Recovering from tsunamis<\/p>\n
The immediate priorities in responding to the tsunami disaster
\nis clear: The missing have to be accounted for and resources have
\nto be marshaled to help the millions who survived the disaster.<\/p>\n
Assistance will be required to help the victims rebuild their
\nlives, for most of them live in developing countries. Developed
\ncountries have offered aid, as have international agencies, and
\nit is to be hoped that such aid will remain forthcoming even
\nafter the immediate disaster relief is over.<\/p>\n
The Singapore Government has offered aid, and we urge all
\nSingaporeans to open their hearts - and their wallets - to the
\nvictims of this natural disaster, the worst to hit the region in
\ndecades. Geography sheltered Singapore island from the tsunamis'
\ndevastation, but humanity links its people to the rest in the
\nregion.<\/p>\n
In the long term, the region must develop an effective early-
\nwarning system to deal with tsunamis. One of the most poignant
\nremarks heard in the past two days came from the director of the
\nUnited States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration,
\nwho said his office tried to send out a warning soon after the
\nearthquake off Sumatra's northern tip occurred, but they did not
\n'have contacts in our address book for anybody in that part of
\nthe world'.<\/p>\n
This cannot be allowed to happen again. Surely the region can
\ncooperate to avoid disasters that, inevitably, do not recognize
\nnational boundaries.<\/p>\n
-- The Straits Times, Singapore<\/p>\n
;;
\nANPAk..r..
\nOtherOp-UN-Asia
\nTime for the UN to lead
\nJP\/06\/Other<\/p>\n
Time for the UN to lead<\/p>\n
As the scope of the catastrophe on coasts from Indonesia to
\nIndia becomes clearer, so does a solution on how the relief
\neffort must be handled -- this is a job for the UN.<\/p>\n
As an independent body, the UN is well positioned to take on
\nthe awful but essential task of deciding what will happen, where
\nand when in the reconstruction effort, and of ensuring assistance
\nreaches the people it is intended for.<\/p>\n
But the UN has a regrettable recent record in helping
\nhumanity. Too often, as in the Darfur region of Sudan, refugees
\nhave been left to rot while member nations played politics in the
\ncouncils of the world body.<\/p>\n
But this time the UN must be seen to succeed, and to do so
\nfast. Its officers have to be seen on the ground, helping the
\nlocals to run the recovery program. And Secretary-General Kofi
\nAnnan must represent the overall international assistance effort.
\nThis time, surely, the UN must succeed -- the whole world is
\nwatching.<\/p>\n
-- The Australian, Sydney<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/recovering-from-tsunamis-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }