A gloomy sadness lingers in Uncle Bubbie’s heart; broken by Katrina.
Watching the news coverage of the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, my mind just can’t seem to get wrapped around the magnitude of this disaster. I heard one person state that this is our tsunami and I thought; where is the rest of the world? Remember when the tsunami hit last year and all the world sent resources and money to aid the desperate people? Well? Has any other country offered to help us in dealing with this catastrophe? I think as time goes on we’ll learn a lot of lessons in human nature.
2 comments:
Hi Uncle Eric!
Lots of countries have pledged aid so far, but I can see why they might not want to.
There are three main reasons why a global effort might not have been undertaken to aid the United States in the aftermath of hurricane Katrina, as it was for the recent Tsunami. The hurricane was relatively minor in scope and casualties compared to the Tsunami, and the wealth of the United States allows it to offer more support to it's people in stark contrast to the poorer countries affected by the Tsunami. Potentially exacerbating the situation, the United States government has recently taken steps to prevent some foreign aid from reaching those in need. In spite of this, international funds and support continue to be pledged in the days following the catastrophe.
To see why there might not be a global effort to aid the United States after the disaster, one must understand the magnitude of damage to New Orleans and surrounding areas from Katrina as compared to the recent Tsunami. In December of 2004, an earthquake in the Indian Ocean produced a lethal Tsunami that killed an estimated 310,000 people and displaced 7.5 million others, some 1.5 million permanently (their land literally washed away). There was no unified military to come to the aid of the people affected, nor was there an emergency plan in place to provide food and shelter for the survivors. Contrast this to the death toll in Southeast Louisianna, which is estimated to be between one and eight thousand (approximately 300 deaths have been confirmed so far). These low numbers can be attributed to an advanced warning system, not present for the Tsunami, which cleared most of New Orleans and the surrounding areas well in advance of the storm. After the hurricane made landfall and did it's damage, police and National Guardsmen worked in a coordinated effort to evacuate those that had stayed behind. In terms of economic damage, because of a third world infrastucture, lack of manpower and crippling government disorganization, the countries affected by the Tsunami may never recover. The impact on coastal fishing communities alone has been devastating. For example, in the coastal areas of Sri Lanka, where industrial fishery is the major economic activity, over 250,000 people have lost their jobs. In some areas, drinking water supplies and farm fields may have been contaminated for years by salt water from the ocean. Meanwhile in New Orleans, the waters will be pumped away and reconstruction will begin in the coming months, providing jobs for builders and suppliers and an economic boon for the United States. It is clear that the Tsunami, in terms of sheer destruction, loss of life, inability to rebuild, and economic impact, dwarfs the recent hurricane.
Foreigners may also be less inclined to give aid to the United States for another reason, chiefly because of it's economic might and past generosity, or lack thereof. While the Tsunami victims were largely poor and without government assistance, those affected by the hurricane will recieve federal relief funds through groups such as FEMA, insurance money and shelter provided by the government as well as wealthy American benefactors such as the owners of the Astrodome. The international image of the United States my also play a role in deciding to send aid. With the cost of the Iraq war now at an estimated 191 billion dollars, the United States has shown that it will use it's economic might to change the world. But looking at recent humanitarian aid statistics one hears a different story. In the list of donors for Tsunami relief, the United States stands at #20 based on the amount pledged as a percentage of GDP (0.018% or $1.6 billion). Because of it's high per capita wealth, organized federal relief programs, and perhaps to a lesser extent it's giving record, donors abroad may not decide to give significant aid to the United States.
To make matters worse, in the aftermath of hurricane Katrina, at least three nations put forward aid, only to be rejected. Within hours of the devastating storm, Canada graciously volunteered their emergency support personnel, codenamed "DART," which helped out during the 9/11 tragedy. DART provides airlifted food, water and medical supplies, but was turned away by the United States government because of what Canadian agencies call "mass confusion at the U.S. federal level in the wake of the storm." In Moscow, a Russian official said the U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency had rejected a Russian offer to dispatch rescue teams and other aid, and in addition, Venezuelan leader Hugo Chavez has offered one million dollars in humanitarian aid to the people of New Orleans and the surrounding areas, as well as workers to help evacuate. As of the writing of this his country's aid has not been accepted. This may be sending a message to the rest of the world that the United States will only accept help from domestic sources, or at least from countries currently in it's political good graces, despite Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice stating that "no offer that can help alleviate the suffering of the people in the afflicted area will be refused."
Despite some compelling reasons for not doing so, many countries have generously pledged billions in financial and humanitarian support. Boats, aircraft, tents, blankets, generators, cash assistance and medical teams have been offered to the U.S. government in Washington or in embassies overseas. Offers have been received from Russia, Japan, Canada, France, Honduras, Germany, Venezuela, Jamaica, Australia, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Greece, Hungary, Colombia, the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Mexico, China, South Korea, Israel, the United Arab Emirates, NATO and the Organization of American States. While compared to the Tsunami, Hurricane Katrina may have been relatively minor, but that fact hasn't stopped international support from pouring to help during the devastating tragedy.
Sorry for the long posts, but I get typing and I get excited and start looking at articles and I end up putting down every little thing. Don't get me wrong, the Hurricane was the worst natural disaster in our history, and I hope everyone chips in to help those affected.
Check this out as well: http://www.smh.com.au/news/world/despair-inside-the-superdome/2005/09/01/1125302683872.html
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