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Memories of the Tsunami
As part of the first few batches of relief volunteers,
with 20 tonnes of supplies from Ban Paew, Samut Sakhon,
to reach the Phuket Operation Centre, my experiences of
the aftermath of the nightmare of December 26, 2004 can
be summarised as follows:
1. The operation centre was rather disorganised, with
no one really in command. Many high (and not so high)
officials and politicians coming to visit the centre at
all hours required long unnecessary meetings that also
did not help.
2. The distribution of manpower, equipment and food was
carried out hastily, sometimes without justification.
A single logistical map and a good communications network
would have improved things tremendously.
3. Virtually all local volunteers, both public and private,
assigned to the affected areas were unprepared. What is
the point of going to a dark place if you do not have
at least a flashlight – apart from wanting to be
seen on TV complaining that you cannot see?
When will we ever learn that it takes more than a big
heart and two small hands to get a big job done?
I hope that we all have learned something valuable from
this nightmare because, as they say, nature is predictably
unpredictable.
Dr Vichit Phanumphai, Bangkok
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