Human catastrophes in developing countries can claim only the briefest hold on the world's attention, if television news coverage is any indication.
But evidence of solidarity and concern for Hurricane Mitch's victims was visible long after news programs moved on to other stories. Thousands of tons of food, medicine and clothing, along with all manner of relief experts, were sent by governments in Asia, Europe and the Western Hemisphere.
Even more impressive was the outpouring of charity from private individuals and organizations. Records kept by some of the world's largest charities and relief organizations indicate that the response to Mitch was without precedent.
As of mid-December, for example, the American Red Cross in Washington, D.C., had received $18 million in donations for Mitch victims, allowing it to mount what a spokesman called the largest international relief effort in the organization's history. Although official figures were not available, tens of millions of additional dollars are believed to have been donated to other Red Cross and Red Crescent affiliates worldwide.
Catholic Relief Services, the U.S. member of the Caritas network of Catholic relief agencies, received donations for Mitch totaling $12.6 million in the month of November alone. By mid December, Caritas Spain had received $40 million, Caritas Germany had received $10 million and Caritas Canada had collected nearly $4 million.
Donations were made by mail, fax, phone and--perhaps for the first time on this scale--the Internet. CARE International, the U.S.-based relief organization, enabled its website to accept credit card donations on-line and received $10,000 a day during the week following the hurricane.