Natural disasters strike, owing to nothing other than unfathomable forces of geology and weather far beyond our control. Amid all the political conflicts that divide us as nations, our vulnerability to these forces remains, sadly, as one of the few factors that unite us as human beings.

Or it should. The trouble is there is a sense of shell-shock from all the calamities the world has suffered this year.

The latest among them, the tragic temblor in Pakistan, is surpassed only by the December Indian Ocean tsunami in its stunning loss of life. That, of course, comes on the heels of our own double-barreled disaster in hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

Katrina awakened Americans to the harsh reality that nature often can deliver a more devastating blow than many terrorist acts.

Indeed, the world may be feeling what relief agencies are already calling "charity fatigue." The news images convey a crushing need for help; the mounting death toll could rival that of Pakistan's 1935 quake, which killed an estimated 60,000 and destroyed the city of Quetta.

Officials for nongovernmental organizations are worried that the capacity for aid is being tapped out.

So far the reaction has been admirable. It was heartening to see the Bush administration, having learned a difficult lesson after its halting response to the tsunami and Katrina, issue a prompt and generous pledge of assistance, in cash and military equipment. Our government seems to be taking direction from Islamabad, attempting to deliver what help Pakistan needs most — a wise move.

Those watching from afar can only hope that the weary international community can sustain its efforts to avert prolonged suffering in the region.

Under these circumstances, it's imperative that relief be handled strategically and with the utmost awareness of local needs. There are key cultural components: Certain kinds of surplus food may not be as acceptable as others; clothing needs can be area-specific and not easily filled through donations of used garments from other countries.

Once again, it becomes clear that gifts of money are more efficient than donations in kind. Relief agencies already ensconced in the area may be best positioned to handle this challenge.

The disaster has not entirely toppled all political barriers — it has struck in Kashmir, a zone of contention between Pakistan and India — but it could occasion a thaw in the tensions. India has extended its hand with offers of assistance.

The world can view that as a ray of hope during dark days ahead.