tsunami’s toll tops 52,000

[soulwinner]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6754820/

BANDA ACEH, Indonesia - As the death toll from the epic tsunamis that slammed 11 countries soared beyond 52,000 people on Tuesday, a top World Health Organization health expert warned that diseases could double the natural disaster’s death count before the situation can be stabilized.

The number of dead continued to climb rapidly as authorities in Indonesia added 8,000 fatalities to the death toll there, bringing the total number killed to more than 27,000. India, Sri Lanka and Thailand also added to their death counts as they re-established contact with remote islands and isolated coastal areas and confirmed their worst fears.

The overall figure was expected to continue to climb as emergency workers make their way into inundated and still isolated villages and towns.

Medical supplies, food and water purification systems poured into the region, part of what the United Nations said would be the biggest relief effort the world has ever seen to aid the millions left homeless by the oceanic torrent that battered the countries after a magnitude 9.0 earthquake Sunday off Sumatra.

Disease fears rising

Bodies, many of them children, still filled beaches and choked hospital morgues, raising fears of disease.

Dr. David Nabarro, speaking at a news conference in Geneva, said that the aftermath could prove every bit as deadly as the initial onslaught of the tsunamis.

“There is certainly a chance that we could have as many dying from communicable diseases as from the tsunami,” he said.

He said local hospitals and health services were overwhelmed treating victims of the tsunami and thus less able to cope with people who may fall ill.

"The initial terror associated with the tsunamis and the earthquake itself may be dwarfed by the longer term suffering of the affected communities," Nabarro warned.

Robert Bazell, NBC's chief science correspondent, said the health risk for survivors is twofold.

"There is a shortage of clean water and an enormous amount of water left behind. That’s a recipe for disaster from diseases such as cholera and typhoid, which are spread by fecal material that gets into the water," he said. "Also, millions are homeless in a very wet situation; that’s a huge potential for the spread of respiratory diseases and other lesser-known diseases which can kill people, especially children."

In addition to the enormous human toll, the disaster could be the costliest in history, said U.N. Undersecretary Jan Egeland, who is in charge of emergency relief coordination. Hundreds of thousands have lost everything, and millions are living with polluted drinking water and no health services, he said.

Geographic scope of crisis unparalleled

The geographic scope of the disaster was unparalleled. Relief organizations used to dealing with a centralized crisis had to distribute resources over 11 countries in two continents.

Helicopters in India rushed medicine to stricken areas, while warships in Thailand steamed to island resorts. In Sri Lanka, the Health Ministry dispatched 300 physicians to the disaster zone, dropping them off by helicopter.

Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar said the United States was sending helicopters, and an airborne surgical hospital from Finland arrived. A German aircraft was en route with a water purification plant. “A great deal is coming in, and they are having a few problems at the moment coordinating it.”

UNICEF officials said that about 175 tons of rice arrived in Banda Aceh, Indonesia, late Monday and six tons of medical supplies were expected to arrive by Thursday. But most basic supplies were scarce.

Meantime, U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell said Tuesday the United States “will do more” to help the victims and said in an interview on NBC's “Today” show that “clearly, the United States will be a major contributor to this international effort. And, yes, it will run into the billions of dollars.”

He also said he regretted a statement by Egeland, the U.N. official overseeing the relief effort, suggesting America was being "stingy".

Initially, the U.S. government pledged $15 million and dispatched disaster specialists to help the Asian nations devastated by the catastrophe.

As the relief effort gained momentum, emergency workers reaching areas isolated since the waves hit were seeing their worst nightmares realized.

10,000 killed in single town

Indonesian teams found that 10,000 people had been killed in a single town, Meulaboh, in Aceh province at the northern tip of Sumatra island, said Purnomo Sidik, national disaster director at the Social Affairs Ministry. Another 9,000 were confirmed dead so far in the provincial capital, Banda Aceh, and surrounding towns, he said.

In Sri Lanka, authorities said that approximately 1,000 people were killed or missing from a train that was flung off its tracks when the gigantic waves hit.

And in India, rescuers on Tuesday estimated that at least 7,000 people had been killed on the remote Andaman and Nicobar islands, with one town losing two-thirds of its population to the rampaging waters.

Sri Lanka's government raised its death toll past 18,700 and feared the final death toll would reach 25,000.

"Dead bodies are washing ashore along the coast," said Social Welfare Minister Sumedha Jayasena, who is coordinating relief efforts. "Reports reaching us from the rescue workers indicate there are 25,000 feared dead, and we don't know what to do."

In Thailand, which had previously reported 1,516 dead, including more than 700 tourists, rescue workers recovered more than 300 bodies on Thailand’s remote Phi Phi Island, a tourist getaway made famous by the Leonardo DiCaprio film "The Beach."

[RustyAngeL]

I am watching in horror as the death toll rises. This is the worst natural disaster I have ever seen. We need to be praying for these people and for the families of the ones still missing.

