26,000 dead in Asia from tsunamis

My husband gave me a report out of Israel today that deeply troubled and saddened me. Israel had loaded planes with supplies and doctors, destination Sri Lanka. Before take off, however, this country advised that they would refuse entry to the DOCTORS because, as they claimed, they have no diplomatic relations with Israel. So, the doctors got off the planes, and the supplies, which they did accept, were sent nevertheless.

show 42 said:

That is an excellent idea, Vash. It was reported that the U.S. has already sent $35 million and was critized for not sending more.........darned if we do and darned if we don't send enough..............42

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The cost of the invasion of Iraq is so enormous that the President has already stopped his decreased tax plans.

When those plates below start moving, the earth does a number on top. How horribly sad! All those peoples and tourists just killed without even a warning. I hope this is not associated with divine intervention.

Joe

Moonpie...

MOONPIE48 said:

"That is an excellent idea, Vash. It was reported that the U.S. has already sent $35 million and was critized for not sending more.........darned if we do and darned if we don't send enough..............42"

Well when one considers that we are spending 8 million dollars an HOUR to kill and get killed in Iraq, it doesn't seem like we are giving enough to help.
The US makes a lot of money from having business in Asia, and americans save a lot of money by buying less expensive goods made in Asia.
Frankly, it does seem a bit selfish to me.
peace
moonpie

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That $35 Million is just for starters. Are you American? Just wondering - not criticizing. As Americans we all enjoy freedom of speech, and that certainly includes criticizing the national budget. BUT...it would only be fair to point out that while you believe America is being stingy, we are by FAR the most significant contributing country across the world towards disaster relief, aid to developing countries, etc. This is true from both a Government perspective (which all that money comes from the people to start with) in addition to private donations.

I am personally proud to be an American. While our country is not perfect, I am proud of our aid and disaster relief contributions throughout the world. I am proud to personally donate additional money beyond my taxes to support charitable efforts. I suspect there are many Americans who feel this way as well. I just don't think your statements show any respect for America and what we DO (both publicly and privately) contribute to around the world.

Respectfully,

DG

On that ABC Special, they reported that Spain has donated 68 million.

It's just absolutely heartbreaking. When they first reported 12,000 dead that Sunday, I had no idea that the damages were much more catastrophic.

We often forget that we live on a very dynamic planet. Nobody knew at the outset how big this tragedy really was, and we still may not know. In Banda Aceh, Indonesia, an entire village was wiped out- first by the 9.0 earthquake, and an hour later by the monstrous waves. How traumatic that must have been!!! The universe has a way of correcting things that are wrong. We may never know why this happened to the innocent people, but it did bring out some good in people. It seems every time there is a tragedy, people forget their differences and try to help others. I feel that any help is better than no help, and it needs to be graciously accepted. Iraq war has been a total waste of money. This time the money is being used for something positive. It could be years before people get their lives back. So there will be opportunities to help.

Vash

USA Today (Dec.28, 2004) has listed several organizations that are involved in helping in the disaster area, under "How you can help". The Red Cross and Unicef have already been listed by Doggy girl. Others are:

1.Action against hunger 212-967-7800 www.aah-usa.org

2.American Jewish World Service 800-889-7146 www.ajws.org

3.ADRA International 800-424-2372 www.adra.org

4.AFSC Crisis Fund 888-588-2372 www.afsc.org

5.Catholic relief services 410-625-2220 www.catholicrelief.org

6.Direct Relief International 805-964-4767 www.directrelief.org

7.Doctors without borders 888-392-0392 www.doctorswithoutborders.org

8.International Medical Corps 800-481-4462 www.imcworldwide.org

9.International Orthodox Christian charities 877-803-4622 www.iocc.org

10.Lutheran world relief 800-597-5972 www.lwr.org

11.MAP International 800-225-8550 www.map.org

12.Mercy corps 800-852-2100 www.mercycorps.org

13.Network for good www.networkforgood.org

14.Northwest Medical teams 503-624-1000 www.nwmedicalteams.org

15.Operation USA 800-678-7255 www.opusa.org

16.Relief International 310-478-1200 www.ri.org

17.Save the children 800-728-3843 www.savethechildren.org

18.United nations world food program 202-530-1694 www.wfp.org

19.World concern 800-755-5022 www.worldconcern.org

20.World Relief 443-451-1900 www.wr.org

21.World vision 888-56-CHILD www.worldvision.org

Just to complete the list I will list these again:

