ONLY RICH GETTING TSUNAMI AID - SUPPORT WORK OF MSF
endsocialinjustice | 02.01.2005 13:37 | Ecology | Globalisation
Yesterday Channel Four reported how poor Tsunami victims effectively seafaring villagers on the coastland in Thailand had not received aid because rich tourists were being given preferential treatment. This is even more unacceptable given that western governments are already making efforts to help citizens in their own areas leaving poor people with little or no assistance. In this instance, it would be best to support organisations like medecins san frontieres who are make a point of going into all areas and ensure everyone receives fair and equal treatment.
I would also like to help people hit by the Tsunami disaster but I do not want to prop up dodgy organisations acting as charities unless they can show that they are not discriminating and they are seeking to give people a sustainable life after they have assisted them in this terrible disaster. MSF is one of the few organisations that can do this with professional staff.
MSF has sent mobile teams in Banda Aceh and brought a mobile clinic to the remote coastal town of Lhok Timon in the North Sumatra region of Indonesia. The team was dropped by MSF helicopter, with materials for medical consultations. They also brought 120 kilos of rice to a population of 1,500 people who, for five consecutive days, have been living on coconuts and bananas. According to the MSF team, the population is living in appalling conditions, with around 20 families to one a hut and people being forced to use plastic bags for additional shelter.
Indonesia
A full charter of 32 tonnes of medical and water and sanitation equipment has been dispatched. An eight person team has gone to Banda Aceh on the northern Sumatra coast. The team includes three nurses and two doctors - all Indonesian - plus one logistician. This team brought another 3.5 tonnes of medical supplies.
More staff are available for immediate departure and will be dispatched according to MSF reports from the region.
Malaria and dengue fever are anticipated to be serious problems. The desalination of water supplies will have to be a priority because salt water is contaminating fresh water supplies. Plans to provide psychological support for survivors.
Sri Lanka
The functioning hospitals are inundated with injured people. Homeless and displaced people are a constant and the enormity of the devastation means large numbers of corpses remain in the open.
The most affected areas are reported to be Matara, Kalutara, Galle and Hambantota in the south east. In the northeast are Trincomalee, Batticaloa and Jaffna.
In total 12 expat staff have been deployed to the region in three separate teams. Another 17 staff are on standby to be deployed depending on the information gathered by the exploration missions.
A six person MSF team has been dispatched (three from the UK, the rest from Japan) and includes a surgeon, doctor, nurse and two logisticians. The team is designated for the north east region of Sri Lanka where MSF had recently been active.
Batticola, a coastal town, will be the first destination.
Sri Lanka, a key target country for MSF operations, also has ten volunteers, based in Australia, on standby.
Additional staff have already arrived in Colombo and a medical doctor is en route. There priority is to conduct an exploratory mission of the area today (Dec 29). An additional seven staff, based in Spain are on standyb.
A third team is also en route.
Thailand
In Thailand, MSF staff are conducting exploration missions of the affected Phuket region. Non-food items are being assembled for distribution.
Malaysia
MSF Belgium has two doctors doing an explo in Penang and will be visiting coastal towns immediately.
Myanmar (Burma)
MSF is sending a team to carry out an exploratory mission in Myiek, in the far south of Myanmar.
India
MSF Belgium has a two person team carrying out an explo in parts of Southern India. They arrived December 27 in Chennai, the capital city of Tamil Nadu. The government and local people are organizing health care, food distribution and the cleaning up operation. Fortunately there is no shortage of safe water in Chennai. 220 wounded arrived at the Government hospital in the last couple of days for minor injuries.
The MSF explo team has travelled further south to Nagapattinam, the worst hit district. The coastal areas have been severely affected and families are still looking for missing people. There has been a strong response from the government and local communities. Bodies have already been collected and burnt. They are re-establishing the electricity supply in order to get the water pumps running again with clean water.
The Ministry of Health has mobilised extra staff and have set up 'health camps' where access is free for everyone. On first examination, the hospitals seem to be well supplied with drugs and materials. The principal problem for the community at the moment seems to be psychological trauma.
Other
Field teams in all countries where we are present, as well as Somalia and Kenya, are investigating damage.
MSF has sent mobile teams in Banda Aceh and brought a mobile clinic to the remote coastal town of Lhok Timon in the North Sumatra region of Indonesia. The team was dropped by MSF helicopter, with materials for medical consultations. They also brought 120 kilos of rice to a population of 1,500 people who, for five consecutive days, have been living on coconuts and bananas. According to the MSF team, the population is living in appalling conditions, with around 20 families to one a hut and people being forced to use plastic bags for additional shelter.
Indonesia
A full charter of 32 tonnes of medical and water and sanitation equipment has been dispatched. An eight person team has gone to Banda Aceh on the northern Sumatra coast. The team includes three nurses and two doctors - all Indonesian - plus one logistician. This team brought another 3.5 tonnes of medical supplies.
More staff are available for immediate departure and will be dispatched according to MSF reports from the region.
Malaria and dengue fever are anticipated to be serious problems. The desalination of water supplies will have to be a priority because salt water is contaminating fresh water supplies. Plans to provide psychological support for survivors.
Sri Lanka
The functioning hospitals are inundated with injured people. Homeless and displaced people are a constant and the enormity of the devastation means large numbers of corpses remain in the open.
The most affected areas are reported to be Matara, Kalutara, Galle and Hambantota in the south east. In the northeast are Trincomalee, Batticaloa and Jaffna.
In total 12 expat staff have been deployed to the region in three separate teams. Another 17 staff are on standby to be deployed depending on the information gathered by the exploration missions.
A six person MSF team has been dispatched (three from the UK, the rest from Japan) and includes a surgeon, doctor, nurse and two logisticians. The team is designated for the north east region of Sri Lanka where MSF had recently been active.
Batticola, a coastal town, will be the first destination.
Sri Lanka, a key target country for MSF operations, also has ten volunteers, based in Australia, on standby.
Additional staff have already arrived in Colombo and a medical doctor is en route. There priority is to conduct an exploratory mission of the area today (Dec 29). An additional seven staff, based in Spain are on standyb.
A third team is also en route.
Thailand
In Thailand, MSF staff are conducting exploration missions of the affected Phuket region. Non-food items are being assembled for distribution.
Malaysia
MSF Belgium has two doctors doing an explo in Penang and will be visiting coastal towns immediately.
Myanmar (Burma)
MSF is sending a team to carry out an exploratory mission in Myiek, in the far south of Myanmar.
India
MSF Belgium has a two person team carrying out an explo in parts of Southern India. They arrived December 27 in Chennai, the capital city of Tamil Nadu. The government and local people are organizing health care, food distribution and the cleaning up operation. Fortunately there is no shortage of safe water in Chennai. 220 wounded arrived at the Government hospital in the last couple of days for minor injuries.
The MSF explo team has travelled further south to Nagapattinam, the worst hit district. The coastal areas have been severely affected and families are still looking for missing people. There has been a strong response from the government and local communities. Bodies have already been collected and burnt. They are re-establishing the electricity supply in order to get the water pumps running again with clean water.
The Ministry of Health has mobilised extra staff and have set up 'health camps' where access is free for everyone. On first examination, the hospitals seem to be well supplied with drugs and materials. The principal problem for the community at the moment seems to be psychological trauma.
Other
Field teams in all countries where we are present, as well as Somalia and Kenya, are investigating damage.
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