Keyword: aid
-
Former President Bush and Jim "Mattress Mack" McIngvale said today they hope to generate $100 million in local donations for tsunami relief before the month is over. "It doesn't matter how much or how big the check you write . . . every cent counts," Bush said. "You see this devastation, and it's just overwhelming." Houston's initiative is the first major step in private fund-raising since President George W. Bush asked his father and President Clinton to raise money privately for relief following criticisms that the United States was too slow and stingy in its response. At a news conference...
-
JAKARTA, Indonesia - As relief officials struggle to reach homeless tsunami survivors, another concern is quietly making the rounds of donor meetings: the threat of corruption. The United Nations and aid groups say they have seen little evidence of local officials skimming funds or reselling relief supplies in Indonesia, Sri Lanka and other hard-hit countries. Still, they fear the issue could discourage some people from contributing to the recovery effort. "I think we're more concerned that the image of it would hold people back from sending money because they fear the money would end up in the wrong pockets," Michael...
-
Record humanitarian aid might be pouring in for victims of Asia's tsunami disaster, but critics here have accused the Malaysian government of delaying the distribution of badly needed emergency supplies to survivors in Malaysia's coastal areas, northwest of the peninsula. "Some of the relief centers are well stocked with supplies, but they are being closely guarded by the government coalition members and are not being distributed to those in need," the website claimed. "They refuse to distribute anything until a minister ... can find time to personally do so with the television crew and reporters in tow."
-
Howard promises $1 billion in aid By Tom Allard, Herald Correspondent in Jakarta and Cynthia Banham January 6, 2005 Page Tools Email to a friend Printer format The Prime Minister, John Howard, today pledged $1 billion over five years to the Indonesia's tsunami reconstruction, the largest donation made so far for the relief effort. On the eve of today's international summit in Jakarta, Mr Howard announced a historic package which includes $500 million in direct aid and $500 million in concessional loans. He said the Indonesian President, Susilo Yudhoyono, had been "overwhelmed" by the offer and "would never forget it"....
-
I have been watching with growing amazement how the Americans are being criticized for the disaster in the Indian Ocean. First, the UN (Americans are the largest financial contributor to the UN, with 3 billion dollars in 2003 alone) called America "stingy." Then President Bush, who made a policy statement 72 hours after the disaster, while Kofi Anan was still on Christmas vacation, and the Swedes, who had thousands of citizens feared dead, had nothing to say. But no one has said a word about Saudi Arabia's $10 million dollar aid package. Wow! Considering the billions they have funneled into...
-
http://www.christianfreedom.org/messages.aspx?id=546 Christians Devastated on Nias Island, Indonesia JAKARTA, INDONESIA -- A Christian Freedom International coworker reporting from Indonesia informs of hundreds of minority Christians in need of food, clothes, and shelter on mostly Christian Nias. Alhtought the report is sketchy at best here is what was received by CFI headquarters in Front Royal, Virginia: “I have contacted Christian friends in Gunung Sitoli, Nias Island, a few minutes ago” said a CFI coworker (name cannot be given for security reasons in this mostly Muslim nation). “They told me that the areas that are severely damaged in Nias are Sirombu and Mandrehe...
-
JAKARTA, Indonesia - Australia became the largest donor to the tsunami relief effort Wednesday, committing $764 million in loans and grants to help Indonesia recover from the disaster. Australian Prime Minister John Howard announced the increased aid package while visiting the Indonesian capital, Jakarta. Australia previously announced a $47 million aid package, but it was unclear whether the $47 million was included in the new package or whether it was separate. "This is a historic step in Indonesian-Australian relations in the wake of this terrible natural disaster," Howard said. Earlier Wednesday, German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder increased his country's aid package...
-
It is hard to imagine an anti-Semite going to a Jewish doctor with a broken foot, and holding out his foot, telling him, "Here, fix this, you Jew bastard." And yet this is what is happening today, but with a different twist. It is now, although virtually unreported by the world's press, a case of, "Don't fix this, you Jew bastard. Just send money." After the horror of the tsunami, Israel immediately leapt into a rescue mode. While most nations were dithering about and making promises, or promises to make promises, Israel sent 82 tons of medical and humanitarian aid...
-
BAM, IRAN – The palm trees still rise from the Iranian desert in the oasis city of Bam. But their dusty leaves now overlook a shattered city, razed by a devastating earthquake that killed more than 30,000 people in 10 seconds. From a distance, not much seems to have changed since Dec. 26, 2003, the day of the 6.5 magnitude temblor. Collapsed buildings still line the streets. Those families who survived in the center of town have not returned. Caramel-colored dust coats everything. But out of the devastation, this city, once middle class, is slowly coming back to life. Gone...
