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January 3, 2005

ASIAN TSUNAMI

Almost everyone in the world will have heard about the earthquake in the Indian Ocean and the consequent tsunami that has decimated millions of lives. It has already been billed as the "largest natural disaster in living memory" and the surging water has killed 140,000 people and counting. As a result, the world has seen the "biggest aid relief of all time" to try to clear up the mess, but it is the threat of disease that is the most worrying aspect of this.

News reports are telling us that people's gaping wounds are now sceptic and housing larvae, with many injured people having limbs amputated to save their lives. Hospitals cannot cope with the number of new patients coming through their doors every day and the strongest painkiller they have left is aspirin. Footage last night showed a man tied down on a hospital bed having an operation without any anaesthetic and a woman that, within ten minutes of the tv crew leaving her, died of mental and physical trauma. News presenters warn us that the images may be disturbing, but the affected people are LIVING this pain. We can turn off the television, these people can't turn off hell.

Pictures of the landscape demonstrate the sheer destruction experienced by these regions. As far as the eye can see, it is just a scene of nothingness. Former towns and busy villages have been reduced to rubble and it's like looking at a vast rubbish dump. These people really do not have anything left, their homes, belongings and their loved ones have been claimed by the sea in an event that is nobody's fault (except the Indian/European plates) but which will take years to recover from.

People should not have to go through this. The world has pledged more than £1 billion in aid which is a fantastic amount of money and which will go a long way to restoring some of the tangible aspects of people's lives, but it won't be enough. Entire infrastructures of several cities need to be rebuilt but more urgent than that is medication, machines to drain the polluted, stagnant water, as well as food and drinking water. I realise that the UK has pledged almost £1 per person to aid these people already, with the government matching that amount, but I'm sure more money can be raised. Debs, Simon S and I have all given £50 to the aid fund in the knowledge that these people need this money more than we do and I implore anyone who happens to read this post to do the same.

Don't go out next Friday night - give the money you save to the fund. Don't buy that new dress - give the money you save to the fund. Give up smoking for new year and do yourself and the world a huge favour - give the money you save to the fund. The more money raised, the more lives are saved.

Imagine if it was you.

Posted by jonola14 at January 3, 2005 9:06 AM

Posted by: Wibbler at January 3, 2005 4:52 PM

Posted by: Jonola at January 3, 2005 6:07 PM