Rear Admiral Haris: Hurricane Katrina "Pales In Comparison To What Has Happened In Pakistan"

[Turborama]

Run time: 02:00 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gwlrn4ke1cY   Posted on YouTube: August 19, 2010 By YouTube Member: itnnews Views on YouTube: 202   Posted on DU: August 19, 2010 By DU Member: Turborama Views on DU: 1316

 
Also in this video, Britain's International Development Secretary Andrew Mitchell has stated during his visit to Pakistan that "The worst could be yet to come" for the people in their flood-ravaged country.

From a Pakistani newspaper article...

With ‘enemies’ like these, who needs friends?

Gibran Peshimam
3 hours ago

=snip=

Standing aboard the USS Peleliu, the American vessel that brought most of the helicopters towards the Pakistani coast to begin relief and rescue operations, Rear Admiral Sinclair Harris, the commander of the relief operation, briefed the media about the efforts currently underway on the part of the United States.

He spoke of the almost immediate orders given to the vessel to move towards Pakistan from Bahrain to assist in flood relief efforts.

Rear Admiral Haris, who also worked on the relief effort for one of the US’ most potent natural disasters, Hurricane Katrina, puts it plainly.

“People want to know just how bad it is; I tell them that New Orleans was devastated after Katrina – but that pales in comparison to what has happened in Pakistan.”

The 2,100-strong crew of the Peleliu stands aboard the massive – over 39,000 ton, 820 foot – vessel docked off the coast of Karachi – in international waters. And though they may not say it, it is clear they do not want to tread on the sensitive issue of sovereignty.

Full article: http://tribune.com.pk/story/40667/with-%E2%80%98enemies%E2%80%99-like-these-who-needs-friends/

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Check out these BEFORE and AFTER satellite photos of Pakistan...(Dialup Warning)
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x8970355

Direct link to my Journal for previous articles regular updates on the humanitarian crisis in Pakistan: http://journals.democraticunderground.com/Turborama

[midnight]

1. Like Katrina, does the assistance make it to the people,

or does it get squirreled away or turned away? I admit my take on the delivery of aid to those in need is every bit as devastating as the storm. For so many administrators and boots/shoes on the ground their should be no one in dire straights. In Katrina, Haiti, etc..... We can set up cities in hours. Let's hope there is someone at the helm who can practice good faith distribution of aid.

[dipsydoodle]

2. Its selective

See here ; http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x4509380

[Turborama]

3. I'm very disappointed in you for doing that!

See my response here: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=102&topic_id=4503208&mesg_id=4509466


Seeing as I know how you feel about opinionated blogs being posted in LBN, I thought you'd be the last person to promote that slanted editorial.

[dipsydoodle]

5. Here is the International Herald Tribune link to the subject.

Sorry - I hadn't noticed that was a blog on the LBN link. No - I don't agree with blogs being used there especially Puffington Grossed.

The politics of relief: Aliens in their own land

The government and local clerics refused to shelter around 500 flood-affected families belonging to the Ahmadiya community in South Punjab’s relief camps. Not only that, the government also did not send relief goods to the flood-hit areas belonging to the Ahmadiya community, The Express Tribune has learnt during a visit to the devastated Punjab districts of Muzaffargarh, Dera Ghazi Khan and Rajanpur.

For its part, the government claims that all relief goods are being distributed among survivors without discrimination. And that all survivors have been sheltered in relief camps without distinction. The flood-devastated families from the Ahmadiya community have strongly criticised the government’s “discriminatory attitude” even at a time when the entire country is reeling from the ravages of the worst flooding in living memory.

Of the 500 Ahmadi families, 350 belong to DG Khan, 60 to Muzaffargarh and 65 to Rajanpur district. According to Ahmadiya community leaders, over 2,500 members of their community have been displaced and are now living with their relatives while some of them have left for Rabwah, the community’s headquarters.

Aziz Ahmad Khan, a local leader of flood victims from the Ahmadiya community in DG Khan, told The Express Tribune that all members of his family have complained of discrimination in DG Khan. He said 200 families from Basti Rindan and Basti Sohrani, 60 from Chah Ismaeel Wala, three from Rakh Mor Jangi, 18 from Ghazi Ghat and 12 from Jhakar Imam Shah of Ahmadpur. Khan alleged that 200 families, who have been displaced from Basti Rindan and Basti Sohrani by flooding, took shelter in a state-run school at Jhok Utra but within days the local administration forced them to leave the school. He said the local administration later told them that people from the surrounding areas did not want the Ahmadis in the relief camp. And that the administration could not allow them to stay at the camp as it could create a law and order situation.

http://tribune.com.pk/story/40435/the-politics-of-relief-aliens-in-their-own-land/

[Turborama]

6. You know what posting that opinion piece here is going to achieve, don't you?

It's going to derail this thread and/or put people off donating.

