All disasters, natural or human-made, have one thing in common; their capacity to maim, cause unmentionable misery, and loss of property and lives. But there is a twist in the tale. The World Disaster Report, 1994, published by the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Socities, suggests that the havoc can be controlled. Often, it is the improper dissemination or censorship of information by the powers-that-be which exacerbates the suffering of the people.