22.International fed of red cross and red crescent societies
www.ifrc.org

23.United States Fund for UNICEF 800-4-UNICEF www.unicefusa.org

On a personal note, years ago I spent some time living in Asia. In Thailand I spent some time on two of the small islands mentioned in the news: Koh Pi Pi and Krabi. Koh Pi Pi is this beautiful little island about half a mile wide and two miles long. It has a small mountain in the middle of the island from the top of which you can see the inverted crescent shape of the island surrounded by the beautiful acquamarine sea. The climb up the mountain involves pulling oneself up by a rope over the rocky lower part, then walking for a half hour. It's worth the climb. In addition, the native Thai are wonderful.

The other day on the news I heard a tourist say that she was on one side of Koh Pi Pi when the waves hit but she was protected by the mountain. The other side was devistated. I felt devistated.

I just finished a novel based on the Mount Vesuvius eruption of 69 A.D and the destruction of Pompeii and Heraculaneum. My family is from Nola, a small town near Vesuvius and they are descended from that time. Reading this book gave me chills. I was struck by the fact that they were so vulnerable. And so are we today, despite all of our advances. This recent tragedy in Asia has made that so apparant. I just hope that the warning systems (that are relatively inexpensive) are put in place for the future.

Figureskates said:

I was looking at a map of the region and looking at some areas where no reports have been heard, I took the major towns on the coast and using 50% as a mortality number(which may be low), I figure the final death toll will be around 115,000 to 135,000. This is from the wave itself, and not the result of disease.

The numbers are mind numbing.

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The death toll has been upped to 114,000.

This is the one time that I wished to God I was wrong.

Posted by Doggygirl:
"That $35 Million is just for starters. Are you American? Just wondering - not criticizing. As Americans we all enjoy freedom of speech, and that certainly includes criticizing the national budget. BUT...it would only be fair to point out that while you believe America is being stingy, we are by FAR the most significant contributing country across the world towards disaster relief, aid to developing countries, etc. This is true from both a Government perspective (which all that money comes from the people to start with) in addition to private donations.

I am personally proud to be an American. While our country is not perfect, I am proud of our aid and disaster relief contributions throughout the world. I am proud to personally donate additional money beyond my taxes to support charitable efforts. I suspect there are many Americans who feel this way as well. I just don't think your statements show any respect for America and what we DO (both publicly and privately) contribute to around the world. "




As a matter of fact I am a citizen of the US, born here in NYC and still surviving in Brooklyn, USA (Go Cyclones!). If we give the most $ it is because we have the most, much of it gotten by exploiting the poorer countries of the world. It took W a long time to even respond to this tragedy (reminds one of 9/11 when he sat in a classroom for how long after being told of the attacks on NY and DC?). W only upped the amount after being criticized and it is still less than what we spend in one day to kill and get killed in Iraq. While I have respect for the spirit of most of the people in the US I have not ONE IOTA of respect for the government and haven't for a very long time. We are at war with Iraq to get their oil and for Halliburton to make a profit. We have a government that seems to think that american lives are some how more important than other lives and of this I am deeply ashamed. We are ALL God's (however one chooses to perceive God) Children and are equal in the eyes of our creator. It is kind and generous of you to contribute your hard earned $ to charity, that is the kind of spirit I referred to above that I am proud of, I do think that many US citizens have a very generous spirit. "to whom much is given, much is expected". I'm frightened by the attitude that equates criticism of the government with anti-americanism, did you think I wasn't a citizen because I criticize?
may you be happy, well and peaceful.
respectfully,
moonpie.

I found another list of relief organizations. Some are repeated (ref: list posted earlier), but I have left them there, to save time for myself.

