Hell of a Fund Raiser after 'Stingy' remark

The US media, Faux heading the pack, spend first days attacking UN-OCHA chief Jan Egeland for his "stingy" remark in a period the US leaders pledged $15m for emergency aid through the UN for Asia. That's when the world already turned a compassionate frown to the people suffering in the disaster area. With the US White House more focused on the coming festivities for an inauguration party, we shouldn't let us be distracted.

Today the UN chief Jan Egeland and most chartible Aid Drives across the world reaped the benefits of private and government generosity. The UN announced the contributions surmounted $2bn, an unprecedented amount for Relief Aid. The embarrashment is clearly there where it belongs by George Jr. and now hiding behind Pa and his predecessor Bill Clinton, while little brother Jeb is send on a mission to Asia.

Reuters news:

Americans Speed Aid to Tsunami-Hit Asia  

Ground Zero - Aceh.
As I had estimated in my diary a week ago, the most devastated region of Indonesia was the west coast where the towns and villages where swept away by a huge mass of water, now estimated at 60 feet hitting the shores. Within the first hour 60-80,000 persons perished in the onslaught. The BBC reported on ground zero from a town where even the concrete foundations were washed out, the population of 10,000 was reduced to 2-300 persons.

Although the United States was not among the first at the scene after last week's natural disaster thousands of miles from American shores, it is now spearheading the international relief effort and delivering more supplies than any other nation. A U.S. warship strike group carrying thousands more Marines was headed in to help.

U.N. humanitarian chief Jan Egeland said he was encouraged by the military response to the Dec. 26 tsunami, singling out U.S. Undersecretary of State Marc Grossman for praise. "Whatever we have asked, it has been delivered the next day and that is what is producing results quicker and more immediately to those in most need than we have had in any other similar disaster".

Indonesia and the Asian countries hit by tsumanis are now seriously supporting a warning system to be put in place analogous to the system installed in the Pacific region. The EU, Japan and Australia have committed their support.

In 2005 - Be Liberal, Be Free Especially Amongst Family And Friends

•  Glad the world is a global community

  ...
  not waiting on King George II
  to think of what to do,

  or is it Generalissimo Jorge
  modelling himself with the best
  Central America could offer.

  In 2005 - Be Liberal, Be Free Especially Amongst Family And Friends

  by creve coeur on Mon Jan 03, 2005 at 02:47:17 PM PDT

•  Have to say - great topic

  Since I just posted on a related issue (will Egeland survive?) here:

  http://www.dailykos.com/story/2005/1/3/174027/0089

  Also note that the Norwegian government (acc to CNN a couple of hours ago) has upped its contribution to $181 million.  Since Egeland is Norwegian,I guess they were also shamed into a significant figure.

  by ask on Mon Jan 03, 2005 at 02:47:44 PM PDT

  •  Fine job on funds pledged by nations

    I relate in this diary to facts on the ground in Aceh, see latest news link to US aid effort.

    Also for those wanting to link to my diaries on breaking news of developing tsunami catastrophe and aftermath. Focused on major emergency aid and In Depth reading on new satellites for warning systems in the future.

    In 2005 - Be Liberal, Be Free Especially Amongst Family And Friends

    by creve coeur on Mon Jan 03, 2005 at 03:32:18 PM PDT

    •  I think the pledges are fairly well known

      I was curious as to what people think of whether he will (can) remain, considering the administration's pettiness and addiction to revenge.  
      Mr. Egeland stuck his head out pretty far, though his remark was the truth.

      by ask on Mon Jan 03, 2005 at 03:39:01 PM PDT

      •  Clinton shamed Bush

        into being less selfish (for the moment, at least). Clinton also saved Egeland's skin. The Far Right would much rather go after Clinton.

        by marysz on Mon Jan 03, 2005 at 05:24:24 PM PDT

•  Where does the money go?

  After to hearing journalist Allan Nairn this morning on Democracy Now! I have very serious concerns about whether aid intended for the disaster survivors of Ache has been and will be subverted by the Indonesian military:

  Despite the grave situation in Aceh, Humanitarian officials and human rights groups say the Indonesian military is actively preventing aid from being distributed. On Saturday, several aid groups and non-governmental organizations held a protest calling on control of the aid distribution to be taken out of the hands of the Indonesian military. The military took control of the airport warehouse, where goods are received from relief flights and stored until they can be distributed around Banda Aceh and other devestated towns. With its control of outgoing supplies, the military has complete power in determining where scarce trucks head with their precious cargoes. The Indonesian government"s senior disaster response coordinator, Alwi Shihab, announced Sunday that he had appointed Maj. Gen. Ambang Dharmono to take command of immediate relief efforts.

  peace

  by peace voter on Mon Jan 03, 2005 at 02:53:48 PM PDT

  •  Don't think this is factual

    The early shipments went to Medan, a long way (300 mi.) from Banda Aceh. Here the problem was logistics and not enough transport equipment and trucks. I understand that at the capital there is now a small airfield available.

