There is a limit to what any one of us can do about disasters on the other side of the world. If they are natural catastrophes, like earthquakes, volcanic eruptions or tsunamis, all we can do is donate to charities which send help, eg through DEC.
If the disaster is man-made, eg due to climate change or pollution we can, in addition to donating, campaign to highlight the environmental damage, and of course lead our own lives as responsibly as we can.
The fact that we as individuals can only make a small difference does not prevent us having compassion for anyone caught up in a disaster, and of course, if we have friends or family there, we will be much more aware of the tragedy.