U.S. Begins Aid Delivery in Sumatra (Japan Becomes Top Donor With $500 Million Pledge)

washingtonpost.com ^ | Sunday, January 2, 2005 | Edward Cody

[crushelits]

Japan Becomes Top Donor With $500 Million Pledge

Navy Helicopters Begin Aid Delivery in Sumatra

BANDA ACEH, Indonesia, Jan. 1 -- The first U.S. Navy helicopters fluttered in from an offshore carrier group Saturday and ferried aid to flattened towns along the western coast of Sumatra island largely cut off from help since a tsunami six days ago inflicted one of history's great disasters on Indonesia.

A day after the United States increased its contribution to the tsunami reconstruction effort to $350 million, Japan raised its pledge from $30 million to $500 million. With Japan's donation, the largest from any government, about $2 billion has been promised for emergency aid for an estimated 5 million people in South Asia and parts of Africa.

"It's the biggest outpouring of relief in such a short period of time," said Jan Egeland, the U.N. emergency relief coordinator. "International compassion has never been like this."

An Indonesian official said Sunday the authorities were preparing to call off the search for survivors, the Associated Press reported.

"There is very little chance of finding survivors after seven days," Lamsar Sipahutar, the head of Indonesia's search team, said. "We are about to stop the search-and-rescue operations. If you survived the earthquake, you probably were killed by tsunami."

[CaptainAwesome2]

Its nice to see our governments are so generous with our money. Maybe if they actually worked for a living they wouldnt be giving it away so freely.

[Born to Conserve]

Anyone know what it costs per day to keep a carrier group afloat?

[livius]

There's a bit of enlightened self-interest in action, too. This part of the world has great potential, both productive and consumer, and getting it back on its feet after such devastation is of help to the developed countries as well. I am really pleased to see India and Japan contributing so much; India is moving out of the underdeveloped category and becoming a player, and Japan, which has long been very developed and prosperous, is taking some regional responsibility.

Furthermore, it's important to restabilize these areas so that the Islamic guerrilla factions that exist in some of them won't be able to take advantage of this moment to seize power.

[jwpjr]

Here's a classic example of words versus deeds! While other governments fall over themselves trying to out-pledge everyone else the US is over there with billions of dollars worth of resources on the ground doing the heavy lifting. The left tells us that our military forces are spread so thin that we can hardly manage to stem the flow of insurgency in Iraq, yet we send entire carrier groups to speed relief, not pledges, to a region half-way around the world from us.

[snowman1]

And that HORSES ASS Nowegian has the gall to say what he did after dissing the US. I wish the US would declare him PNG and ship his ass home.

[Constitutionalist Conservative]

Japan Becomes Top Donor With $500 Million Pledge

Hey, MSM! The headline should read, "Japan becomes top CASH donor". The services and tangible goods being provided by the US are worth far more than $500 million.

Sheesh. This is getting old.

[moroque11]

I was thinking the same thing.

[Sally'sConcerns]

I agree with everything you said. Offering a helping hand during a time of crisis can have the potential to win hearts and minds of the people affected. Our people who are over there delivering food, water and medical supplies are our ambassadors. We won't change every mind and heart but we'll reach some and maybe more than some.

It's also not only the potential but also to help stabilize a country we already purchase at least one commodity from (that I'm personally aware of). What commodity? Coffee. Mocca Java coffee is comprised of beans from Ethiopia and Sumatra.

I've read comments on FR complaining about the lack of aid offered to the US when Florida was hit with the hurricanes. What aid did we need? We're self sufficient as a country. We didn't need money, we didn't need another country's help to reach our people. We have the money and the infrastructure to reach every corner of the US.

From what I've read, India has stated they don't need any aid. Could it be India has come of age and believes itself to be self sufficient? Isn't that part of what we as a country want for every other country?

[txhurl]

I guess that's dry ice in the photo.

[sukhoi-30mki]

Well if India wasn't sure of it's requirements,it wouldn't have sent a dozen naval ships & aircraft to Sri Lanka,Maldives & now to Indonesia.India has only declined aid for the timebeing,saying it can cope with the present situation.They have said they won't hesitate to ask for international help should the need arise-which is pure common sense.

[Sally'sConcerns]

Well if India wasn't sure of it's requirements,it wouldn't have sent a dozen naval ships & aircraft to Sri Lanka,Maldives & now to Indonesia.India has only declined aid for the timebeing,saying it can cope with the present situation.They have said they won't hesitate to ask for international help should the need arise-which is pure common sense.

I think I was in agreement with you about India's capability to respond and to not need aid. If India should find they're in need of assistance after they contribute their help in the current situation then I'd have no problem in offering them assistance.

I'm old enough to remember when India was regarded as a third world country. I'm grateful I've been allowed to live long enough to see several countries grow.

[livius]

Could it be India has come of age and believes itself to be self sufficient? Isn't that part of what we as a country want for every other country?

I think so, and this is a very positive sign.