BBC World had an interesting little feature on the news today. Below is a brief summary.
In 1998 Honduras was devestated by hurricane Mitch. The world promised a fortune. To date less than 1/3 of what was promised by governments as opposed to individuals has materialized.
Even the aid that has arrived has been underutilized. A bridge was built with the Japanese donation, but the money was used to bring in expensive Japanese workers to do the job. Much needed employment was not found by the Hondurans. The feature concluded with an example of a mountaintop village where all reconstruction had been done by the local people using their own meagre resources.
Three months on from the Asian tsunami this story is a stark reminder of the reality of governmental aid pledges.
Are captioned by the MSM as long as it appeals to enough viewers for commercial ends.
There is no leadership in the world that focuses on Third World Aid, except for perhaps Japan and the Scandinavian countries.
Worse, much worse beyond any imagination
at dKos Fri Dec 31st, 2004
Oui – Liberté – Égualité – Fraternité
I thought I would ask if you live on the west coast, and what were your experiences with the Tsanami?
I am a long way from the West coast, so have no direct experiences. I have spoken with friends and acquaintances who are/were in the area and I dont think the scale of what happened can really be comprehended unless present, so I would rather not comment on the event itself.
As a story, it is has disappeared to a large degree even in Thailand. The government, which is unpopular in the southern region where Phang Nga and Phuket are located, is obviously concerned about the effect on big business and tourism, but there are a real lot of human tragedy stories not being told unfortunately, and to be honest I doubt if the government wants too many of them told. Only today there was a story of small business people (noodle stall vendors etc) who lost everything not being able to get government loans to reestablish their businesses because they had no assets! However, whatever, I write cannot explain the depth of this tragedy, and I can’t even begin to think what it is like in Aceh.
Unbalance in small communities, having lost up to 50% of their original inhabitants on the coastline of Aceh. In excessive numbers women were decimated, clinging on to their small children, lacking the physical strength to battle the torrid current of nature.
A village of 250 persons now reduced to a community of 26 women and 98 male survivors!
Oui – Liberté – Égualité – Fraternité
The hard truth of the Aid monies are the strings attached to the money.
If the countries “promising” the money, get what they want, “kickbacks” of some sort, then the money is trickled into the disaster area, and the bulk will wind up in some officials, or corporate till, to be used for their gain.