Asia & Oceania group posting on GLOBOsapiens

Aisian Earthquake!!

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wreckit2 Joined: Jul 04 Points: 251 Posts: 21 Posted: 2005-01-17 15:51:00    I got back from a relief mission with a religious group 2 days ago from Sri Lanka. I will be posting some pictures soon. Those planning to travel there may like to know that Northeast, East and Southeast coasts were affected. Within 1 km from the coast line, almost everything was obliterated except religious buildings (?). Don't expect to see corposes lying around, they have all been taken care of by mass graves. There are no funny smells no dangerous disease and no hostile villages. Inland, everthing as normal and as beautiful. There is no shortage of supplies or amenities inland. People are starting to rebuild their homes and find ways of recovering the livelihood. You can help by going there and spending your tourist dollars. Helping do and don'ts (relating to Sri Lanka only) Do :- 1. Donate cash to Red Cross or other reputable NGOs. 2. Homes rebuilding knowhow needed. 3. Boat repair knowhow needed. 4. Stationery and toys needed, kids are getting bored in refugee camps. 5. Psycological rehabiliation help needed. Don't :- 1. Fly there in a hurry although you do not have disaster recovery training. 2. Donate old clothes. 3. Food not needed. I volunteered for a mission to Bandar Aceh in Indonesia and will leave in a few days' time. Reply    Reply with quote    Contact wreckit2   ravinderkumarsi Premium account Joined: Aug 04 Points: 14003 Posts: 451 Posted: 2005-01-18 06:40:00    hii wreck, i am really glad and happy for your work towards helping unknow people who have lost almost every thing in psunami waves. wish u all the success in ur mission. ravi --- at bangalore /back 2 globo after a long Reply    Reply with quote    Contact ravinderkumarsi   davidx Premium account Joined: Dec 04 Points: 34719 Posts: 440 Posted: 2005-01-18 11:34:00    A message like this tells so much more than many news reports. I think the 'dos' and 'don'ts' are particularly valuable. Thanks for postibng it David --- Grieve not for that which you cannot do but rejoice in that which you can. Reply    Reply with quote    Contact davidx   ravinderkumarsi Premium account Joined: Aug 04 Points: 14003 Posts: 451 Posted: 2005-01-18 12:01:00    yes i agree with david ,but one thing i didnt understood as why donating old clothes is not advisable??? ravi --- at bangalore /back 2 globo after a long Reply    Reply with quote    Contact ravinderkumarsi   rangutan Premium account Joined: Aug 04 Points: 34752 Posts: 1044 Posted: 2005-01-18 12:48:00    Thanks for the update and tips Dave. I did also hear and understand that it is firstly immediate medical and rebuilding skills and products that are needed (aswell as finance). There is enough food and clothing in these countries, it must just be bought and distributed. Sending cloths or food from other countries is a very big disadvantage to local production and markets, anyway the people there eat and clothe differently to other countries, imagine the stupidity in sending tons of bullybeef or chopsticks or lederhosen! To invest in rebuilding and to support the local tourist industries there again is the best positive contribution. Rudi --- Rudolf "Rangutan" Graspointner Reply    Reply with quote    Contact rangutan   ravinderkumarsi Premium account Joined: Aug 04 Points: 14003 Posts: 451 Posted: 2005-01-19 08:55:00    hii rudi, i fully agree with you as why not to send cloth and thanks for explaning so well. ravi --- at bangalore /back 2 globo after a long Reply    Reply with quote    Contact ravinderkumarsi   wreckit2 Joined: Jul 04 Points: 251 Posts: 21 Posted: 2005-01-30 17:55:00    Dear David, The outgoing Sri Lanka Ambassador to Singapore wrote a note of thanks to the relief effort and request tourists not to abstain from the country in order to support the local economy. Please do not cancel your trip to Sri Lanka if you planned to travel there in the first place. It is safe ! Wreckit Reply    Reply with quote    Contact wreckit2   wreckit2 Joined: Jul 04 Points: 251 Posts: 21 Posted: 2005-01-30 17:58:00    Ravinder, In Sri Lanka, I saw piles of used clothes sitting in the rain and in Aceh, I see used clothes going up in smoke. Many of the victims find it difficult to use the second hand clothese for cultural and religious reasons. Also, many times, the clothese are the wrong types (male / female / child) or wrong size. Instead, the cargo space to be used to ship these unappreciated items can be used to ship something more important. Regards Wreckit Reply    Reply with quote    Contact wreckit2   wreckit2 Joined: Jul 04 Points: 251 Posts: 21 Posted: 2005-01-30 18:08:00    Dear Friends, I just got back from Aceh this evening after spending the last 9 days vaccinating children. Unlike my earlier encouragement to travel to Sri Lanka, PLEASE DO NOT TRAVEL TO ACEH ! My earlier visit to Sri Lanka did not prepare my for the shock in Aceh, it was total devastation. In places like Calang and Meulaboh, 80% of the local population was wiped out. Corpses are still being recovered at over 1000 pieces per day. This is a time when they do not need gawking tourist who will put a strain on resources. Also, it is a dangerous time of rebel activity, flood / rainy season, diseases, plenty of mosquitoes, flies and other strange insects not normally encountered. I will post some pics soon. Wreckit Reply    Reply with quote    Contact wreckit2   Page: 1 2