Myanmar and China

May 14, 2008 at 10:27 PM
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The International Red Cross, according to AP, has stated that the death toll from the Myanmar cyclone "may be between 68,833 and 127,990." And more is on the way.

In China, meanwhile, Xinhua places a (possibly understated) death toll from the earthquake at 19,565. The toll will continue to rise as bodies are found. If the Zipingpu dam were to break, the situation would get even worse.

So. From these rough numbers, we show between 88,398 and 147,555 people dead. The city of Cincinnati, which I live outside of, has a population of approximately 332,252. Just two disasters in a short time; the equivalent of 27% to 44% of Cincinnati's population wiped out.

Between 48 and 80 times the final death toll from Katrina.

Imagine a disaster of that scale happening here. How would we respond?

I walked out into the living room this morning. The TV was on CNN. They were talking about President Bush's golf game. Are TV news audiences (yes, I'm talking about yours too, Fox) really largely idiots, or is it just in the interests of the news organizations to dish out stupid crap even when new human suffering is being born on a massive scale?

I haven't made up my mind on that one.

At any rate, there are organizations like Red Cross and UNICEF if you feel like giving. No, that won't bring back the dead, and yes, it's a bit like a drop in an ocean. But it's something, and I think it's more than a feel-good gesture.

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I've been hesitant to give money for either disaster because there are reports that both the Chinese and Myanmar governments have been reluctant to allow foreign aid workers to come in and distribute supplies. In Myanmar's case, government officials actually confiscated the supplies from aid organizations waiting at the airport for permission to go into the provinces hit hard by the cyclone. Then leaders of the military junta brought the supplies out themselves and handed them out, claiming the government was responsible for the aid.

In China's case, it's mostly one of confusion and embarrassment. The government was hoping nothing would happen that would make them look bad before the Olympics: then the Tibet protests broke out, and now this. Locals in Szechuan province have been approaching foreign reporters, complaining that nothing has been done for them. Meanwhile, the Chinese army has had trouble reaching distant mountain villages on roads that have been either damaged or covered with debris from the earthquake. I don't understand why they don't airlift people from the area, but the inability of the government to respond quicker to the disaster underscores the growing discrepancy between the poor rural provinces and the growing wealth of the cities on the coast.

I'm not saying people shouldn't give to the Red Cross or Unicef (which was one of the aid organizations blocked by Myanmar's government). But I want my money to really go to the people who need help, and not to bolster a military dictatorship or some inept official who was supposed to be responsible for earthquake relief efforts in China.

As for news organizations....I listen to National Public Radio for most of my news. They didn't even talk about Jenna Bush's wedding in Texas. But they have had some terrific if grim coverage of the Szechuan earthquake.

Scott replied to Hangaku Gozen’s comment:
May 16, 2008
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Agreed, corruption is a serious concern with giving funds toward these countries. Hell, it was a problem here too, what with our brilliant leader's response to Katrina (and that genius he had running FEMA)...issues of charities working at odds with each other and the government, money being wasted because the Federal responders weren't there, etc. I did throw some money toward New Orleans back then and I just sort of hope some of it hit the target. Really, I rely on the same hope any time I donate. I try to give to the most reputable organizations I can, and pay attention to reports of corruption, but even in the best of cases there is probably some idiot in the chain getting a few bucks who shouldn't. At worst, some bureaucrat is getting a Mercedes. (Eesh, sounds like Congress...but that's another discussion.) I guess that's why faith, hope, and charity are lumped together... :-)

NPR is a great resource, although I freely admit the twee speech stylings of some of the hosts drive me up the wall. :-D

Myanmar and China

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