It has been UNHCR's job to register them and provide them with shelter and basic relief items like mattresses, blankets and kitchen sets.

CNN: U.N. agencies: Stop the suffering in Syria

The groups established six panels to handle water and sanitation, health and nutrition, distribution of relief items, logistics and infrastructure, camp management, and protection and security.

CNN: U.N. airlifts refugee supplies

In recent years, areas where the relationship has been strained include the loss of Low Value Consignment Relief, which allowed certain items to be sent to UK VAT-free, the ending of reciprocal health agreements and the clampdown on tax evasion, the latest move being announced in the UK budget.

BBC: UK and islands' relations reviewed

Some people are putting together "relief bags" of food and other items to distribute to those in shelters, while others were bringing canned goods, Lim said.

CNN: Philippines flood survivors count blessings

However, an article by two Western scholars to be included in this month's China Quarterly academic journal argues that China's official military budget increasingly reflects actual spending, and also includes some items such as disaster-relief operations that aren't usually calculated as part of Western defense budgets.

WSJ: China's Xi Courts Military

Cash For Gold USA, which buys gold jewelry from consumers, said it would donate 10% of its profits to relief efforts in Japan, "Cash for Gold USA urges Americans and Canadians to send in their gold, silver and diamonds so that they can get paid for their items while also doing something good by providing financial relief to the Japanese, "the company said on its website.

WSJ: Cause-Related Marketing Requires Care

Parents may feel a brief moment of relief when companies stop shipping toys discovered to be toxic, as they did last week when three more items made in China were added to the list of banned products.

FORBES: Magazine Article