This document discusses why conventional disaster relief often fails and proposes alternative approaches. It notes that after natural disasters, local communities still have capacity and knowledge but conventional relief turns survivors into refugees. It advocates for approaches like Relief 2.0 that empower local stakeholders and use mobile technology to spread information. Specific ideas proposed include matching affected local businesses with similar businesses to help them reopen, and a "Solar Forward" model of empowering individuals as entrepreneurs through solar kits. The document argues for moving beyond donations to generate wealth and help communities recover their dignity and self-sufficiency.
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