[KR...]

Cargo planes touched down with aid Wednesday, bearing everything from lentils to water purifiers to help survivors facing the threat of epidemic after this week's quake-tsunami catastrophe. The first Indonesian military teams reached the devastated west coast of Sumatra island, finding thousands of bodies and increasing the death toll across 12 nations to nearly 77,000. The international Red Cross warned that the toll could eventually surpass 100,000.

http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/fc/...ake_tsunami_14

 

[KR...]

this site should be useful to those who want to help:

http://www.networkforgood.org/topics...ami122604.aspx

 

[Nak Man]

Quote:

Originally Posted by bangraman The governments of the region are notoriously corrupt and any major funds channeled through them will simply get 'diluted'.

We rank consistently in the top ten of any corrupt surveys. It get really worse that not only part of higher level authorities who were actively diluting funds - but also lower level staff who actually handle distributions of these donations (be it money or even food!). Those frequently happened with 'minor natural disasters' such as flood etc, this time I believe it may be different as everybody here feels the pain.

However I agree that you'd better go with specialised organisations to ensure donations reach the needy victims.

 

[aerius]

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigD Well, I was sickened in my stomach when USA pledged 36 million dollars claiming that this is the most by a single nation. Please, where is the humanitarian cause and promise that our government cries each time we go to war? $36 mil. is a F**KIN JOKE!!!

Money at this point in the game doesn't mean all that much. What is far more important are the naval & air assets the US has commited towards the co-ordination of search & rescue operations and providing supplies & medical aid. As of now, they've sent over a carrier group and an amphibious expeditionary group, the latter is priceless in helping to move supplies and people to & from the disaster areas. Both the carrier & amphibious groups have heavy choppers for lifting supplies into stricken areas as well as evacuating victims, and the amphi group has many landing craft which can do the same thing. No other nation has the sea & airlift capability to get into the stricken areas and get the work done.

Those forces, along with airforce cargo planes which are flying in supplies as I type this are worth more than any amount of money you can name. The money comes later when they start rebuilding, right now they need to save lives & bury bodies fast and hope to contain the inevitable disease epidemic.

 

[gsferrari]

more than money - as aerius pointed out - strategic support means a lot more. Any money given to the government will be swallowed up by the crooked and corrupt officials - trust me (at least as far as the Indian government is concerned)

Large cargo planes with food and water packages is the best form of support...

But this is the sort of time when security forces must be extra alert...the distraction (just being objective) could tempt the terrorist cells to launch an attack...

PLEASE dont send money to the governments - give it to organizations that are handling the relief efforts.

I would ask for donations towards the mobile paediatric care unit that my father is running but he says that he is quite comfortable and has the medication, dressings and gas covered. My father is currently running a 600 Km route every day along the south east Indian coast line to monitor paediatric care centers. The cities of Pondicherry and places further south have been badly battered and a majority of the dead are children between the age of 0 and 12.

Secondary infections are a HUGE problem because of the toxic nature of this sea water...large amounts of chemical wastes, harmful micro-organisms that cannot be stopped by the skin and make short work of areas like the Nasal, Oral cavities, ear canal etc.

Just like a nuclear fallout - the after-effects are worse than the event itself...

 

[eyeteeth]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Flasken eyeteeth, Thank you, you are so right. *donates

Thanks Flasken

Yeah sometimes delicacy doesn't seem to be the most efficient means of communication. It's better to do a

[size=large]HEY! WAKE UP! 911! FIRE! MOVE YER ASS NOW![/size]

For even one person to do something immediately. Anything to help.

Later we can wax poetically or philosophically about meanings, governmental failings, historical disaster relativity, geographic explanations, etc.

And yeah I've many white socks as well, but they're all permanently discoloured on the bottom.

 

[eyeteeth]

http://www.unicef.org/ is of course accepting also.

Curious, I just sent them $50 to test and they're quick and easy.
Painless.

 

[3lusiv3]

Man... this disaster makes this headphone past-time seem so insignificant and exuberant, almost to the point of being insulting.

I'm donating to Oxfam. Oxfam Community Aid Abroad is an Australian, independent, not-for-profit, secular, community-based aid and development organisation.

http://www.oxfam.org.au/
http://www.oxfam.org.au/world/emerge...a_tsunami.html

 

[Unclewai]

Why would the US government donate money out from their budget when they know the Citizens will donate privately. Should the government donate 100 billions and then raise the tax and force every single citizen to donate? Nope. Let the private citizens to choose their amount of donation. This will yield the best result. Government donation is just for bragging rights.