If you really want to post it somewhere, why not put it somewhere else as an OP?

On edit, it's also going to inflame some already prevalent bigotry towards Pakistan that's been witnessed here over the past couple of weeks.

[dipsydoodle]

7. As it had already been posted in LBN

there would be little point in posting it elsewhere.

My point was to draw attention to the truth of the matter in response to reply #1. There are serious tribal and caste issues in both Pakistan and India both similar in nature to colour issues in the USA.

[Turborama]

9. "There would be little point in posting it elsewhere", apart from here?

You've already posted a link to it, isn't that enough?

"My point was to draw attention to the truth of the matter in response to reply #1. There are serious tribal and caste issues in both Pakistan and India both similar in nature to colour issues in the USA."


The "truth in the matter" is this is one incident in an opinion piece. Yes, of course there are "tribal and caste issues in Pakistan". I wouldn't say they are "similar in nature to colour issues in the USA", though, and you are using an incorrect analogy.


Let's look at reply #1

"Like Katrina, does the assistance make it to the people, or does it get squirreled away or turned away? I admit my take on the delivery of aid to those in need is every bit as devastating as the storm. For so many administrators and boots/shoes on the ground their should be no one in dire straights. In Katrina, Haiti, etc..... We can set up cities in hours. Let's hope there is someone at the helm who can practice good faith distribution of aid."

Nope, no specific mention of color issues in the USA. However, your reply conflated the issues of serious/racism in America/caste/tribalism/India/Pakistan/issues all in one go.

The OP is about the magnitude of the ecological & humanitarian scale of the disaster in Pakistan compared to Hurricane Katrina, the likelihood of more serious floods to come and the potential for how America's assistance may actually help the relationship with Pakistan's people.

If you want to start an OP or get involved in one about caste issues/tribalism in Pakistan & India compared to color issues in the States, go for it.

[sabrina 1]

15. This is why the rest of the world needs to get

involved and start organizing the relief efforts so that this kind of thing doesn't happen. It's sad but it happens everywhere, in every country sadly. Right now though, the focus should be on the saving of all lives and the International Community needs to get more help there before things get any worse.

There is clearly a bias against Muslims in the West due to the illegal wars and the need to justify them, and I hope it doesn't cost lives. Th

ere was a similar bias back in the 'thirties and it did cost lives, millions of them. Today we look back and wonder why the world didn't intervene earlier.

I hope we won't be looking back 50 years from now and asking the same question about Pakistan.

[sabrina 1]

4. I think there are some great organizations that are worth

donating to like Doctors Without Borders eg, who use all the money directly for the people.

Then there are organizations that just send food, clothing, water and other necessities and have their own people on the ground to make sure the aid is delivered directly to the people.

I agree with you regarding the organizaions in Haiti, NOLA etc. I never saw any accounting for any of the huge amounts of money that was donated. I would like to have seen families back in their homes eg.

I also would not donate money to any organization with Bush's name on it. Clinton was dragging him around trying to raise money for Haiti, the guy who caused the ousting of their president which led to thousands of deaths there. He was not welcomed at all when he got there. So, why did Clinton do that and what happened to the money? Did Babs find a way to funnel it to one of her family members again as she did with her donation to NOLA AND got a tax break too.

No, I prefer the smaller organizations with their own people in the country and keep the money out of the hands of the greedy who take their own profits out first.

[aquart]

8. Money was pledged and not delivered, that's what "happened" to it.

What large umbrella charities do is distribute to all the small local charities you are so fond of.

You have accused Bill Clinton of embezzlement. Perhaps you would also care to provide evidence of it?

[sabrina 1]

14. No, nice try I accused Clinton of nothing. I asked a question

regarding his association with Bush because it is well-known that the Bush family manage to find their way into every situation where large amounts of public money is available and to enrich themselves from it. Why he attached that name to Haiti I do not know. And he should explain it. I spent years defending Clinton from Bush supporters only to find out that he is BFF with that criminal cartel. Sorry, but you when you hang out with war criminals and thieves people are going to wonder about it.

[Billy Burnett]

10. Rear Admiral Harris, Katrina did not destroy N.O.

Decade after decade of pollution and destruction of marshlands, and neglect/malfeasance of the levee system destroyed N.O..

Due to the memory hole for a press we have, it seems that many have forgotten the initial news reports immediately after Katrina had passed N.O. that the city was spared.

Then the inadequate Ninth Ward levee broke down (some reports indicate that a heavy barge hit the weakened levee).

[OhioChick]

11. 390 views and only 3 recs?

People are dying. :wtf:

[ihavenobias]

12. Tragic situation. n/t

[Rhiannon12866]

13. K&R. This tragedy is of epic proportions...

Thanks for keeping us informed about this. The media certainly isn't... :(