Tsunami disaster - World must meet need for vital funds

As the death toll in South East Asia continued to rise yesterday, the international community began to absorb the extent of what may be the worst natural disaster in recent history and began reacting accordingly.

By late last night, the devastation in human terms from the earthquake and the consequential tsunami spiralled to more than 23,000, yet tragically, this may not reflect its ultimate magnitude.

So far, it cannot be ascertained how many people are missing and their fate is an unknown quantity in relation to what the eventual human cost may be.

What can be understood more immediately is the widespread havoc wreaked by the disaster in so many countries. The extent of the earthquake can be gauged by the fact it sent waves from Malaysia to Africa; a staggering phenomenon that must be met by international aid of truly magnanimous proportions.

The European Commission has pledged €30 million on behalf of its 25 member states, after an initial €3 million was allocated to the International Federation of the Red Cross (IFRC) to meet vital initial needs.

However, that may not be the extent of EU aid as the exact amount of further funding will depend on needs assessments and on requests made to the European Community Humanitarian Office (ECHO) by agencies on the ground.

It is through the Red Cross that Irish Government aid of €1 million will be channelled, although, presumably, that paltry sum from the Government will be substantially in excess of that inadequate figure.

Given the monumental scale of the damage caused and the destruction to lives and livelihoods, the amount allocated so far must only be described as an initial sum to help start the aid effort.

Aside from the Government’s contribution, other aid agencies in this country, such as Concern and Trócaire, have been quick to launch appeals.

It is hardly necessary to urge people to contribute generously to the cause because the traditional, innate spirit of giving will surely be moved by the inordinate immensity of the hardship so far witnessed.

The very real threat of disease spreading among communities already pulverised by nature is the pre-occupying consideration at the moment.

Already, international aid agencies have rushed staff, equipment and money to the disaster zone where the fear is that the bodies of the unfortunate victims in the water were already beginning to infect the water supply for survivors.

It is but one of the gigantic problems that need to be tackled and it is only the concerted effort of the international community that can begin to mitigate the aftermath effects of the worst earthquake in 40 years.

There are still thousands of people missing across more than half a dozen countries and countless thousands more have been rendered homeless.

However their lives and homes can be salvaged and their hope can be raised by unprecedented generosity on the part of the rest of the world.