Global Response Towards the South Asia Disaster

By Edward Shih

In the past 40 years, no disaster has been as devastating as the quake-caused tsunami. Over 50 countries in 5 major continents have their citizens reported dead and missing. This disaster is a real global tragedy. Till this point, the death toll has numbered over fourteen hundred thousand with many more missing.

The global response towards this disaster is very great, thousands of natives has reached out for help, the donation amount has surpassed 2 billion US dollars. Foreign aids and relief supplies has already arrived at the disaster area, and it has been sent to places that has been cut off from outside world and are in desperate need of help.

Church pope John Paul II declares that this tragedy displayed that, “We are all a part of earth.”

Archbishop Rowan Williams says, “If there are any religious faith has not been greatly affected by this disaster that caused over 150,000 deaths, then there is a big problem. Every reckless and accidental death brings disturbance to the comfortable and conventional answers of faith. Facing this kind of paralyzing large-scaled disaster, we naturally will feel angry, and helpless.”

Therefore, “How can you believe in the God that allows suffering of this scale to occur?” This problem is very urgent. If it is not urgent, then in reality then something is wrong.” Williams says in the end when they faith is challenged by such horror, Christians should unite together to “interact passionately with those that are still alive.”

Williams states that an enduring faith that overcomes each of the obstacles one by one doesn’t provide people simply with comfort and explanation, but it exists because the believers cannot deny the possessions that God has given to them.

According to United Nations Secretary General Kofi Anan’s estimation, the countries that has been damaged by the Tsunami would need around five to ten years plus spending of over 10 billion dollars to recover from this natural disaster. Annan will head towards Indonesia’s capital Jakarta on January 6 to attend the earthquake and Tsunami International Conference, which would be held there, and he will also meet and discuss with the leaders from the affected countries about the relief and reconstruction matters.

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