AlertNet contributor Nick Cater writes about disasters, development, the environment, crisis and conflict. As agencies rush to Africa's latest disaster, he finds fundamental problems exposed by a humanitarian free-for-all in the wake of last month's volcanic eruption in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Goma might turn out to be that most unusual of disasters: one where all appeals for funds, food and drugs are actually met. The eruption is unusual in other ways: few deaths or injuries, a fully functioning hospital, fairly good road access and not so bad security problems. Of course, it has more aid agencies than you can shake a stick at, and that wonderful combination, in the eyes of charities' fundraisers, of massive media coverage and a back story of tragedy to press the guilt-giving button.

It is telegenic and, perhaps as a result, urgent volcano appeals are everywhere, from the United Nations, Britain's Disasters Emergency Committee, U.S. InterAction agencies, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies and many more, while the European Union, Japan and other major donors announce large grants for this crisis and the Democratic Republic of the Congo's wider troubles of conflict and displacement.

Indeed, apart from the rising cost of hotels and rental accommodation in Goma for new arrivals from dozens of aid agencies, this disaster may be more about floods than eruptions. Such as: how to spend properly those millions being raised, how to identify who is entitled to receive aid among the wildly differing estimates of the affected -- from 60,000 to 500,000 -- not forgetting the others likely to trek in for a slice of the action, and how to distinguish this disaster from the region's routine hunger, poverty and disease.

Despite so many agencies being on the spot or nearby -- a legacy of the genocide in neighbouring Rwanda and other problems -- the sudden disaster and the rush by Goma residents to escape the lava seemed to leave them temporarily stunned.

When the eruptions ceased, this appeared quickly to give way to irritation when those who had fled refused to wait for help that they feared might not come and started returning to protect their homes if they survived, or salvage possessions and building materials.

"The world ignores the South unless there is a crisis"

While one volcano will not inspire the comprehensive political and developmental effort that the region desperately needs, any attention to central Africa and its challenges is welcome and it did help to highlight the joint African visit by the foreign ministers of France and Britain as they try to push Africa back up the diplomatic agenda.

Since the world ignores the South unless there is a crisis, Africa has been losing out badly.

First it was to Kosovo, which received so much more cash that it prompted NGO complaints, though apparently no one actually refused the money.

Then it was Afghanistan, another well-subscribed disaster -- in every sense: agencies, money, headlines -- though NGOs may be a bit disappointed when the recovery-reconstruction phase puts billions into the hands of private firms leaving crumbs for charities and not much for the average Afghan.

Back in Goma, the town seems unlikely to uproot itself so many residents' attention is also already turning to recovery and reconstruction, even as agencies start delivering emergency supplies.

Goma may be unusual in many ways, but the relief free-for-all around this almost routine disaster seems to illustrate in microcosm the issues often confronting humanitarians, especially whether a system is needed to identify and coordinate the best relief agencies for particular situations, such as those with the reserves, regional stockpiles, local staff and cross-border networks in position and ready to respond.

It is certainly a reminder of the need for preparedness, begging the question whether it would not be better to build up local capacities and local NGOs -- not forgetting the ever-present national Red Cross or Red Crescent Societies -- rather than rush in so many Herat-today, Goma-tomorrow foreigners.

It gets ever cheaper to move money and knowledge around the world to save lives and livelihoods, yet the costliest item to deliver is still those perspiring white men.

© Copyright Nick Cater/Words & Pictures 2002

• Nick Cater can be contacted at cateralert@hotmail.com