Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

India 'doesn't need' foreign aid
News Interactive Australia ^ | December 29, 2004 | News Interactive Australia

Posted on 12/29/2004 9:44:38 AM PST by CarrotAndStick

INDIA has turned down foreign aid for victims of the tsunami that has killed tens of thousands of people across Asians, because it has "adequate resources", a government official said today.

India had been flooded with generous offers of aid, the official said.

"In fact, all friendly nations have offered help, but we feel we do have the resources to handle the situation," he said.

"If at a later stage we feel we need assistance we will not hesitate to ask.

"Right now we not only have adequate resources but have gone out and mounted a huge relief effort for Sri Lanka and Maldives. We could not have done this if we were facing a problem in Indian relief operations."

The Indian Government said it had sent warships, helicopters and aircraft to distribute food, medicines and blankets to neighbouring Sri Lanka and the Maldives, and had promised more than over $US23 million ($30m) in monetary aid.

The official noted that India had not taken up the offers of help because Sunday's disaster was not of the same magnitude for India as an earthquake that struck the western state of Gujarat in January 2001, killing 20,000 people.

"This disaster is just not of the same scale or magnitude of the Gujarat earthquake," he said.

"In comparison to the Gujarat earthquake we have the resources to handle the situation at this juncture."

India's government and UN and local aid agencies have begun distributing survival packs to at least 160,000 people left homeless along the mainland coast, with demand expected to grow for food, water and shelter.


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Foreign Affairs; Front Page News; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: africa; aid; china; humanitarianrelief; india; pakistan; sumatraquake; tsunami; un
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-6061-80 ... 281-297 next last
Bush names India in core group on disaster relief

S Rajagopalan

Washington, December 29, 2004|22:39 IST

Advertisement

President George W Bush has announced the formation of an international coalition with the US, India, Australia and Japan as its core members to coordinate worldwide relief and reconstruction efforts following the tsunami disaster.

Bush, after speaking with leaders of India, Sri Lanka, Indonesia and Thailand on Wednesday, pledged a multifaceted response from the US going beyond the initial commitment of $ 35 million. He also asked Americans to generously contribute to the relief effort.

Taking exception to the "misguided" and "ill-informed" remarks of a UN official suggesting that the initial US response to the disaster was "stingy", Bush said the $ 35 million announcement was only the beginning of American help.

"We are committed to helping the affected countries in the difficult weeks and months that lie ahead," said Bush, who praised the leadership of India and other countries in tackling the calamity.

He also came out in support of efforts to create a truly international warning system that would serve all nations.

Earlier, stung by the "stingy" remark, the US pumped in an additional $ 20 million, raising its initial disaster aid package to $35 million. "We will do more. I wish that comment hadn't been made," a visibly irked secretary of state Colin Powell said.

In the meantime, the official in question -- UN humanitarian aid chief Jan Egeland -- denied branding the US "stingy". Clarifying his remarks, Egeland said he did not single out any country while stating that rich nations could be more generous in aiding the poor.

http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/181_1175215,00050001.htm

1 posted on 12/29/2004 9:44:38 AM PST by CarrotAndStick
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: CarrotAndStick

Hey, they have billions from outsourcing jobs coming into India, let them fend for themselves...


2 posted on 12/29/2004 9:47:27 AM PST by Fedupwithit (Democrats are just whistling past the graveyard...soon enough they will be occupants)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: CarrotAndStick

I'll bet that we give them the money anyway. W has a way with spending our hard earned dollars.


3 posted on 12/29/2004 9:48:07 AM PST by Rodney King (No, we can't all just get along.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: CarrotAndStick

If India would divert the money from their
nuclear program to help their own people, they
wouldn't need aid in the first place!

No aid for countries who screw their own people
and then have nothing left when disaster strikes.

By the way, India was not that affected compared to other places.


4 posted on 12/29/2004 9:49:29 AM PST by atruelady
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: CarrotAndStick
INDIA has turned down foreign aid for victims of the tsunami that has killed tens of thousands of people across Asians, because it has "adequate resources", a government official said today.

Well yeah, I suppose with a population of over a billion people, India will never really miss 10~20,000. They're just a drop in the bucket, so to speak.

But Sheeeesh, I never thought I'd hear a government official say it so bluntly.

