After any major disaster the local emergency services in the country affected respond immediately.
If the disaster is too big for them to cope alone, their governments may request help from the rest of the world. At the same time aid agencies already working in the country will quickly gather information and requests for help from local people including their staff.
International aid agencies send specialist disaster assessment teams to the affected country to work with local authorities to decide how best the world can support the country.
Once the initial assessment is made, governments, aid agencies, international organisations such as the United Nations and the European Union, and non-government organisations provide equipment, medicines, food, shelter and personnel to help the country cope with the disaster.
