ARE you paying attention? As we reflect on our efforts so far to help tens of thousands of survivors of the recent earthquake and tsunami in Indonesia (Voices from the tsunami, October 14), it is an interesting moment to recognise the power of our attention.
As the Disasters Emergency Committee’s representative in Scotland my primary focus in a time of crisis like this is to get your attention – no easy task when we are now bombarded with information almost every waking hour.
Working together, the DEC’s six member charities here in Scotland have been frantically engaged for the past two weeks in bringing the attention of the public to the urgent need for donations to fund vital supplies of emergency humanitarian aid to devastated communities.
The long-held reputation and effectiveness of the DEC and its 14 UK members is based in large part on this attention to attention. The unique relationship we have with the media and the main UK broadcasters – the BBC, ITV (STV), Sky, Channel 4 and Channel 5 – is sustained by the relatively rare occasions that we collectively ask the broadcasters to give us free air time to make a joint public appeal. Whilst there are serious emergencies happening seemingly every week around the world, there is of course a risk of “attention fatigue” and diminishing the effectiveness of this life-saving coalition if we ask too often.
Two weeks ago, reports emerging from the shattered infrastructure of Sulawesi quickly brought home the terrible destruction wrought by the terrifying earthquake and subsequent tsunami that slammed into the city of Palu a few days earlier.
The DEC leadership met, and agreed with the broadcasters that there would be an appeal, starting on October 4. On the BBC the historian Dan Snow and on ITV the actor Jason Isaacs issued a rallying call for support from the British public. Here in Scotland, the comedian Susan Calman kindly supported us in gaining attention via social media
Their narration accompanied truly distressing images of the force of nature at its worst. More than 2000 people killed, more than double that missing presumed dead, buried in rubble or earth which turned to liquid mud. 10,000 people have been injured and 200,000 need urgent humanitarian assistance. In disasters of this size and scale, that means thousands of gallons of clean water, basic food, medicines and other health supplies. Imagine trying to find shelter and support for the people of a city the size of Aberdeen, or every household across the Highlands if they’d been made homeless overnight, with hospitals, power and water systems destroyed.
Back in Scotland, working with the Scottish DEC members Islamic Relief, Tearfund, British Red Cross, Save the Children, Oxfam and Christian Aid, our mission for the past two weeks has been to hold that vital attention and keep the donations coming in.
I’m delighted to report that we have lived up to our DEC motto, Together We’re Stronger. But that is not just the work of our members, it is in large part too down to not only the broadcasters but the wider media in Scotland and this newspaper.
We all have our issues with media agendas that challenge our world view and “fake news” is a rampant menace but we can all too easily forget how strong a force for good the national press can be if it captures our attention at times like this.
Their role in a strong, internationally aware, civic society should not be underestimated. We must also praise the Scottish Government for their generous support and a number of Scotland’s leading companies who have either donated directly or helped gain the attention of their staff or customers and encouraged them to get behind us. With 650 Indonesian students currently studying in Scotland, students in many campuses across the country are rapidly organising their own fundraisers.
Once again Scotland has shown it has a big heart in keeping with the country’s proud history of humanitarianism.
This huge collective effort has now raised more than £1.5 million in Scotland and £17m across the UK in just two weeks. Of course, much more is needed, but we’re proud of our efforts and grateful for every donation, large or small.
We say we “pay” attention as through that act we are giving something of ourselves to others. We thank you for your attention.
Huw Owen
External Relations Manager, Scotland
Disasters Emergency Committee
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