-
RIYADH (AFP) - Saudi Arabia announced that it was increasing its aid to victims of the Asian tsunami disaster to 30 million dollars and would organize a telethon to raise more funds. Given that the scale of the disaster and damage "has surpassed all expectations, royal orders have been issued to increase Saudi Arabia's aid to the victims from 10 million dollars to 30 million dollars," the official SPA news agency reported. SPA reported earlier that King Fahd and Crown Prince Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz, whose oil-rich country initially pledged 10 million dollars in emergency funds for the victims,...
-
MOSCOW, January 4 (RIA Novosti) - The rescuers sent by Russia's Emergency Situations Ministry operate on the Sri Lanka island hit by the tsunamis, providing aid to hundreds of people. The rescuers working in the south of island have split into three groups, the ministry's spokesman told RIA Novosti. "One of the groups is clearing the debris in the Kalamula village, the second one gives aid to people in the refugee camp in the town of Kalutara and the third group helps the local rescuers," he said. The helicopter Bo-105 of the Emergency Situations Ministry, delivered to Sri Lanka from...
-
The enormous response to relief agencies assisting victims of the Indian Ocean tsunami has led at least one disaster organization to turn off the donation spigot. Doctors Without Borders, which has distributed emergency aid to countries battered by the December 26 tsunami, is telling donors that it has received a "sufficient" amount of money for its South Asia relief efforts and is asking them to contribute to the agency's general fund. The organization, which has sent emergency medical teams to the hardest hit areas and has purchased and transported 200 metric tons of relief materials, has raised about $20 million...
-
Disaster strikes a world away We get the call, what do we say? We move at once, to ease their plight, To aid them through their darkest night. But come shrill cries from carping Press, That’s not enough to fix this mess. We know that, fools, but give us room, To counter Mother Nature’s doom. America gives to those in need, With no regard to faith or creed. We’re there for all when need is great A helping hand to any state, That’s fallen under Nature’s wrath And needs a lift back to the path. So what they may have...
-
You would not think that any civilized group of people would use this tragedy for political gain. You would want to believe that getting assistance to these people would be the first and primary concern, especially here in our country. Guess again! Many of our Liberal Progressive Democrats ... Then U.N. Under Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Jan Egeland spoke out, when the initial reports of the tragedy were just being reported the next morning, stating that the United States, other Western nations and some European nations were being "stingy" with our donations. He basically stated that our taxes should be...
-
Significant response quickly loses luster BEIJING China's new and growing influence in Asia, which some analysts say has come at the expense of the United States, is showing its limits as the aspiring superpower plays an active but secondary role in responding to the tsunami disaster. The Chinese response is significant by even the recent standards of its inward-looking history. But it is also a reminder that the world's most populous country is far from being the dominant power in Asia. Last weekend, Prime Minister Wen Jiabao announced that China would donate more than $62 million, one of its...
-
For some people, and some countries, the US can do no right. In the wake of the tsunami and earthquakes in South Asia, critics wasted no time in referring to US aid as "stingy" and "delayed." Even though the US began with an initial aid package of about $35 million, while still trying to assess the need and organize for a much greater commitment, the UN Undersecretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, Jan Egeland suggested that the United States and other Western nations were being "stingy" with relief funds, saying there would be more available if taxes were raised.
-
The other day, a U.N. official accused the United States of being "stingy" in terms of aid to South Asian tsunami victims. After criticism from the State Department, the official clarified his position. Americans are not being stingy in helping tsunami victims, only stingy in terms of overall foreign aid as compared to other countries. This is a familiar attack, which comes up annually when the foreign aid appropriations bill is before Congress. But let's look at the facts. According to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development in Paris, in 2003, the world's major countries gave $108.5 billion in...
-
In addition to checking with the BBB Wise Giving Alliance, donors should consider the following tips: Donors should be wary of any charity that is inexperienced in carrying out relief efforts but is suddenly soliciting for Tsunami assistance. Although well intentioned, such organizations may not have the ability to quickly deliver aid to those in need. Be wary of appeals that are long on emotion, but short on describing what the charity will do to address the needs of victims and their families. Also see if the charity's appeal explains what the charity intends to do with any excess contributions...
-
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...
-
NAGAPATTINAM, India : A mass inoculation drive and adequate clean drinking water has so far prevented the outbreak of an epidemic in the district of India worst-hit by killer tsunamis, doctors said. A young Indian girl smiles as she eats a biscuit A United Nation's Children's Fund (UNICEF) official described the health situation in the south Indian district of Nagapattinam, devastated when the giant waves hit the Indian coast on Sunday, as "decent". "The situation has been fairly good and decent. There is enough supply of drinking water and there has been no outbreak of any diseases," UNICEF communications officer...
|
|
|