2005/10/17
DART poor response
Update from the eartquake zone in Kashmir:
-Latest death toll estimate: 54,000
-Estimated number of homeless: Two million
-Tents distributed in earthquake zone: 29,000
-Tents still needed: 100,000
-Blankets distributed in earthquake zone: 118,000
-Items still needed: syringes, painkillers and antibiotics.
-No longer needed: Fresh water is sufficient in most affected areas.
-Major problem: Roads remain closed because of landslides, probably for several more weeks in some areas, making it impossible to truck in supplies. Soldiers have rescued some villagers in the cut-off regions by carrying them to safety on their backs.
-Major problem: Bad weather. A storm-related helicopter crash yesterday killed six soldiers. U.S. helicopter missions were suspended for today. Pounding rain in Kashmir added to the misery of quake victims. Temperatures dropped to 6 degrees C and high winds drove the rain.
-Additional problem: Many people whose houses were weakened but not destroyed have refused to inhabit them, fearing aftershocks.
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40 million to sent the DART team over there and they don't need water anymore....that was the big thing about the DART system...it's ability to produce cleanwater....sheesh. 40 million would buy a lot of tents and medical supplies like syringes, pain killers and antibiotics. What kind of assessment did they do?....Did they do an assessment at all or is this just politically motivated. The most important part of the DART system is the 200 soldiers......we could have sent those a lot sooner even before the assessment!
DART poor response
