A race against time

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Aid Reaches Tsunami Victims, But Only a Trickle

For those in need, and for family members awaiting news of their loved ones, it is nigh impossible to provide the aid at the speed desired. Indeed, the sheer enormity of the natural disaster has most of the world reeling as each day the victim count soars by thousands.

Even at peak efficiency, bureaucracy has its limitations. Cash donations can move at the speed of wired funds, but physically transporting water, food, clothing and medical supplies - only the first of items needed to maintain the survivors - cannot move as efficiently.

The American military responded Monday, within a day of the disaster. Contrary to accusations, the American Commander in Chief has not been idle. Other naval forces have also turned their attentions to the Indian Ocean countries' needs.

High on the priority lists are potable water and medicines.

U.S., Japanese and Australian naval ships are steaming toward the disaster area with onboard hospitals and water desalination plants.

Seven of the U.S. ships can produce 90,000 gallons of fresh water a day and one ship can deploy a field hospital ashore when it arrives in Thailand in about a week.

Cargo planes laden with whatever was feasible to carry by air - which usually cannot include high volumes of water - are landing at airstrips round the clock. Helicopters are required to reach the remote areas not accessible by roads.

For the victims, yesterday is not soon enough.

Aid workers and charity organizations look to the UN for guidance.

The Oxfam charity said national aid groups were "rising to the challenge," but called on the United Nations to lead the way.

"Given the scale and scope of this crisis, strong U.N. leadership is critical," said Jasmine Whitbread, Oxfam's international director.

U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan cut short a holiday to oversee the relief operation from New York. The United Nations will launch a major appeal on January 6.

Now I'm not sure what Kofi's appeal is to be, but I can sure say this. At a time when every moment counts, Jan 6th - fully one week from today - is not soon enough. I suggest that whatever Kofi has up his sleeve for his "appeal" better take place before that. And if it involves rounding up his vacationing elitists, so be it.

Our President, taking fire from both international and domestic politicos bent on turning a natural disaster into another "hate Bush" campaign, works round the clock. He may be clearing brush in Texas, but he still has briefings and his staff at his fingertips. While he may not have addressed the public via airways, he has been doing exactly what he should. Deploying military forces, allocating funds, looking for the most efficient ways to deal with the needs, phoning the powers that be in affected countries ... behind the scenes work that accomplishes far more than standing in front of a podium with some feel good words.

Allow me to note that while the world blasts away at the US President for taking 4 days to stand in front of cameras - like that will do whit for anyone - Kofi is just now returning from his vacation, holding his first press conference today.

And, if the Jan 6th date above is correct, evidently the rest won't be showing up until next week.

But not all UN and WHO workers are idle. So many, more valuable than the UN suits, are responding to the best of their abilities.

U.N. officials said 5,000 body bags were flown into one badly hit Meulaboh on Wednesday, to be followed on Thursday by 50 generators for hospitals in Banda Aceh.

The World Food Program is starting to distribute 12 tonnes of fortified biscuits and eight tonnes of fortified noodles in a province already hit by a long-running conflict.

"To organize a rescue operation of this size in a couple of days, I don't think it's ever been done," Michael Elmquist, head of the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs for Indonesia told reporters.

For those on at ground zero, it is a race against time. The potential loss of life due to disease that can spread to those not affected directly by the tsunami is a grim reality.