian island of Sumatra. Within minutes, a series of tidal waves radiated from the epicenter...Entire villages were wiped out... Three months after the tragedy, more than 300,000 people in eleven countries were dead or missing. Hundreds of thousands lost their livelihoods and millions were made homeless." The account of this tragedy and the commitments of charitable aid from around the globe is detailed by Arthur C. Brooks in Who Really Cares: The Surprising Truth about Compassionate Conservatism.

In late 2006, The Center on Philanthropy at Indiana University released the results of a study on how Americans contributed to the relief efforts of this disaster. The study reported that

individuals, corporations, and foundations in the United States donated a total of $3.16 billion toward relief efforts.

The overwhelming majority of disaster relief giving came not from million dollar corporate or foundation gifts, but from the combined gifts of individuals nationwide.

The 25 percent of American households that donated for tsunami relief gave a combined total of $2.78 billion. Another $340 million came from corporations and $40 million came from foundations.

Among households that donated for the tsunami relief efforts, the median amount given was $50, while the average donation was $135.

In his book, Brooks notes the pledges of government aid from some developed countries in response to the tsunami: "Germany ($674 million), Australia ($380 million), Japan ($500 million), and the United States (350 million)." Brooks also notes the criticism directed at the U.S. government, both from people in America and in Europe, for such a "small" pledge in relief funds.

Yet, aid from private American contributions was so overwhelming that it actually "created spending bottlenecks for some charities. Doctors Without Borders, for example, stopped accepting gifts just two weeks after the tragedy because it was unable to absorb and spend the donations it was receiving."

Amazingly, American households alone (not including U.S. government contributions) provided more aid than the aggregate pledges of the governments of Germany, Australia, and Japan. It seems that those who criticize America for a perceived lack of generosity were proven wrong.

Comments

[Dana]

Thanks Dan for providing such insightful information. When I watch the news I sometimes (usually) ask what's missing in the reporting and thanks to your sight you are filling in the blanks. The breakdown of information you shared truly shows how giving the US people are and how caring and thoughtful we are as a nation.

[Ligia]

Muy interesante el articulo y es increible que Alemania fuera el que mas aportara, pero que paso con esa personas desaparecidas? y Porque desaparecieron?