    The coastal areas are so devastated, the first emergency aid came in by US helicopters, now flying non-stop from USS Abraham Lincoln.

    There is a worry that the Indonesian military are still pursuing the rebel fighters. Some barracks on the west coast were completely destroyed. BBC reported at a town where a camp of 300 soldiers with families were decimated to two dozen survivors!

    Somehow I do have faith in newly chosen president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono [SBY].

    In 2005 - Be Liberal, Be Free Especially Amongst Family And Friends

    by creve coeur on Mon Jan 03, 2005 at 03:59:06 PM PDT

•  As I've said elsewhere.....

   Jerry Lewis must be envious. Egelund spends, what, 3 minutes on camera, makes one remark, and gets a bump of almost $1 billion in aid within 24 hours.

   Can whoever runs in 2008 hire him for fundraising?

  by Anderson Republican on Mon Jan 03, 2005 at 03:52:31 PM PDT

  •  His face appears

    so incredibly sincere and without an iota of deceipt.
    Hope he can follow through.

    by ask on Mon Jan 03, 2005 at 03:56:12 PM PDT

•  Tid Bits on Relief Effort Asia

  Focus on Aceh, Sumatra and build logistics and transport systems. Reconstruction of survivors' lives and rebuilding cities next 10 years.
  

  • Total deaths 175,000+ - Indonesia 94k - Sri Lanka 47k, missing 15k - India 15k, missing 6k - Thailand 5k, missing 5k (50% foreigners)
    
  • UNHCR air lift of 400 tons of emergency goods from Denmark and Dubai to Aceh
    
  • Water purification Aceh: Australia 20K and USS Abe Lincoln 90K gallons per day
    
  • Australian Medical Staff now runs Aceh Hospital
    
  • USS Abraham Lincoln flying 24 hrs heli medical supplies to Aceh coast
    
  • Singapore team of Doctors have reached Meulenbah, destroyed city 80% lost
    
  • Asian region, now fifty AID agencies are on the ground
    
  • UN will supply needed goods to Sri Lanka and Maldives next 3 days food for 1.8m. An additional 5m persons are displaced in need of shelter
    
  • Massive fund raising continues world-wide

  Portal Site to Relief Effort South Asia:
  Earthquake and Tsunami - Jan 2005

  Thai PM Thaksin Shinawatra says quake reconstruction affordable,   declared that the country did not need foreign aid to help it recover from the tsunami disaster, and could afford to pay for its own relief and reconstruction with government spending and domestic donations.

  The government has already committed some US$1.5bn, with Mr Thaksin saying no resources will be spared in rehabilitating the affected region and Thailand's crucial tourist industry once the grim search for bodies is over.

  In 2005 - Be Liberal, Be Free Especially Amongst Family And Friends

  by creve coeur on Mon Jan 03, 2005 at 04:30:14 PM PDT

  •  Canadian DART Unit sent to Sri Lanka

    ..The Canadian D.A.R.T team has been sent to Ampara, Sri Lanka.. it can do water purification for about 100 000 ppl and has a field hospital as well.
    

    by tribe34 on Mon Jan 03, 2005 at 05:18:49 PM PDT

    •  Seen reports of tourists pitching in

      First read some reports of new arrivals, tourists enjoying themselves in sea resort worrying only about their tan.

      Now I have seen broadcasts of foreigners who survived tsunami disaster working side-by-side with Thai emergency workers. Working continue, hardly a break, to care for the dead and working on identification before burial.

      In 2005 - Be Liberal, Be Free Especially Amongst Family And Friends

      by creve coeur on Mon Jan 03, 2005 at 05:29:07 PM PDT

  •  Satellite pics site Dutch TV

     .
    Dutch TV - Satellite pics
    

    1. pull back of sea off coast Khaolak (Thailand)
       
    2. afterwards when sea has retreated
       
    3. coast off Aceh, Sumatra (Indonesia)
       
    4. aftermath complete devastation.

    In 2005 - Be Liberal, Be Free Especially Amongst Family And Friends

    by creve coeur on Mon Jan 03, 2005 at 05:23:50 PM PDT