Bush administration snubs Cuban hurricane relief offer

[Karmadillo]

Better Americans suffer than take commie help. Well, better impoverished Americans suffer.

http://www.wsws.org/articles/2005/sep2005/cuba-s09.shtml

Among the many offers of aid for New Orleans and Gulf Coast disaster victims that the Bush administration has either blocked, squandered or delayed is that of a substantial emergency medical brigade from Cuba.

The Cuban government of President Fidel Castro offered in the immediate aftermath of Hurricane Katrina’s devastation to send over 1,000 doctors and 36 tons of medicine and equipment to the disaster zone. After 10 days, the Bush administration has yet to even dignify the Cuban proposal—which has since swelled to more than 1,500 doctors, due to a flood of volunteers—with a reply.

The offer involves real and badly needed aid that is quickly deployable. Cuba is nearer to the affected areas than Miami, barely an hour’s plane trip away, twice as close as New York. Moreover, the country’s doctors are internationally recognized as among the most experienced and qualified in emergency relief, having participated not only in responding to hurricanes in their own country, but in providing aid to disaster-stricken populations throughout the Americas, Africa and elsewhere.

Cuban doctors are also among the best trained and most experienced in dealing with infectious diseases, including cholera, the first cases of which have been reported in the disaster area.

A group of prominent US physicians that has worked on a project that provides medical training for US students in Cuba sharply criticized Washington’s failure to accept Cuba’s offer of aid.

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[Bob3]

1. Pride goeth before a fall I suppose.

At least say no thank you - being gracious wouldn't hurt a bit now would it?

Oh that's right - these picks are taking orders from God - No godless commies in their country right? Right.

And now people will start dying of cholera. Wonderful.

[CrispyQ]

2. Kicked & nominated.

Here's another thread about snubbing aid -- this one is a Swedish plane carrying equipment to clean water.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x4707858


It too, deserves nomination.


This administration is evil beyond belief.

[passy]

3. Didn't Hugo Chavez offer to help too?

[foreverdem]

4. Discounted Oil

Yes, he offered to sell us oil at a discounted price.

[Coastie for Truth]

5. Not surprizing

Bush paints himself as a West Texas, ten gallon hat, and comboy boots "Cowboy" -- but he's all hat and boots, no cowboy.

(Just like he was all hard hat and safety shoes but no oil when he was a "Texas oil man")

[ohio_liberal]

6. Frist on Larry King last night...

A caller on Larry King last night asked Frist why were aren't accepting help from Cuba. He said we have enough doctors and don't need them.

[bluedog]

7. Can we learn from Cuba's lesson?.St Pete Times FLORIDA

Can we learn from Cuba's lesson?


Before Hurricane Ivan whipped Cuba last year with 160 mph winds, the government evacuated nearly 2-million people. The result: not a single death or serious injury.

Although it is a small, poor country in the heart of hurricane alley, Cuba is widely acknowledged to do an exemplary job of protecting its 11.3-million residents from natural disasters. Its record is even more impressive in light of the catastrophic loss of life that the United States - the world's richest and most technologically advanced nation - is experiencing from Hurricane Katrina.

"Cuba has not only an evacuation plan but an overall plan for hurricanes and other disasters that is very well developed and organized," says Dusan Zupka of the United Nations' International Secretariat for Disaster Reduction.

http://www.sptimes.com/2005/09/09/Worldandnation/Can_we_learn_from_Cub.shtml

[Karmadillo]

8. Amazing results. Here's an Oxfam America link to Cuba's hurricane prep

http://www.oxfamamerica.org/whatwedo/emergencies/asian_floods_2004/background/cubalessons

<edit>

While its neighbors are battered, losing lives and property, Cuba is unusually good at withstanding these calamities, and suffers much fewer dead.

Oxfam’s report, entitled Weathering the Storm: Lessons in Risk Reduction in Cuba cites a number of attributes of Cuba’s risk reduction program that can be applied by other countries. Three in particular are transferable to Asia and other regions:

*Disaster Preparedness: Cuba was especially good at mobilizing entire communities to develop their own disaster preparations. This involves mapping out vulnerable areas of the community, creating emergency plans, and actually simulating emergencies so people can practice evacuations and other measures designed to save lives. When disaster strikes, people know what to do.

*Commitment of Resources: Cuba’s strong central government prioritizes resources for its civil defense department. This helps the country to build up a common understanding of the importance of saving lives, and the citizens trust that their contributions to the government are well used for this purpose. Their collaboration on developing emergency plans helped build confidence in the government, so people trust in the plan they helped develop.

*Communications: The communications system for emergencies in Cuba builds on local resources. Using local radio stations and other media to issue warnings on potential hazards also reinforces the disaster preparations. Since the local population is already involved in mapping risks and creating emergency plans, they are more inclined to act on emergency bulletins. Good communications, packaged simply, and built on existing, commonly used resources, is another way to build trust in disaster preparations.

Cuba is a unique example. There is a strong central government committed to protecting all its citizens, even the poorest and most isolated who are typically the most at risk. The most common natural disaster in Cuba is a hurricane, a threat visible for days and even weeks in advance. Yet building a culture of disaster preparedness, and involving local communities in mitigating risks, are strategies that can be applied in many other places, regardless of how rich or poor a country might be.

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