Action Against Hunger
247 West 37th Street
New York, NY 10018
212-967-7800
www.actionagainsthunger.org

ADRA International
Asia Tsunami Crisis Fund
12501 Old Columbia Pike
Silver Spring, MD 20904
800-424-ADRA (2372)
www.adra.org

Air Serv International
6583 Merchant Place, Suite 100
Warrenton, VA 20187
540-428-2323
www.airserv.org

American Friends Service Committee
1501 Cherry Street
Philadelphia, PA 19102
215-241-7050
www.afsc.org

American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee, Inc.
JDC-South Asia Tsunami Relief
P.O. Box 321
847A Second Avenue
New York, New York 10017
212-885-0832
www.jdc.org

American Jewish World Service
45 W. 36th St., 10th Fl.
New York, NY 10018
212-736-2597
www.ajws.org

American Red Cross
International Response Fund
2025 E St. NW
Washington, DC 20006
800-HELP-NOW
www.redcross.org

AmeriCares
88 Hamilton Ave
Stamford, CT 06902
800-486-4357
www.americares.org

Asha for Education
Tsunami Relief Fund
P.O. Box 322
New York, NY 10040-0322
(646) 526-6164
www.ashanet.org

Baptist World Aid
Asia Tidal Waves
405 North Washington Street
Falls Church, VA 22046
703 790 8980
www.bwanet.org/bwaid

B'nai B'rith International
B'nai B'rith Disaster Relief Fund
2020 K Street NW
7th Floor
Washington, DC 20006
212-490-3290
www.bnaibrith.org

Brother's Brother Foundation
1200 Galveston Ave
Pittsburgh, PA 15233
412-321-3160
www.brothersbrother.org

CARE
151 Ellis Street NE
Atlanta, GA 30303
800-521-CARE
www.care.org

Catholic Relief Services
209 West Fayette Street
Baltimore, MD 21201
877-HELP-CRS
www.catholicrelief.org

Christian Children's Fund
Child Alert Fund
PO Box 26484
Richmond, Virginia - 23261-6484
800-776-6767
www.ChristianChildrensFund.org

Christian Reformed World Relief Committee (CRWRC)
South Asia Earthquake
2850 Kalamazoo Ave. SE
Grand Rapids, MI, 49560
800-55-CRWRC
www.crwrc.org

Church World Service
PO Box 968
Elkhart, IN 46515
800-297-1516
www.churchworldservice.org

Direct Relief International
27 South La Patera Lane
Santa Barbara, CA 93117
805-964-4767
www.directrelief.org

Episcopal Relief and Development
South Asia Relief Fund
815 Second Avenue
New York, NY 10017
800-334-7626, ext. 5129
www.er-d.org

Food for the Hungry, Inc.
Food for the Hungry
Asia Quake Relief
1224 E. Washington St.
Phoenix, AZ 85034
800-2-HUNGERS
www.fh.org

Habitat for Humanity International
Asia Tsunami Response Fund
121 Habitat St
Americus, GA 31709
229-924-6935
www.habitat.org

International Aid
17011 W. Hickory
Spring Lake, MI 49456
800-968-7490
www.internationalaid.org
International Medical Corps
Tsunami Emergency Response
1919 Santa Monica Blvd., Suite 300
Santa Monica, CA 90404-1950
800-481-4462
www.imcworldwide.org

International Relief Teams
Asia Earthquake/Floods
3547 Camino Del Rio South, Suite C
San Diego, CA 92108
619-284-7979
www.IRTeams.org

International Rescue Committee
PO Box 5058
Hagerstown, MD 21741-9874
877-REFUGEE or 733-8433
www.theIRC.org

Latter-Day Saint Charities
Welfare Services Emergency Response
50 East North Temple Street, Room 701
Salt Lake City, Utah, 84150-6800
801-240-3544
www.lds.org/humanitarian

Lutheran World Relief
South Asia Tsunami
700 Light Street
Baltimore, MD 21230
410-230-2700
www.lwr.org

MAP International
P.O. Box 215000
Brunswick, GA 31521
800-225-8550
www.map.org

Mercy Corps
Southeast Asia Earthquake
Dept. W
PO Box 2669
Portland, OR 97208-2669
800-852-2100
www.mercycorps.org