Edited December 28, 2004 by Rustyangel

[CarolineS]

I think this is the worst natural disaster that will occur in my lifetime. I am praying that God will use this event to turn many to the one true God. I feel bad that many people are saying buddist prayers over their dead loved ones. It is so sad.

In Christ,

CarolineS

[UndecidedFrog]

Dear Caroline,

This is just my opinion. You don't have to accept it if you dislike it. DISCLAIMER: I am not a christian.

I feel bad that many people are saying buddist prayers over their dead loved ones. It is so sad.

There is absolutely no reason to feel bad or sad that many people in SE Asia are saying buddhist, or hindi prayers over their dead loved ones. They are praying to the gods in which they believe. What would be bad and sad would be some people forcing them to pray to a god in which they did not believe.

If what I said above doesn't make sense to you, try applying the golden rule:

How would you feel if you lost loved ones and were praying to your god, and others felt that it was both bad and sad that you were doing so instead of praying to their gods?

Regards,

UndecidedFrog

[nebula]

Everyone feels sad about everyone else who believes differently than they do.

You feel sad that we have devoted our lives to something you believe to be false, don't you?

Just as we feel sad for you.

Par for the course.

So many souls lost.

[UndecidedFrog]

Dear nebula,

This is just my opinion. You don't have to accept it if you dislike it. DISCLAIMER: I am not a christian.

You feel sad that we have devoted our lives to something you believe to be false, don't you?

Acutally, no I don't. I am quite happy for you that you have found your path. I am happy for you that you find comfort in your beliefs. I respect you enough to know that you have not decided on this path on a whim. I certainly believe you to have weighed the evidence presented to you and you decided to accept your path.

Moreover, I would never...never ever say to you, when you are mouring a loved one, that you were praying to nobody or praying to the wrong god. I would not even think such a thing.

Regards,

UndecidedFrog

[CarolineS]

Undecided Frog,

I can only say that I feel sorry for you, too. You are lost and you don't even know it. Satan has you just where he wants you and I am sure he is rejoicing. Rejoicing over the many lost souls who died in the recent disaster and rejoicing daily over people like you.

You are like a blind man in a black square room looking for a black cat that doesn't exist. Completely lost.

"The fool has said in his heart, "There is no God." Psalm 14:1.

In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the DARKNESS DID NOT COMPREHEND IT. John 1:4-5.

Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. NO ONE COMES TO THE FATHER EXCEPT THROUGH ME." John 14:6

You believe athat there is one God. You do well. EVEN THE DEMONS BELIEVE--AND TREMBLE! James 2:19

For two thousand years millions of people have believed and followed Jesus Christ.

Many scientists are embracing Intelligent Design over evolution. Darwin is losing credibility daily. Are you saying all these people are wrong???

I suggest you read the book, A Case For Christ. It is written by an atheist and presents concrete evidence pointing to a creator.

Do not harden your heart too long, my friend. Seek God now, while he can be found.

In Christ,

CarolineS

[nebula]

Dear nebula,

This is just my opinion. You don't have to accept it if you dislike it. DISCLAIMER: I am not a christian.

You feel sad that we have devoted our lives to something you believe to be false, don't you?

Acutally, no I don't. I am quite happy for you that you have found your path. I am happy for you that you find comfort in your beliefs. I respect you enough to know that you have not decided on this path on a whim. I certainly believe you to have weighed the evidence presented to you and you decided to accept your path.

Moreover, I would never...never ever say to you, when you are mouring a loved one, that you were praying to nobody or praying to the wrong god. I would not even think such a thing.

Regards,

UndecidedFrog

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

UFrog -

Sorry, I misunderstood you. I appologize.

I just hope you understand that the assurity of our faith has a "narrow gate vs. wide gate" standard.

Wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction and many there be that find it; but narrow is the gate and straight is the way that leads to life and few there be that find it."

The "straight and narrow" is Jesus - and Jesus alone.

We see Buddha as just another man who has no power to save, and prayers to him fall to waste.

[UndecidedFrog]

Dear CarolineS,

This is just my opinion. You don't have to accept it if you dislike it. DISCLAIMER: I am not a christian.

Matthew 5:22

But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.

For two thousand years millions of people have believed and followed Jesus Christ.

Many scientists are embracing Intelligent Design over evolution. Darwin is losing credibility daily. Are you saying all these people are wrong???

For over two thousand years millions of people have believed and followed other gods.

I do not consider creationists as true scientists.

Darwin has nothing to do with god's existence.

People have been known to be wrong before.

Regards,

UndecidedFrog

[UndecidedFrog]

Dear nebula,

This is just my opinion. You don't have to accept it if you dislike it. DISCLAIMER: I am not a christian.

The "straight and narrow" is Jesus - and Jesus alone.

It is indeed unfortunate that this straight and narrow disallows some christians from respecting people of other beliefs, even as they mourn their dead.

It may be my broad approach allows me to stay silent about my non-beliefs of deities when christians or buddhists or hindus mourn. But I think it is really encapsulated in the concept of respect.

Regards,

UndecidedFrog