5 posted on 12/29/2004 9:50:24 AM PST by Willie Green
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Willie Green
The official noted that India had not taken up the offers of help because Sunday's disaster was not of the same magnitude for India as an earthquake that struck the western state of Gujarat in January 2001, killing 20,000 people. "This disaster is just not of the same scale or magnitude of the Gujarat earthquake," he said. "In comparison to the Gujarat earthquake we have the resources to handle the situation at this juncture."

What's blunt here? To me, the guy makes sense.

6 posted on 12/29/2004 9:54:32 AM PST by CarrotAndStick (The articles posted by me needn't necessarily reflect my opinion.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: atruelady
they wouldn't need aid in the first place!

Which is exactly what they said.

7 posted on 12/29/2004 9:56:07 AM PST by Graybeard58 (Remember and pray for Spec.4 Matt Maupin - MIA/POW- Iraq since 04/09/04)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

Comment #8 Removed by Moderator

To: Willie Green

In fact, the only ones being blunt on this post are the ones who have commented above.


9 posted on 12/29/2004 9:57:19 AM PST by CarrotAndStick (The articles posted by me needn't necessarily reflect my opinion.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: shnkr

Check my other posts. I am probably more American than you are. At least I think America first.

You have a problem with that?

Moreover, you have a problem with someone being anti-U.N.?


10 posted on 12/29/2004 10:00:37 AM PST by atruelady
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: atruelady

Err,India spends a lesser percentage of it'sGDP than Pakistan, China or even Thailand.& what exactly is the guarantee that money diverted from defense will be used for setting up relief system??it's never worked anywhere in the world.


11 posted on 12/29/2004 10:01:09 AM PST by sukhoi-30mki
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: atruelady

Err,India spends a lesser percentage of it'sGDP than Pakistan, China or even Thailand.& what exactly is the guarantee that money diverted from defense will be used for setting up relief system??it's never worked anywhere in the world.


12 posted on 12/29/2004 10:01:11 AM PST by sukhoi-30mki
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: Fedupwithit
Yes, they have lots of jobs taken from America, and did everyone here know that Bill Gates gave the Indian government $100M dollars, for "the people of India"? Yes he did!

So, Bravo India; DO take care of yourselves! You do not need the help. Congrats on being self-sufficient.

13 posted on 12/29/2004 10:01:33 AM PST by Constitution1st (Never, never, never quit - Winston Churchill)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: CarrotAndStick
What's blunt here? To me, the guy makes sense.

I'm with you...bravo India! It's their problem and they're taking responsibility for it...I think that's the kind of thinking that should be encouraged all around the world. By countries and individuals.

14 posted on 12/29/2004 10:02:00 AM PST by pgkdan
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: Willie Green

He was being honest about the situation & if you noticed,he said India doesn't need foreign aid for the moment(& not forever) & if the situation arose,they would'nt mind asking.

Nothing blunt in that.Infact it won't make them look stupid if India does need foreign aid.


15 posted on 12/29/2004 10:03:40 AM PST by sukhoi-30mki
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: CarrotAndStick

I say good for them, unlike many countries...


16 posted on 12/29/2004 10:03:55 AM PST by Baby Bear (Conserve and grow your money...gain power in return.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: CarrotAndStick
Is not the largest circulation English language newspaper in India?

Not that it matters but I have always found that to be an interesting fact.

A country with the largest English language newspaper, having the resources to deal with a flood is not that surprising.
17 posted on 12/29/2004 10:04:39 AM PST by Mark was here (My tag line was about to be censored.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Constitution1st

I think Bill Gates donated the money for AIDS research & rehabilitation & not as a blank cheque to the government of India.That money will be sent to various research institutions,hospitals & NGOs.

Besides,does anybody bother about the profits Microsoft makes from it's India operations & the huge sales they have there??That more than compensates for the aid given.


18 posted on 12/29/2004 10:06:44 AM PST by sukhoi-30mki
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 13 | View Replies]

To: CarrotAndStick

India is really a tale of two countries in which the poverty line practically slams into prosperity. Lots of educated, well-off folks, then you have beggars lining the streets of Delhi and Calcutta. And the cows walking around incoherently.


19 posted on 12/29/2004 10:08:38 AM PST by ServesURight
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: ServesURight

It's the caste system! Many of the poor are untouchables. We in the US cannot fathom that type of culture but it exists and has to be worked around.


20 posted on 12/29/2004 10:12:10 AM PST by Chgogal
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 19 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-6061-80 ... 281-297 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson