120,000 Death toll tops ; Canada joins U.S.-led aid coalition
BANDA ACEH, Indonesia (CP) - An unprecedented world relief drive to shelter, treat and feed millions of survivors of Asia's tsunami disaster kicked into high gear Friday as donations poured in and aid planes and ships - including a U.S. aircraft carrier battle group - rushed to the devastated region. The death toll passed 120,000.
Survivors on the ground grappled with the destruction. Teams of forensic experts in Thailand packed bodies in dry ice as the government announced its death toll in the tsunami disaster had doubled to more than 4,500 people, almost half of them foreigners. Hopes faded that more survivors would be found.
Three of Canada four confirmed deaths in the disaster were in Thailand, as were most of the almost 90 people listed as missing or unaccounted for by the Foreign Affairs Department in Ottawa.
In the hardest-hit country, Indonesia, officials began to acknowledge that the death toll might never be known with precision, since towering waves on Sunday swept entire villages out to sea. The country's official death toll stood at about 80,000, but Health Minister Siti Fadillah Supadi said it could reach 100,000.
"It is very difficult to predict the final toll," said Dody Budiatman, co-ordinator of national relief efforts. "We could search in small boats, but considering the numbers it would be very difficult."
Death counts across the region continued to grow. More than 120,000 people were reported dead around southern Asia and as far away as Somalia on Africa's eastern coast, most killed by massive tsunamis that smashed coastlines after a magnitude 9.0 earthquake off Indonesia's coast Sunday.
Sri Lanka reported about 28,500 deaths and India more than 7,700. A total of more than 300 were killed in Malaysia, Myanmar, Bangladesh, the Maldives, Somalia, Tanzania and Kenya.
UN Secretary General Kofi Annan said on Thursday that the international community had pledged some $600 million Cdn toward the relief effort, but more help was needed.
"Over the past few days it has registered deeply in the consciousness and conscience of the world as we seek to grasp the speed, the force and magnitude with which it happened," Annan said. "But we must also remain committed for the longer term."
While the money starting rolling in, militaries around the globe also geared up to help. A U.S. aircraft carrier battle group was steaming to Sumatra.
In Ottawa, Prime Minister Paul Martin announced that Canada has joined a U.S.-led coalition of mostly developed countries delivering relief to tsunami-struck south Asia.
Martin pledged Canada's commitment to the coalition that also includes Japan, Australia and India, in a telephone conversation early Friday with President George W. Bush.
A spokeswoman for Martin says the group will work together - and with the United Nations - to ensure rich countries are not competing against each other in the delivery of aid.
Survivors on the ground grappled with the destruction. Teams of forensic experts in Thailand packed bodies in dry ice as the government announced its death toll in the tsunami disaster had doubled to more than 4,500 people, almost half of them foreigners. Hopes faded that more survivors would be found.
Three of Canada four confirmed deaths in the disaster were in Thailand, as were most of the almost 90 people listed as missing or unaccounted for by the Foreign Affairs Department in Ottawa.
In the hardest-hit country, Indonesia, officials began to acknowledge that the death toll might never be known with precision, since towering waves on Sunday swept entire villages out to sea. The country's official death toll stood at about 80,000, but Health Minister Siti Fadillah Supadi said it could reach 100,000.
"It is very difficult to predict the final toll," said Dody Budiatman, co-ordinator of national relief efforts. "We could search in small boats, but considering the numbers it would be very difficult."
Death counts across the region continued to grow. More than 120,000 people were reported dead around southern Asia and as far away as Somalia on Africa's eastern coast, most killed by massive tsunamis that smashed coastlines after a magnitude 9.0 earthquake off Indonesia's coast Sunday.
Sri Lanka reported about 28,500 deaths and India more than 7,700. A total of more than 300 were killed in Malaysia, Myanmar, Bangladesh, the Maldives, Somalia, Tanzania and Kenya.
UN Secretary General Kofi Annan said on Thursday that the international community had pledged some $600 million Cdn toward the relief effort, but more help was needed.
"Over the past few days it has registered deeply in the consciousness and conscience of the world as we seek to grasp the speed, the force and magnitude with which it happened," Annan said. "But we must also remain committed for the longer term."
While the money starting rolling in, militaries around the globe also geared up to help. A U.S. aircraft carrier battle group was steaming to Sumatra.
In Ottawa, Prime Minister Paul Martin announced that Canada has joined a U.S.-led coalition of mostly developed countries delivering relief to tsunami-struck south Asia.
Martin pledged Canada's commitment to the coalition that also includes Japan, Australia and India, in a telephone conversation early Friday with President George W. Bush.
A spokeswoman for Martin says the group will work together - and with the United Nations - to ensure rich countries are not competing against each other in the delivery of aid.
posted by Extreme Ezine @ 10:42 AM
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