Posted on 12/30/2004 9:11:33 AM PST by OESY
Millions of dollars are flowing into the coffers of major disaster relief organizations to help victims of the tsunami that ravaged countries on the Indian Ocean.
A man walked into the Atlanta office of CARE USA, a branch of the international aid organization, and handed the receptionist a check for $10,000. The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has allotted $3 million for food, water, shelter and health care, and organizations report that their Web sites are overwhelmed by people seeking to donate electronically.
The money could not come at a better time, aid officials say. Many of the organizations that traditionally swing into action to address emergencies are already working in other parts of the world, like Afghanistan, Iraq and Sudan, that are afflicted by crises, and they are stretched thin.
"Just having those three crises happening simultaneously and having them be equally contentious was unique, and now this has upped the ante," said Susan Laarman, a spokeswoman for Mercy Corps. "We're up to the task, but it is certainly an unusual time in history."
While the challenges of this disaster are typical of any emergency, in this case they are multiplied over several countries and regions, many of which were destitute.
"When you have a catastrophe like this in places that are already suffering from poverty, they are disproportionately worse off," said Ahuma Adodoadji, director of emergency and humanitarian assistance at CARE USA.
The first shipments of international aid have started arriving across the region, officials said.
An eight-member team from Doctors Without Borders landed in Aceh Province in Indonesia on Wednesday and set up a tent to provide primary health care services, supported by two planeloads of supplies, including water and sanitation support and installation systems.
"Things are really drastic there," said Catrine Schulte-Hillen, program director of the organization's United States operations. "There are no buildings standing."
Conditions imposed by the disaster will limit the group's response initially. For instance, the team would like to use a helicopter to try to get a better read on the extent of the devastation in areas outside of Banda Aceh, but obtaining gasoline is virtually impossible, Ms. Schulte-Hillen said.
Save the Children was one of the only organizations to have a staff in Indonesia's Aceh region when the tsunami hit, a situation that has been both a blessing and a curse. The organization's finance assistant, Suka Mardiah, and her baby were killed, two staff members are missing and two others are missing family members.
Jailani, the organization's driver, was swept out to sea and presumed dead until he walked into the office this morning, after swimming back to shore. "
At the same time we're sending in large quantities of baby foods and medical supplies for general relief efforts, we're also sending in food packages for our staff who have lost everything they owned," said Rudy von Bernuth, vice president for humanitarian programs at Save the Children USA.
Mercy Corps said some of the plastic sheeting it intended for use as temporary shelter in Aceh would have to be used for makeshift body bags. The emergency stage of the crisis there is expected to last a year.
The airport there can accommodate mid-size planes, Mr. von Bernuth said, but it is backed up because of the demand from relief organizations trying to get supplies and medicine into the area, as is another, larger airport. Customs clearance is still iffy, and transportation and accommodation for arriving relief workers is hard to come by. Communications are almost nonexistent.
In Sri Lanka, Mercy Corps estimates that one million or more people are homeless, and delivery is complicated because most supplies will have to be delivered through Colombo, which had the country's only significant airport. The wave uprooted mines that were buried during Sri Lanka's civil war, and aid officials are scurrying to alert people to stay away from them.
The United Nations World Food Program had stock there, and more was coming in on trucks, Mr. von Bernuth said, and some wells have been dug and temporary shelters erected.
Coordinating groups have been set up in Sri Lanka and India to ensure that organizations and government agencies do not duplicate efforts and that the work they are doing addresses the existing needs. The large relief agencies are accustomed to working together, and in some cases the United Nations is designated as the coordinator, Mr. Adodoadji said.
Relief agencies have asked the public to contribute money because shipping goods from the United States to the disaster areas is complicated and expensive.
Ms. Laarman of Mercy Corps said the organization was stunned to have raised $1.5 million in less than four days, outpacing the previous record of $600,000 over the same time period for Kosovo. Yesterday the organization collected more over the Internet than it ever has, $556,000 compared with $96,000 a year ago for the earthquake that struck Bam, Iran.
Organizations are concerned, however, that the huge groundswell of philanthropy directed to this crisis will divert assistance from other sites of catastrophe. "Darfur is still a huge challenge, an emergency situation with serious security concerns," Ms. Schulte-Hillen said. "In the Republic of Congo, we're seeing massive displacement with new outbreaks of war. The support for this new crisis is great, but I hope we will not forget other ongoing emergencies."
Okay. Have a GREAT (and SAFE) New Year's!
Back now but leaving again.
Happy New Year!
Gee, I thought only yesterday the NYT was compaining about the cheap response from America.
Yup, this morning. I was just seconds away from the final post.
Troll and Troller. Let 'em ride the lightning.
"Customs clearance is iffy" They want $$
I was a cadet on a training ship that carried some relief supplies to Peru. I have forgotten what agency the supplies were from or for what need, but I remember the communists delayed the off loading of those supplies. I guess somebody from the US had to pay them off so their country could get the free supplies. Back in the '60's
Stay SAFE!
As my wise mama used to say, "You can't buy real friends." Just think of the millions we gave Europe after WWII and they hate our guts. We can give because we need to obey Jesus's command to love our enemies, but when this is over, they will still be our enemies.
Went to see Mom. Back home now. Will not get out again tonight!
According to this article, they're now offering over $60 million.
troll? I can respectfully disagree without having to be labeled by you. I couldn't think of a band that sucks anymore than Korn anyway. Limp Bizkit fairy
I sound like a fool b/c I'm willing to give to people in need? I'm not suggesting that by donating whatever it is, that we will win "them" over, it's just positive.
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