Opinion Editorial by Kevon Campbell, Logistics Specialist (CDEMA) and Jan Willem  Wegdam, Shelter Advisor(IOM)  

The Caribbean is no stranger to generosity. But without coordination, even the best intentions  can become a secondary disaster, slowing down response efforts when every minute matters. 

After major disasters, unsolicited and uncoordinated donations often overwhelm ports and  warehouses: winter coats in tropical climates, expired food, mixed boxes nobody can sort, and  tarpaulins too thin to withstand rain, all of which creates waste and diverts attention from urgent  needs, instead of helping people in crisis.  

Experience from the Caribbean Disaster Management Agency (CDEMA) and its Participating  States shows that, without clear donation management policies, large volumes of inappropriate  or unusable goods consume valuable time, personnel, and funding, placing significant strain  on national logistics systems and delaying the delivery of essential items like food, water,  shelter materials, and medical supplies. Moreover, up to 60 per cent of these unsolicited goods  often go unused, ending up as waste, adding to environmental harm. 

These challenges are not just operational but human: when response systems slow, vulnerable  populations wait longer for life-saving relief. 

Picture 1 and 2:

Warehouses with miscellaneous, often unrequested  

relief items. Credit: CDEMA/Goddard 

Why This Matters Now 

Between 2020 and 2025, more than 2.6 million people across 13 English and Dutch-speaking  Caribbean countries were affected by floods, storms and volcanic activity. These disasters  caused widespread destruction, disrupted communities, and placed sustained pressure on social 

systems and national economies, highlighting the region’s increasing exposure to complex and  overlapping hazards.  

As the 2026 Atlantic hurricane season approaches, alongside the growing intensity of tropical  storms, the need for preparedness is more urgent than ever. Experience from recent disasters  has shown that preparedness must extend beyond physical infrastructure and response capacity  to include strong public systems capable of managing and effectively channelling incoming  support—so that generosity strengthens response efforts rather than overwhelming them. 

Donating Responsibly 

To raise public awareness about these issues, CDEMA and the International Organization for  Migration (IOM), in collaboration with regional and international partners, are advancing a regional Donate Responsibly Campaign, aimed at transforming how assistance is provided  to disaster-affected countries. 

This initiative, funded by EU Humanitarian Aid, is based on a simple but powerful principle:  donations must be needs-based, coordinated, and aligned with national systems. 

CDEMA has already laid critical groundwork through its Comprehensive Relief and Logistics  Management Programme, supporting Participating States to strengthen how aid is managed.  This includes developing national logistics plans, setting policies for donations and unsolicited  goods, identifying priority need, improving supply chains, and strengthening coordination  through National Emergency Operations Centres. Tools such as logistics tracking systems are  already helping ensure that assistance is driven by real-time needs, not assumptions. 

Through the International Disaster Response Law (IDRL) with The International Federation of  Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, CDEMA is supporting countries to strengthen  frameworks that both facilitate and regulate incoming aid—ensuring it is coordinated,  accountable, and aligned with real on-the-ground needs. This includes regulating incoming  assistance, streamline customs and clearance processes, and upholding quality and  accountability standards. Complementing this, regional coordination mechanisms co-led by  IOM, CDEMA, and IFRC, such as the Emergency Shelter and Non-Food Items Technical  Working Group and Relief and Logistics Thematic Working Group, are helping align partners  around common standards and priorities.

Picture 3: Temporary warehouse to sort and stage relief supplies following Hurricane Beryl,  enabling distribution by local and international response teams. Credit: IOM/Bate 2024 

Before You Donate: What Matters Most 

First: Cash is best. Financial contributions allow responders and governments to procure and  donate exactly what is needed, when and where it is needed, while supporting local economies. 

Second: Coordination is essential. Before donating, follow guidance from national disaster  offices and CDEMA, and work through recognized partners, priority needs lists, and quality  standards. 

Third: Supporting regional and national systems is equally important. All assistance  must align with national and regional response systems and logistics plans—never bypass  them. 

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Picture 4: Local response teams offloading relief items for onward distribution. Credit:  IOM/Bate 2024 

Responsible donating must support recovery, not create new burdens. Donations should  address needs and avoid creating waste and environmental harm or additional financial strain  on small island states already on the climate frontline. 

Context matters. The Caribbean is diverse, and donations must be culturally appropriate,  climate-relevant, and fit for purpose. What helps in one setting may be ineffective, or even  harmful, in another. 

How we give is just as important as what we give, before you give, ask yourself: is this  donation needed and is it coordinated? 

Encouragingly, young people across the region are pushing for smarter, greener approaches to  disaster response and their message is clear: responsible giving is informed, coordinated,  and sustainable

To our diaspora and private sector partners, governments, and global supporters: your  generosity can save lives—but only if it meets real needs. Support trusted organizations. Follow  official channels. Give cash where possible. Make your impact count. 

Donate responsibly. Support smarter response. Build stronger resilience.