Article For Folkestone Herald and Kentish Express

6 January 2005

When I wrote my column for last week’s paper the news of the Tsunami catastrophe in the Indian Ocean was fresh. The scale of the disaster was not fully apparent.

Since then our minds and sensibilities have been numbed as the number of victims has kept on rising and the awesome ferocity of the event has become clearer.

Catastrophe on this scale forces a real challenge to the rest of the world, particularly relatively well-off countries like our own. The British people have risen to this challenge magnificently. Leaving government struggling in their wake to play catch-up, they have shown yet again how generous and warm hearted they can be.

On the 29th December, the Government’s contribution stood at £15 million, having been raised from their original offer of £1 million. When I broadcast on that day I appealed to the British people to match that sum. They did so within 24 hours. Now I appeal to the Government to match the contribution of individuals which, as I write, exceeds £60 million.

There are other ways in which the Government can help. On Saturday the United Nations co-ordinator of international relief set out a shopping list of the items of equipment that were needed. The list ranged from helicopters and the ships which carry them, to water treatment plants and medical kit. On Sunday I wrote to the Government to ask how they have responded. As I write I have not received a reply.

One of the greatest dangers is that the world will soon forget what has happened and move on. This must not be allowed to take place.

A number of suggestions have been made which will increase the chances that real involvement in the reconstruction effort will continue.

One is that individual countries in the developed world should be matched with individual countries in the areas affected. I would also like to see local communities matched with communities in these countries. So if a local authority or other organisation has someone with a particular skill which was needed they could second them for a month or more. Churches, mosques and temples could be matched with churches, mosques and temples in the affected countries. Local charitable groups like Rotary and the Lions could adopt projects in the affected local community. Students could donate part of their gap year to visiting and working in the countries concerned. In this way lasting relationships could develop.

Finally we should never forget that every week 120,000 people in the developing world die from disease, hunger and lack of clean water. 800 million people live on less than a dollar a day.

We share our planet with them. They are our neighbours. We should not forget them.