Tsunami Disaster Entering Next Stages

As the news from the Asian tsunami start to fade from the top of the news, new and old issues arise. The number of dead continues to climb. Recovery efforts move forward, while those injured are getting medical care for the first time, and politics raises its ugly head - again.

The unofficial death toll in Indonesia alone has climbed to 210,00o. That raises the total death toll near 300,000 (almost double 163,370 official count). Meanwhile, there are signs that the second wave - disease - is already starting. Much has been said of concerns about disentary, malaria, and Dengue fever; however, it is tetanus that is on the rise in Aceh, Sumatra, and Indonesia. Something that is so preventable through vaccination may become a major problem in the affected areas. Tetanus has a mmortality rate of about twenty-five percent, and an incubation period up to 60 days. There are already 67 confirmed cases of the disease.

While the people of the coastal regions of the Indian Ocean mourn and attempt to survive, politics and "business as usual" rears its ugly head. Children left orphaned, or still separated from family, are being recruited as child soldiers by the Tamil Tigers. Others are being scooped up to serve in that booming tourist arena - the sex industry. While child soldiering and the sexual slavery of children is horrendous under "normal" conditions, it almost defies imagination in the current environment. Here are these children who have lost everything, somehow survived one of the worst natural disasters of historic times, and now are forced to be killers and prostitutes. This is beyond a sad statement on humanity.

As that negative side of human "nature" resurfaces, so does politics and war. Indonesia wants foreign troops out of Aceh, and the U.S seems more than willing to comply. While Bush acknowledges that the high visibility of US and military relief efforts are good for international image, there are realities to consider. Realities such as the fact that US forces are already over-extended by the "war on terrorism" and the Iraqi "elections" are looming come to mind. In Ache in particular, the US has long turned a blind eye to the "conflict" between the government of Indonesia and the war in Aceh.

A number of you have also expressed interest in how animals faired in the tsunami. While some did well, pets are definitely struggling. The Humane Society has a World Wide Disaster Fund where you can make a contribution to animal relief efforts in the tsunami area. Starving pets - primarily dogs - are not just struggling to survive, but are feeding on human remains and in some cases becoming predatory. Humane Society representatives in the area are trying to provide food, medical assistance, and relocation efforts. I am sure your contributions would be welcome.

As has been noted repeatedly, a catastrophe like this is not going to just go away. It will take sustained effort over years to physically and economically recover. For those who survived, the recovery may be much longer than that.