By Korea was initially criticized for only offering up $1 million dollars in aid, but the government has now increased their aid package further:
The government decided to send additional aid worth $10 million to earthquake-hit Haiti in cooperation with non-governmental organizations, a foreign ministry official said Monday.
The relief effort is seen to reflect South Korea’s determination to actively join the international efforts.
“The plan includes short-term emergency relief and long-term support for restoration work, which will be funded not only by the government but also by civic organizations,” ministry spokesman Kim Young-sun told reporters.
In a bid to discuss details regarding the size and distribution of the assistance, the government will hold a meeting of policymakers and NGO leaders today, he added.
The NGOs will include the Korean National Red Cross and the Federation of Korean Industries. [Korea Times]
The Blue House is promising that more aid will be contributed to the relief effort in the future as well. Additionally 35 South Korean search and rescue personnel are currently in Haiti searching for survivors. This is why I didn’t jump on the criticize Korea bandwagon because I figured it would take a little time to formulate their response plan.
This whole disaster is turning into a repeat of the Asian Tsunami crisis when countries were criticizing other countries for not donating more money, but then those holier than thou countries never ultimately donated as much money as pledged. Likewise Korea is criticized for their foreign aid contributions, but when you break down the numbers as I have you see they are highly flawed.
Another similarity between the two disasters is that the fraud involving what relief funds do find its way to Haiti will probably be rampant. Is it any surprise considering how flawed these international institutions are that pundits are already saying that the US military should solely take charge of the aid effort?
1:14 pm on January 18th, 2010 1
[...] Korea Increases Haiti Earthquake Aid By $10 Million Dollars | ROK DropKorea was initially criticized for only offering up $1 million dollars in aid, but the gov… [...]
7:13 pm on January 18th, 2010 2
I doubt anywhere in the world believes that the only chance Haiti will have will be by US support by US military.
I also believe Haiti will be the first to criticize the support from the US military.
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January 21st, 2010 at 5:20 pm
I was wrong it was the French.
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7:43 pm on January 18th, 2010 3
” Is it any surprise considering how flawed these international institutions are that pundits are already saying that the US military should solely take charge of the aid effort?”
Well, that’s ridiculous. The US military alone? They want to pull out the hundreds of UN Peacekeepers and international police force members already there?
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January 18th, 2010 at 7:49 pm
Actually, it’s thousands…
http://www.un.org/en/peacekeeping/missions/minustah/facts.shtml
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January 19th, 2010 at 5:02 am
Who said the US military alone? They are saying the US military should solely take charge of the aid effort not kick aid organizations out.
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8:13 pm on January 18th, 2010 4
How much have the rich Arab oil countries given to Haiti?
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January 21st, 2010 at 1:31 am
Probably more than Israel has given Haiti? Maybe they can throw some of the $4 billion a year we give to Israel every year down to the Haitians. Wait what does this have to do with anything?
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January 21st, 2010 at 5:25 am
Nothing to you of course. Also nothing to your BS world, enjoy ignorance. Israel might need to repair a bunker or two from the thousands of missle, mortars and artillery attacks on it’s cities….this year.
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January 21st, 2010 at 5:42 am
I don’t how much money Israel has donated but they have soldiers on the ground in Haiti and they have been one of the most prolific rescue teams according to when I was watching CNN.
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January 22nd, 2010 at 4:42 pm
Any word as to how many Palistinians in Haiti or their contributions yet? Perhaps Hamas or Hezbohla sent some aid?
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11:02 pm on January 18th, 2010 5
Maybe the wording was poor. By saying the U.S. should solely take charge of the aid effort, I wouldn’t interpret that to mean the U.S. should be expected to be the sole provider of aid. But, the U.S. is in the position to be the traffic manager and facilitator of the international aid … for the time being.
The U.N. is not in a position to do that. They are still reeling from the significant loss of personnel and resources there. They are focused on providing what they can for their own. They also don’t have the logistic resources.
Until the port is cleared and the ships arrive, there will be a bottle neck for airlift delivery. Someone has to be in charge of prioritizing and coordinating what will be on those flight, irregardless of where it’s coming from internationally. The U.S. is the only one positioned and equipped to do that right now.
The aftermath of the immediate rescue will require more of a U.N. coordinated security and recovery plan.
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