Introduction
Despite the good intentions of those who send unrequested goods to humanitarian crises zones, the global evidence shows that in reality, unrequested goods actually result in significant negative impacts on the disaster zone.
For example, 10 months after Tropical Cyclone Pam hit Vanuatu in 2015, the Australian Red Cross (ARC) reported that there were still 18 shipping containers full of unrequested goods left on the wharf in Port Vila. These containers had accumulated USD$1.5 million dollars in storage, handling and container rental fees - costs borne by the government of Vanuatu. The stark conclusions of the ARC report inspired...