The tsunami disaster will probably end being the worst tragedy in our recent history. The plague in the 1340’s killed a third of Europe at the time, but that was in a span of three years.

I’m not sure if there is a disaster that killed as many people from one day’s events. The death toll to date reaches around 16o,000 I think, with millions homeless and hundreds of thousands missing. Expect that number to rise dramatically within the next few weeks from the missing, and add to that the disease that will spread all around from the lack of medical services and clean water, plus the fact that these people are living in crammed refuge camps.

Some examples of the damage is seen in these pictures, its really scary, the houses and buildings on the left pictures, totally disappeared on the right.

When it comes to relief, Kuwait pledged $10 million. This isn’t really as big as I was expecting, which really is a shame, since Kuwait has always been one of the biggest donators in the world for charities. This is a chance to really help people in need and in the same time would have been great PR for the country.

• Japan pledged $500 million
• Germany just raised their pledge to $670 million apparently
• The UK pledged to match and add to the total given by the UK public, which reaches more than $150 million til now
• The US pledged $350 million.
• Kuwait pledged $10 million.

Now I know its a good amount compared to other countries, but we’re talking about Kuwait in a year where the surpluss has surpassed any expectations with the rise in price of oil and so on.

Another point which surprised me, was the lack of effort from the private sector in donating money!! Maybe I’m missing something, maybe some companies did but didn’t publicize it? In the US, private donation already top $200 million!

Is it lack of commitment? lack of organization? It isn’t lack of money, thats for sure! Im really confused! Its incredible how much money is wasted on projects all over the world by Kuwait, which Im sure are very valuable projects in the long term, but this is humanity aid, people who are dying, families that are destroyed, economies devestated, this is URGENT need for money!

Now that most of you already have the 200 KD, think of what is happening there. We are all living a decent life thank God, and we should be thankful for that, the new phone or trip can wait a couple of months or even a year, but the many children who are dying from lack of aid cant wait that long. You can save several lives with the donation, or you can get a new phone….its up to you in the end…