Operation Blessing International
Asia Earthquake and Tsunami Relief
977 Centerville Turnpike Virginia Beach, VA 23463
1-800-730-2537
www.ob.org

Operation USA
8320 Melrose Ave. #200
Los Angeles, CA 90069
800-678-8876
www.opusa.org

Oxfam America
Asian Earthquake Fund
PO Box 1211
Albert Lea, MN 56007-1211
800-77-OXFAM
www.oxfamamerica.org

Pan American Health and Education Foundation
Asia Tsunami Relief Fund
525 Twenty Third St, NW
Washington, DC 20037
202-974-3416
www.pahef.org

Plan USA
Asia Disaster
155 Plan Way
Warwick, RI 02886
800-556-7918
www.planusa.org

Project Concern International
5151 Murphy Canyon Road Suite 320
San Diego, CA 92123
858-279-9690
www.projectconcern.org

Project HOPE
Asia Tsunami Response
255 Carter Hall Lane
Millwood, VA 22646
800-544-4673
www.projecthope.org

SAWSO (Salvation Army World Service Office)
South Asia Relief Fund
615 Slaters Lane
Alexandria, VA, 22313
800-SAL-ARMY

Save the Children USA
54 Wilton Road
Westport, CT 06880
1-800-728-3843
www.savethechildren.org

Stop Hunger Now
SE Asia Crisis
2501 Clark Ave, Suite 200
Raleigh, NC 27607
888-501-8440
www.stophungernow.org

US Fund for UNICEF
General Emergency Fund
333 E. 38th Street
New York, NY 10016
800-4-UNICEF
www.unicefusa.org

World Concern
Asia Earthquake and Tsunami
19303 Fremont Avenue North
Seattle, WA 98133
800-755-5022
www.worldconcern.org

World Emergency Relief
2270-D Camino Vida Roble
Carlsbad, CA 92009
760-930-8001
www.worldemergencyrelief.org

World Relief
SE Asia Earthquake/Tsunamis
7 E Baltimore St
Baltimore MD 21202
800-535-5433
www.worldrelief.org

World Vision
P.O. Box 70288
Tacoma, WA 98481-0288
800-56-CHILD
www.worldvision.org

The count is now an unbeleivable 125,000! By tomorrow, I am sure it will rise again. Too much to fathom.

I just watched CNN around 9am. They are reporting 135,000 now. In Indonesia alone, they fear about 100,000 dead.

The magnitude of this disaster is numbing.

The interesting thing was, the local Mosque in Banda Aceh, Indonesia, was giving shelter to people of all religions. That was good to see.

Vash

........

The U.S. has upped their pledge to 350 million.

France has promised $57 million, Britain has pledged $95 million, Sweden is sending $75.5 million and Spain is offering $68 million, although that pledge is partly in loans.

They interviewed Colin Powell on Face the Nation today. He was asked why the US was slow to respond to the disaster. He said that they wanted to assess the situation and when it turned out to be worse than they had initially thought, they upped the pledge to $350 million and it could go even higher.

I found it easier to make a donation on line rather than by phone. The phone lines are very busy.

Vash

Former Presidents Bush and Clinton are heading a committee to get private contributions for the victims. At this point though it seems the distribution of the relief goods is a bigger problem than the money. Also the diseases could be a major problem.

Save The Children

If you want to see a DETAILED explanation of what has been done for the victims/children already, what is being done now and what is going to be done to help them, go to
www.savethechildren.org

This charity is one of the best out there. They were on CNN last night on Larry King Live discussing what they have been seeing and what they are doing. 90% of all donations to them go directly to the tsunami victims. They have been a presence in Bandeh Aceh for many years prior to the tsunami, so they already have many people on the ground there to deliver aid. In fact, their maternal/childcare center lost 10 midwives in the tsunami-a tragic loss. Please consider donating to them if you can-no amount is too small because it all adds up. They are a very worthy charity (as are others) My brother has worked for them (for the past 25 yrs) and is in Indonesia right now. Thanks for reading this post. Please go their website if you have a minute.