The world is scrambling to send aid to the victims of the earthquake that struck South-East Asia. The force of the undersea quake or tsunami and the havoc it has wreaked from Asia to Africa is mind-boggling and all too tragic.
This is what the Disaster Resource Network (DRN), an initiative of the World Economic Forum, is doing to help survivors.
On Dec 30, The United nations requested DRN to prepare for deployment of a second Airport Emergency Team, this time to Indonesia where seere congestion at provincial airports are hampering the flow of relief supplies. There's clearly an opportunity for the Transportation & Logistics members of the Forum to participate.
Posted by: Bob Bellhouse | December 30, 2004 at 23:09
As of December 29th, DRN is using specialized donated skilled individuals to manage air cargo operations at the Colombo Sri Lanka airport. This airport will be the main receiving airport for relkeif supplies directed to Sri Lanka. Existing local staff at the airport are insufficient to deal with the incoming volume of cargo.
Posted by: Bob Bellhouse | December 29, 2004 at 22:53
And here is a personal account from some people who survived the tsunami that hit Railai Beach in Krabi in the south of Thailand:
"Doug and Stephen were arriving at the beach in Doug’s brother, Darrell’s speed boat. Ximena and Nicole were arriving in the long-tail boat together with the luggage farther on down the beach.
The family arrived at 10:30 a.m. on Sunday morning, Krabi, Thailand time (10:30 p.m. Christmas day east coast time). Just as they were arriving, the compound manager, Michel, arrived running to Darrelll and Doug advising that he had just received a telephone call from a french hotel manager
on Phi Phi island (40 km. away) that a 20-foot (6-meter) tsunami just washed over Phi Phi island and was heading for Krabi Peninsula.
When Doug and Darrell turned around with Michel, they saw in the horizon a huge, white-capped wave coming towards the Railai Beach. Darrell and Doug proceeded to run down the beach, warning all of the sunbathers that a tsunami was coming; many of them just stood there watching the waves.
Darrell reached Ximena and Nicole who were getting off the long-tail boat with the luggage, grabbed them and started running inland. Stephen and Doug grabbed the luggage on the cart to get together with the house boys to push the luggage ahead of the wave (probably not too wise).
However, they did save all their personal effects and the food they were bringing for their 10-day sojourn. As the family got to the second story of one of the beach houses at the back of the property, the tsunami swept across the beach, taking with it all the long-tail boats and Darrell’s 20-foot zodiac (speed boat). The damage to the houses directly on the beach was devastating.
Darrell’s boat landed in the club house. The water, after breaking through the trees, came inland nearly 300 meters, washing underneath the house where the Sheldon family and others from the beach were taking refuge.
The mobile phone was working. Doug called Bangkok to one of his Thai partners who advised that another tsunami could be imminent and to get to high ground. There was a mass exodus of people in the compound and the tourists from the beach to the eastern side of the peninsula, all
climbing up the mountain where several thousand proceeded to wait for the next 6 hours, pending the next tsunami.
Although it did not arrive at 3 p.m. as predicted, everyone remained on high ground for the evening. It was gratifying to see the charity of several of the restaurants and hotels, providing free of charge water and food to the people standing on the mountaintop. (Stephen bought the last cold
Heineken for 80 baht!) The following morning (Dec. 27), the family returned to their beach home and on the ground floor there was some minor damage. The major portion of the house on the second floor
was safe and intact. Stephen, Doug, and Darrell are organizing with the other members of the community who decided to remain to restore electricity and water from the compound’s generator and deep-water well.
It’s so far successful, and over the next two days, things should begin to return to normal. They will continue with their planned vacation, which will now be called The Tsunami Vacation. Seriously, everyone is happy that there were not major casualties on this particular beach, but unfortunately there were numerous deaths in Phuket and the whole Phang Nga Bay."
Posted by: Fon | December 29, 2004 at 17:46
Here is David Lyman from Thailand's account of what is happening on the ground:
"The disaster relief efforts underway are revealing many more deaths and missing than previously estimated.
All of our own people and known friends are accounted for and ok. But we are hearing many stories of those not so lucky who lost some or all of their family or friends in this catastrophe. Many many children were simply swept away and out to sea, and are just gone.
The tragedy is enormous but I am told that the Thai rescurers and local residents have been very helpful, tireless and comforting to the survivors. They literally have give up the shirts off their backs to those stripped naked by the force of the water.
Yes, some looting of shops and stores is occurring which should be stopped but manpower and resources are diverted to helping the living and collecting the dead before diseases and epidemics set in.
Limited on-scene resources have meant that the foreign tourist areas, which are the most accessable, are the centers of attention with the more remote villages not yet being within the reach of the rescue and clean up efforts.
There is a great need for blood, particularily Rh negative which is rare among Asians, water, food, clothing, shoes - for children and adults - medicines.
Thailand has good medical facilities and personnel who seem to be coping well, though exhausted as would be expected.
Other countries are not so lucky."
Posted by: Samantha | December 29, 2004 at 17:25
On the behalf of the Disaster resource Network, I spoke this morning with Ambassador Goonepillete, the Sri lankan Ambassador to the United Nations in New York. I offered our condolences for the lives they have lost, and pledged support including financial, specialized services and with econmoic development.
Posted by: Bob Bellhouse | December 29, 2004 at 16:35
As the Executive Director of DRN, I welcome you to join our efforts in providing releif to the victims of the the Southeast Asia Tsunami.
Financial contributions in support of these relief efforts can be wired to: Disaster Resource Network, Number: 0240-446640.01D, UBS SA, Rue du Rhône 8, 1204 Genève Switzerland. Swift code: UBSW CHZH 12A.
Posted by: Bob Bellhouse | December 29, 2004 at 16:22