Posted on 05/11/2008 9:10:58 AM PDT by combat_boots
Teams of aid experts allowed into the cyclone-ravaged Irrawady delta have returned to Thailand with the bleakest of warnings: Burma is on the brink of a “devastating public health crisis” compounded by an emerging refugee disaster.
But for the hundreds of aid workers who have flown into Bangkok from around the world, the chances of a sudden glut of the precious entry visas appeared slimmer by the hour.
Rumours have begun circulating between international aid organisations that the Burmese regime is preparing to close its doors altogether: a decision, warned UN-affiliated aid workers, that will cost the lives of thousands.
(Excerpt) Read more at timesonline.co.uk ...
Darwinism is alive and well.
People will suffer only for so long before their either give up and die, or replace the cause of the suffering with people who care.
Now there is a report on USA Today that a Red Cross boat with aid SANK. http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/2008-05-11-burma-aid_N.htm?csp=34
This story speaks of a generation of children being lost: http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,23680240-2,00.html?from=public_rss
Still, in the face of this catastrophe, my frustrations mean little.
Along with your statement, why is it that we help others before we help our own people. Look at the impact of all the storms in this country. Our people go begging and scrapping while we send plane loads of help to Burma. Where’s the rest of the world? Where’s Saudi Arabia?
Agreed. I don’t think the Chinese or N Ks would take agression lying down on this one. Burma has natural gas. It would be one thing if the junta just was keeping on with its slaughterhouse ways. It’s another to achieve the same effect by indifference. - Oh. Wait. We’d rather run a sham of an election over here, thanks.
The OPEC nations give almost nothing to aid, according to UNCHR. So much for aid to widows and orphans, one of the 5 pillars of islam.
I wrote this the other night. This event has really been on my mind.
While the people plead for food, the junta is handing out TV sets
Saturday, May 10, 2008 10:49:56 PM · 16 of 17
combat_boots to LeoWindhorse
“If you’ve been searching the news updates, the magnitude of indifference on the part of the dicatorship is astonishing. Tons and tons of aid just off shore, US carriers, medicines, other countries (except the Arabs, of course, save for Dubai & Kuwait), and the military is drinking tea, playing cards and watching while folks cast ‘yes’ votes (only). One story spoke of aid trucks being driven just out of sight and abandonned. Another story spoke of 7 aid workers being allowed in. Big whoop.
Another story speaks of an entire generation of childrem being lost. Bodies being washed out to sea, only to be washed back in on the waves....drinking fetid water...and eating rotting rice and bananas.
Even China is doing almost nothing to sway this band of merry makers, the junta....what, to kill off the Burmese so the Chinese can move in and run the natural gas business and rice exports?
Gives you pause, thinking that while we sleep, all those people are losing hope, getting dysentary, dengue fever or malaria. Pretty soon, even experienced aid workers will not be able to help nearly as much as they might have, even in the country whose health care system is second to last, with Sierra Leone being in last place.
The whole story has really hit me. People wanting to help, waiting on the tarmack, and the government wants to hold an election—while 100s of thousands are dying or dead, many still lying in the open in sweltering, tropical areas that are difficult to reach.”
We need to keep this event front and center in speaking with/evaluating those politicians who want to negotiate with our enemies or hand out trade agreements to governments like this.
We should airlift weapons. Those people need to overthrow that government.
Quick google for ‘burma, golden triangle’ seems stuck in 1999 but if it’s still up and running then nobody is going to get in just to save a few thousand peasants.
There are more than 140 distinct clans in Burma. There have always been refugees...
“The OPEC nations give almost nothing to aid, according to UNCHR. So much for aid to widows and orphans, one of the 5 pillars of islam.”
Oh, they will give aid to other muslims. Non-muslims are not really people.
Not really.
When it comes to aid to Indonesia, especially in relation to the tsunami in Aceh, the west is well above.
In fact, the "fat cats in Jakarta" gave VERY little also.
Aid is a western concept.
Unfortunately, a lot if it is channelled through the UN, so most people believe it is a global effort.
It isn't.
Global charity is 80-90% Western.
International response to Hurricane Katrina
Over seventy countries pledged monetary donations or other assistance. Notably, Cuba and Venezuela (both hostile to US government themselves) were the first countries to offer assistance, pledging over $1 million, several mobile hospitals, water treatment plants, canned food, bottled water, heating oil, 1,100 doctors and 26.4 metric tons of medicine, though this aid was rejected by the U.S. government. [98] [99] [100] [101] Kuwait made the largest single pledge, $500 million; other large donations were made by Qatar ($100 million), South Korea ($30 million), Australia ($10 million), India, China (both $5 million), Pakistan ($1.5 million),[102] and Bangladesh ($1 million).[103]
Israel sent an IDF delegation to New Orleans to transport aid equipment including 80 tons of food, disposable diapers, beds, blankets, generators and additional equipment which were donated from different governmental institutions, civilian institutions and the IDF.[104] The Bush Administration announced in mid-September that it did not need Israeli divers and physicians to come to the United States for search and rescue missions, but a small team landed in New Orleans on September 10 to give assistance to operations already under way. The team administered first aid to survivors, rescued abandoned pets and discovered hurricane victims.[105]
Countries like Sri Lanka, which was still recovering from the Indian Ocean Tsunami, also offered to help. Countries including Canada, Mexico, Singapore, and Germany sent supplies, relief personnel, troops, ships and water pumps to aid in the disaster recovery. Belgium sent in a team of relief personnel. Britain's donation of 350,000 emergency meals did not reach victims because of laws regarding mad cow disease.[106] Russia's initial offer of two jets was declined by the U.S. State Department but accepted later. The French offer was also declined and requested later.[107]
Despite receiving aid from around the world, there was also a heavy dose of criticism from around the world including accusations of racism that were revealed at the international level across global press. Quotations from the UK Mirror such as "Many things about the United States are wonderful, but it has a vile underbelly which is usually kept well out of sight. Now in New Orleans it has been exposed to the world." were common.[108]
Send Jimmy Carter and Obama. They’ll fix it.
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.