Zacht Ei - A certain continent seems to be missing in this disaster map

Thursday, September 1, 2005

A certain continent seems to be missing in this disaster map

Yes, according to the Dutch Red Cross, disasters happen all over the world, except in Australia, New Zealand and North America.

Could be they're just lazy updating their maps, but if that's true, the Dutch ministry of Foreign Affairs is suffering from the same tardiness. Their press release section contains a lot of stuff about outfitting the Palestinian security forces with new kit, but nothing about helping out the victims of Katrina.

To be fair, the Dutch Red Cross does mention the disaster - but you have to scroll down on their homepage. There's no call for donations either, something that isn't omitted from the most recent article on their website, which is about the former Green Party leader kicking of a campaign to raise funds for combating the famine in Niger. I agree, that's important too. But why make a choice? What's so hard about adding the 'please donate' line to the Katrina article as well?

Thanks guys, for making me feel proud to be Dutch. It's a good thing America stopped giving us Marshall Aid in 1952, a year before the dikes in Zeeland broke. Otherwise, I might feel cheap or something.

Well, the good thing about a government is that you can do as you please with the money they didn't take from you. So I've decided to donate directly to the hurricane victims in Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama. May I kindly encourage my fellow Dutchies to do the same.

I chose a small organization as I'm very skeptical of huge charities such as the Red Cross. And any other sort of large organization, for that matter. Also, the added advantage of this outfit is that they accept smaller amounts. Plus, you can pay through PayPal.

Maybe America doesn't need our help, but the government could at least have offered it. As far as I know, they haven't. Both my father and I are ferocious news consumers. Neither of us heard any official making a statement of the kind, which is bad, or even heard a journalist pop the question, which, I'm sad to say, doesn't surprise me in the least.

Rest assured that the ministry of Foreign Affairs will have an angry citizen calling tomorrow.

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Arjan,
You are so right! Believe it or not but just before I read your comment I sent an email to the Dutch ambassador in Washington. I don't know if he will ever read it but anyways.

The Netherlands survived WOII after massive help and human losses by the Americans. Here's the moment to offer help ... not just some words (read the short and hollow statement of the Dutch ambassador on his website). Please show that we are a true ally and sympathize with the American people.

I hear nothing about Europe here. Yes, America can probably deal with it, but if you watch the news here, they are still trying to get everybody deployed. A Dutch Search and Rescue team would probably be very useful at THIS moment. It would be alsoa great gesture that other nations are standing by.
- Where are the Dutch marines from Aruba?
- Where are the Dutch "water management" engineers?
- Why aren't there planes on the way with special equipment and pumps?
- Where is the Dutch field hospital? (public health is going to be a huge problem)

Can somebody wake The Hague up? I hope they are not waiting (!) for some vague, anonymous and grey EU gesture. This is already called the biggest catastrophy in American history.

I am considering changing my citizenship a little faster than planned because I am ashamed too.

I support your call to make donations directly. You aint much if you aint Dutch? Well, show it!

Bartje (ip:68.248.139.179) 1 September 2005 - 3:53 uur

Arjan and Bartje,
Tomorrow is Blog Relief Day so check out instapundit for many links to worthwhile charities. The disaster is pretty disastrous. We could use the Dutch expertise with water right now and Dutch levee technology to rebuild.

PJ (ip:69.166.203.224) 1 September 2005 - 3:56 uur

I agree, money and assistance should have been offered as soon as the scale of the disaster became clear. I wondered myself if I'd missed it in the news.
On the other hand, it seems to me that befriended governments tend to coordinate their offers with the country in need, for not offending them. Up to now I haven't heard of one single US official asking for anything beyond federal emergency assistance.

Iwan (ip:83.116.176.60) 1 September 2005 - 8:44 uur

thank you, Arjan!

BTW The officials are too bewildered at this time and without communication to organize well. The storm itself was the size of Texas.

PJ (ip:69.166.203.224) 1 September 2005 - 16:32 uur

Thank you Arjan. The silence from the international community has been pretty depressing. Off topic -- I came upon your site during the Theo van Gogh murder and its aftermath. Your accounts were riveting.

Hollywoodconservative (ip:66.121.46.178) 1 September 2005 - 23:00 uur

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A certain continent seems to be missing in this disaster map

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