The
Mighty Hand of God
(Signs of the Time - February 2005)
A lot has been written since the December, 2004, tsunami struck in the region of the Indian Ocean. Some have written that the tsunami is a sign of God’s judgment on the people of the land. Others have pointed out that the latter-day prophecies indicate we will experience increased earthquakes, while others have questioned how a God of love could create such devastation and destruction. As diverse as the articles have been, one aspect of the tragedy and loss of life has remained consistent – that being the outpouring of help, financial aid and human generosity toward the victims of the earthquake. It can be easily said that no other natural disaster has unified the world with such speed and harmony as the recent tsunami. This month’s article will review the unified clean-up efforts in the tsunami area.
The tsunami
The word tsunami is derived from a Japanese word meaning harbor and wave.
It is usually caused by an earthquake or a volcanic eruption, which, in
turn, causes the formation of a very large tidal wave. On December 26,
2004, the world’s strongest earthquake in 40 years, registering
a magnitude of 9.0, shook the Indian Ocean, resulting in a great force
of water emanating from the epicenter of the earthquake. As the news reports
trickled in from the countries affected by the tsunami, the death toll
quickly rose. The Economist magazine paraphrased the disaster this way:
“The victims — many tens of thousands dead, hundreds of
thousands displaced, millions coping with loss — were, as usual,
mostly the poor, vulnerable and remote. Entire villages of uncounted,
nameless fishing people were swallowed by the sea that sustained them.”
How many died as a result of the tsunami may never be known. Entire villages
vanished the coastline was redrawn and one of the largest disasters in
the world was declared. Across the region, hospitals and mortuaries overflowed.
In southern India, the authorities resorted to mass burials as well as
cremations. Both the World Health Organization and the United Nations
gave warning that as many could die from disease, malaria, dengue fever,
typhoid and cholera, as from the tsunami itself. Clean water, uncontaminated
by sewage, was the first essential. But survivors also lacked fuel, food,
medicines and, often, even shelter and cooking pots.
A flood of aid
At first the aid started as a trickle and within days grew to become the
largest relief effort ever witnessed. The United Nations gave warning
that it would need the biggest-ever international relief effort. In particular,
UN Secretary General Kofi Annan stated that: “What happened
on 26 December 2004, was an unprecedented, global catastrophe. It requires
an unprecedented, global response.”
At the time of writing, it looks like Annan’s request came to fruition.
United States corporations had donated more to the tsunami relief agencies
than they had for the September 11 disaster. It has been estimated by
the United Nations that some $5-6 billion will have been donated from
around the world. The most interesting aspect of these donations is that
they have come from people of all walks of life and from different regions
and nationalities around the globe.
Many nations have contributed
The New York Times reported, “Qatar and Saudi Arabia have each
pledged $10 million, while Sheik Khalifa bin Zayed al-Nahayan, the ruler
of the United Arab Emirates, raised his country’s cash contribution
tenfold, to $20 million. The Islamic Development Bank in Jidda, Saudi
Arabia, said it would distribute $10 million in emergency aid to Indonesia,
the Maldives, Somalia, Thailand, India and Sri Lanka.”
The New York Times also reported: “Prime Minister Wen Jiabao
announced that China would donate about $63 million, one of its largest
pledges of international relief aid. It was a marked increase from earlier
in the week when China had pledged only $2.6 million.”
The higher figure was quickly eclipsed when the United States increased
its pledge to $350 million and Japan followed with $500 million. Moreover,
China has watched as American vessels have moved quickly into the region,
with Navy helicopters delivering food and critical supplies to the hardest
hit areas of Indonesia. This week, a convoy of American ships is expected
to arrive in Sri Lanka with more than 1,500 Marines.
Israel – Arabs, one cause
An interesting aspect of the recent disaster is that Israel and the Arab
nations are working side by side in an attempt to restore normalcy to
the area. Rather than donate money, Israel opted to donate time, material
and medical teams. Within hours of the disaster, the Israeli organization
Latet (‘To Give’) filled a jumbo jet with 18 tons of supplies.
A medical team headed by four doctors from Jerusalem’s Hadassah
Hospital arrived in Sri Lanka on December 27, carrying medicine and baby
food. The doctors specialize in rescue operations, trauma and pediatrics.
As well, an Israeli rescue team headed to Sri Lanka with 80 tons of aid
material, including 10,000 blankets, tents, nylon sheeting and water containers,
all contributed by the Israeli Defense Department.
The vast majority of the dead are Islamic. As a result, most Islamic nations
rallied around the lead of King Fahd of Saudi Arabia by personally donating
of their money and resources. Saudi citizens brought money, clothes and
other goods to a sports stadium to help support the victims. The Saudi
government donated a military hospital – one that would work in
coordination with the world organizations to help support and rebuild
the area.
It is interesting that from a natural disaster comes a faint glimmer of
hope – a glimmer whereby Jews and Arabs are working side by side
with a common goal, that of restoring an area ravaged by God’s hand.
Could this be a foretaste of things to come?
George Rayner