Wednesday, December 27, 2006

Bill Clinton - Recovering From Tragedy - washingtonpost.com

Bill Clinton - Recovering From Tragedy - washingtonpost.com: "Recovering From Tragedy
Lessons of Tsunami Reconstruction After Two Years

By Bill Clinton
Tuesday, December 26, 2006; Page A25

Today marks two years since the 2004 tsunami unleashed untold suffering and devastation upon Indian Ocean coastal communities. The tragic toll still resonates: more than 200,000 dead; 2 million people displaced; 370,000 homes destroyed or damaged; some 5,000 miles of coastline devastated; and 2,000 miles of roads ruined."

Moving on, two years after the Asian tsunami - Asia - Pacific - International Herald Tribune

Moving on, two years after the Asian tsunami - Asia - Pacific - International Herald Tribune: "BANDA ACEH, Indonesia: 'This is it,' said Safrial, a carpenter, to his two young sons when a towering tsunami of black water rushed toward them two years ago. 'This is the end of the world.'

For most people who lived around him it was; and today Safrial, 45, hammers and sweats in the sun in a neighborhood where he knows the names of more of the dead than of the living.

He hammers constantly, even as he talks. 'This was a test from God,' he said. 'For those who died, it was disaster. But for the survivors, we must pass the test and become better people in every way.'"

Telegraph | News | Britain is slowest to pay out tsunami aid

Telegraph | News | Britain is slowest to pay out tsunami aid: "The British Government has the worst record for honouring pledges to help to rebuild the area worst affected by the Boxing Day tsunami, it emerged yesterday."

Thursday, December 21, 2006

The return of stinginess - Editorials/Op-Ed - The Washington Times, America's Newspaper

The return of stinginess - Editorials/Op-Ed - The Washington Times, America's Newspaper: "The tsunami which struck South and Southeast Asia two years ago next Tuesday, killing approximately 220,000, seems to be off the minds of many governments. As the BBC reported this week, several countries have given only a small fraction of their tsunami-aid pledges. Communist China pledged $301 million to Sri Lanka but has so far delivered just $1 million. France promised $79 million but has only delivered $1 million. Spain pledged $60 million but has yielded -- you guessed it -- $1 million."

Tsunami fund failures - The Herald

Tsunami fund failures - The Herald: "Post this article to:
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Some talked of a double tsunami: first the deathly wall of water that bore down on 12 countries around the Indian Ocean on Boxing Day 2004; then the equally momentous outpouring of compassion, as individuals around the world and, somewhat belatedly, their governments rallied round to help."

Tuesday, December 19, 2006

BBC NEWS | Programmes | Newsnight Home | Tsunami funds languish in banks

BBC NEWS | Programmes | Newsnight Home | Tsunami funds languish in banks: "Tsunami funds languish in banks
By Meirion Jones
Producer, BBC Newsnight

People in temporary housing in Sri Lanka two years after the tsunami
Many in Sri Lanka remain in temporary housing two years on
Nearly two years after the devastating tsunami in South East Asia, most of the donations given to help the survivors are still sitting in bank accounts.

BBC Newsnight has learnt that billions of dollars given by individuals and governments have still not been spent while two thirds of those who lost their houses are still waiting for them to be rebuilt.

UN tsunami envoy former US President Bill Clinton raised concerns about the slow pace of rebuilding."