India rejects humanitarian Aid to quake victims.

[wthrmilagro]

NO MATTER WHAT YOU DON'T REJECT HELP..

India rejects foreign aid for deadly tsunami relief work

Wed Dec 29, 4:28 AM ET South Asia - AFP



NEW DELHI (AFP) - India has turned down foreign aid as it has "adequate resources" to provide relief to victims of a deadly tsunami that killed tens of thousands of Asians, a government official said.


AFP Photo


AP Photo
Slideshow: Indonesia Quake Sparks Fatal Tidal Waves




India has been flooded with "generous offers of aid" from countries like Russia, the United States, Israel and Japan, said the official who did not want to be named.


"In fact, all friendly nations have offered help but we feel we do have the resources to handle the situation. If at a later stage we feel we need assistance we will not hesitate to ask," said the source on Wednesday.


"Right now we not only have adequate resources but have gone out and mounted a huge relief effort for Sri Lanka and Maldives. We could not have done this if we were facing a problem in Indian relief operations."


The Indian government says it has sent warships, helicopters and aircraft to distribute food, medicines and blankets to neighbouring Sri Lanka and the Maldives and has promised over 23 million dollars in monetary aid.


The official noted that India had not taken up the offers of help as Sunday's disaster was not of "the magnitude" of a brutal earthquake that struck the western Indian state of Gujarat in January 2001 killing 20,000 people.


"This disaster is just not of the same scale or magnitude of the Gujarat earthquake. In comparison to the Gujarat earthquake we have the resources to handle the situation at this juncture," he said.


The death toll in India from giant tidal waves that crashed into the coasts of Asia crossed 9,000 Wednesday with many thousands of people still missing, particularly on remote islands which remain incommunicado.


The government has taken a cautious stance and Indian Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee said Tuesday night the death toll as officially confirmed to the federal government in New Delhi was 4,857.


India's government and UN and local aid agencies have begun distributing survival packs to at least 160,000 people left homeless along the mainland coast with demand expected to grow for food, water and shelter.


In addition to the five billion rupees (114 million dollars) provided for relief work Monday by the Indian government, another two billion rupees (46 million dollars) has been earmarked to rebuild rural housing.

[kevin]

Well then, give their aid to the SE Asian Countries and Sri Lanka.

[yoda]

I wonder why they would turn down aid? That seems dumb IMO...

[kevin]

If the US gov't (or anyone on this board) would like to give me stuff, I probably won't turn it down. Especially if it is Mountain Dew or socks.

[DoctorHurricane2003]

Because they aren't selfish! No reason to get aid that you don't need when other countries need it DESPERATELY!

[nystate]

Agreed. India is even sending ships to other countries to help out, which proves that they can handle their own country...

[Seele]

We shouldn't be upset. This is a wonderful act by India. They realize that other countries need the aid far more than they do. India is much more able to handle this tragedy than anyone else impacted.

[Derek Ortt]

I respect India for this. This is a very noble act. Many nations fared worse than they did and they likely want the money to go to these nations, probably Sumatra which the quake itself devastated and where the majority of the deaths are.

[JQ Public]

India has poverty, yes, but they are also a $3 trillion economy and can normally take care of themselves. I think it was smart of them to do this since other countries need it much more.

[mikey mike]

Hey,if they don't want the aid give our part to the victims of the four hurricanes in Florida.There are people there that are still without power and some are still homeless.

[Cookiely]

I wonder why they would turn down aid? That seems dumb IMO...

India is smart and maybe they don't need the assistance but I also think that help sometimes comes with strings attached and they don't wish to be "beholden" as my grandma used to say.

[azsnowman]

Because they aren't selfish! No reason to get aid that you don't need when other countries need it DESPERATELY!

GREAT point...

[coriolis]

Agree with Cookiely. Foreign aid workers could interfere if India want's to do it their own way. More power to them!