Societal response to Hurricane Mitch and intra- versus intergenerational equity issues: Whose norms should apply?

Late in the 1998 hurricane season, Central America was slammed by a devasta ting hurricane. Honduras, Nicaragua, El Salvador, Guatemala, and Belize wer e greatly impacted by Hurricane Mitch, one of the deadliest storms to affec t the region in the past 200 years. The economies of each of these countrie s were badly affected. In the case of Honduras-at the time the fourth-poore st country in Latin America-its president suggested that 50 years of progre ss had been wiped out by the hoods and mudslides associated with this relat ively short-lived storm system. Humanitarian assistance poured into the reg ion in the first months following the disaster. As of mid-2000, various nat ional, bilateral, international, and nongovernmental programs were in progr ess or on the drawing board for recovery, reconstruction, and renewed devel opment of the worst affected countries. Using Honduras as a case study, som e of the ethical issues that abound in the decisions of whom to help, when, and how to help them in the wake of such an extreme climate-related human tragedy are examined. Should development assistance be focused on those who have been directly and adversely affected by this storm, or should the emp hasis be on reducing the risk of exposure by future generations to such dis asters? Is there yet another approach that seeks to protect future generati ons from similar harm while at the same time assisting present-day victims to get through their hardships?