Refusal of Aid in Natural Disasters --- Is this a new precedent?
https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/south-asia/delhis-refusal-of-foreign-aid-in-flood-crisis-sparks-debate
Last year in the United States, citizens of Texas, Louisiana, and Puerto Rico were in the path of very destructive hurricanes in the fall of 2017. For those on the mainland, aid was ready to be delivered as soon as the storm had passed. Unfortunately in Puerto Rico, citizens were not as lucky. This was due to President Trump's delay in getting aid for Puerto Rico. Damage has been estimated at $95 billion dollars, and today the territory is still not 100% fixed.
It is rather unfortunate to see world leaders act in a lazy and uncaring manner when a natural disaster happens. However, this is not just the case in the US..... Currently, this same issue is unfolding in Kerala, India. In early August, the city was subjected to monsoon rains that caused horrific flooding. 400 people were killed, and over 2,600 villages were annihilated. The Kerala government estimated the damage at over 20 million rupees, which comes out to be about $389 million US dollars.
As the word of devastation got out to other neighboring countries, offers of foreign aid began to flood the local and federal government. Strangely enough, the local government wanted to accept the aid, but the federal government did not. Reason for not accepting it was relating to a matter of pride and financial stability among the India Federal Government.
While the disasters that happened in the two countries are similar, something still stands out in how the government responded... Is a new precedent being set by the US and India delaying aid to their citizens after natural disasters? Is it fair for citizens to have to plead to the government for help? I would hope that citizens would understand that certain tax dollars help fund FEMA(USA) and/or whatever relief fund the Indian government has set up.
Last year in the United States, citizens of Texas, Louisiana, and Puerto Rico were in the path of very destructive hurricanes in the fall of 2017. For those on the mainland, aid was ready to be delivered as soon as the storm had passed. Unfortunately in Puerto Rico, citizens were not as lucky. This was due to President Trump's delay in getting aid for Puerto Rico. Damage has been estimated at $95 billion dollars, and today the territory is still not 100% fixed.
It is rather unfortunate to see world leaders act in a lazy and uncaring manner when a natural disaster happens. However, this is not just the case in the US..... Currently, this same issue is unfolding in Kerala, India. In early August, the city was subjected to monsoon rains that caused horrific flooding. 400 people were killed, and over 2,600 villages were annihilated. The Kerala government estimated the damage at over 20 million rupees, which comes out to be about $389 million US dollars.
As the word of devastation got out to other neighboring countries, offers of foreign aid began to flood the local and federal government. Strangely enough, the local government wanted to accept the aid, but the federal government did not. Reason for not accepting it was relating to a matter of pride and financial stability among the India Federal Government.
While the disasters that happened in the two countries are similar, something still stands out in how the government responded... Is a new precedent being set by the US and India delaying aid to their citizens after natural disasters? Is it fair for citizens to have to plead to the government for help? I would hope that citizens would understand that certain tax dollars help fund FEMA(USA) and/or whatever relief fund the Indian government has set up.
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