 

[3lusiv3]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Unclewai Why would the US government donate money out from their budget when they know the Citizens will donate privately. Should the government donate 100 billions and then raise the tax and force every single citizen to donate? Nope. Let the private citizens to choose their amount of donation. This will yield the best result. Government donation is just for bragging rights.

Governments have money set aside for this kind of thing. They have to lead the way with donations.

 

[Dreamslacker]

Quote:

Originally Posted by gsferrari Secondary infections are a HUGE problem because of the toxic nature of this sea water...large amounts of chemical wastes, harmful micro-organisms that cannot be stopped by the skin and make short work of areas like the Nasal, Oral cavities, ear canal etc. Just like a nuclear fallout - the after-effects are worse than the event itself...

Hrmm.. I do hope this isn't that much of an issue with the Andaman Islands. I've just volunteered with my unit to go for the next wave to do the relief work. Right now, it's not confirmed where we'll be headed to but it's believed to be the Andaman Islands.
The first wave's leaving for Aceh in Indonesia by tomorrow. They've got other problems like civil unrest.. Hopefully the local security forces and our own platoon of soldiers can deter that.

 

[BigD]

Yes I agree with 3lusiv3. It's all about government and ngo cooperation to aid this kind of pandemonium. I still can't get over US gov't donation amount. This is the time to prove the world that we save people. It would really make a good gesture to the muslim and non-christian world alike. Also agree with others who pointed out logistic help which is priceless. Yesterday Pfizer announced to donate $35 mil in medical supplies. This equals or surpasses most nations' commitment to this relief effort.

Just donated to UNICEF. Many headfiers pointed out the corruption of governments in south/southeast asia. It would be wise to make contributions to non government organizations like UNICEF, OXFAM, RELIEF WEB, RED CROSS, etc.

 

[gsferrari]

Quote:

Originally Posted by 3lusiv3 Man... this disaster makes this headphone past-time seem so insignificant and exuberant, almost to the point of being insulting

Everyone has to do their own thing. This is the way of nature. Your heart is in the right place but you cannot give up in everything that gives you happiness to lie in wait for something like this to happen so that you can jump in.

Everyone just has to do a little bit...give a little...

Even $10.00 from every american, european, brit, aussie...will add up to a significant amount of money.

 

[KYTGuy]

The water production ability of the USN ships is one of the BIG gifts we will be giving - it is priceless - we will be burning a LOT of fuel to keep the desalinators working at full capacity, providing a heavy, expensive to transport necessity right where it is needed...wonder what we could have charged for it? hmmm? WE WILL BE GIVING IT ALL FOR FREE.

We will be providing Medical facilities/personnel/and supplies ALL FOR FREE.

We will be providing Medical Airlift FOR FREE.

We will be providing all the food that we can deliver from the ships..ALL FOR FREE.

Our ships can and will provide power - more than the UNDAMAGED network could support or use...ALL FOR FREE.

ANY OTHER COUNTRY IN THE WORLD IS INVITED TO HALF MATCH WHAT WE PROVIDE - NONE WILL COME CLOSE.

 

[tk_suki]

Relax. As usual things start getting political, inevitable we live in such a world.

I was put-off by the ingratitude and disgust attitude for alleged not doing more to help. Need to ignore this negative attitude, not helping, shrug it off as ignorance. Example, Ironic after NYT published a stupid editorial, mainly taking the opportunity to swipe at GWB, guess they are still bitter, they did publish a separate feature on the opportunity available for U.S.A to show its leadership in other areas. A little more persuation and less antigonism.

Whether you give 1% or 100%, cooperation and aiding those in need are widely held as good things. And yes for those who need more than the heartfelt satisfaction of helping, there is plenty of mileage to be garnered by helping, Win - Win! Just my .02 heck I will give some more substantial but hope you get the idea.

Yes America has some wonderful assets at its disposal, so do others lets pool our collective efforts and do some good.

For most of us money is about the best we can do. Oh for those Americans and other fortunate citizens of true Democracies letters to your representatives can't hurt.

BTW - they have plenty of money in the near term, it is the mid to long term that $ is really necessary to rebuild. The critical resources now, are invaluable assets like ships, planes, communications and skilled command and control to manage logistics, e.g. supply chain. Agree these are priceless gifts so lets stop the comparison and political posturing, and focus on getting results.

p.s. this is not the only calamity in the world while most salient, does not diminish relevance of others. Except this one can pratically be addressed to rescue a large # in peril.