ALARMING reports are surfacing about the suffering of Japanese survivors of the tsunami - prompting onlookers to urge people on Phuket to donate now rather than wait for a Phuket charity concert next month.
In one particularly shocking incident, according to Britain's Guardian newspaper, Japan's self-defence force discovered 128 elderly people abandoned by medical staff at a hospital 10 kilometres from the stricken Fukushima nuclear plant.
Most of them were comatose and 14 died shortly after, the newspaper said. Eleven others were reported dead at a retirement home in Kesennuma because of freezing temperatures, six days after 47 of their fellow residents were killed in the tsunami.
Most of about 500,000 survivors who have been housed in temporary accommodation are not getting enough food. Heating in some of the places where they are housed is non-existent.
The concern is that more Japanese, especially the elderly and the young, could die of malnutrition and freezing temperatures if Phuket people wait for the ''LOVE AID - To Japan From Phuket With Love'' benefit concert.
The concert, set for Karon beach on April 2, has even been delayed three extra days ''to attract more people,'' organisers said.
A report in the Daily Mail said supplies were running low at one emergency shelter in a secondary school in Kesennuma. Nurse Keiko End said: ''There's not enough [food, heating, medicine].
''It's a problem. It's freezing, there are people who are sick and injured,'' Endo said. ''People are mostly putting up with whatever's wrong. We're trying to comfort and help them, but we can't do too much.''
What many generous Phuket people are expected to do is give now to the Japan aid appeal, then pay 100 baht for the concert when the time comes. By then, those people in desperate need now in Japan will have been saved.
Donations for Japan Aid can be made at the Krung Thai Bank
Account No. 805-0-41578-3
Account name Phuket Help Japanese Victims
Office branch code 805
Donations and suggestions for help can also be made at the Phuket Call Centre: 076-216333 (five lines) Monday to Friday 8am-4.30pm
Phuket and Japan, Tied By Blood, Water and AidIn one particularly shocking incident, according to Britain's Guardian newspaper, Japan's self-defence force discovered 128 elderly people abandoned by medical staff at a hospital 10 kilometres from the stricken Fukushima nuclear plant.
Most of them were comatose and 14 died shortly after, the newspaper said. Eleven others were reported dead at a retirement home in Kesennuma because of freezing temperatures, six days after 47 of their fellow residents were killed in the tsunami.
Most of about 500,000 survivors who have been housed in temporary accommodation are not getting enough food. Heating in some of the places where they are housed is non-existent.
The concern is that more Japanese, especially the elderly and the young, could die of malnutrition and freezing temperatures if Phuket people wait for the ''LOVE AID - To Japan From Phuket With Love'' benefit concert.
The concert, set for Karon beach on April 2, has even been delayed three extra days ''to attract more people,'' organisers said.
A report in the Daily Mail said supplies were running low at one emergency shelter in a secondary school in Kesennuma. Nurse Keiko End said: ''There's not enough [food, heating, medicine].
''It's a problem. It's freezing, there are people who are sick and injured,'' Endo said. ''People are mostly putting up with whatever's wrong. We're trying to comfort and help them, but we can't do too much.''
What many generous Phuket people are expected to do is give now to the Japan aid appeal, then pay 100 baht for the concert when the time comes. By then, those people in desperate need now in Japan will have been saved.
How Phuket Can Help Japan
Donations for Japan Aid can be made at the Krung Thai Bank
Account No. 805-0-41578-3
Account name Phuket Help Japanese Victims
Office branch code 805
Donations and suggestions for help can also be made at the Phuket Call Centre: 076-216333 (five lines) Monday to Friday 8am-4.30pm
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The Love Aid's attempt to attract more people means more donations means more money for victims of the Japan tragedy. There are also many activities taking place now to raise money. The more the merrier, I say. Let's not imply that people are slacking here in Phuket and play together instead of making childish insinuations.
Posted by harley hobgood on March 18, 2011 17:56
Editor Comment:
Japan needs help now. There's nothing merry about starvation and freezing cold. We don't do implications or insinuations: readers draw conclusions, some of them childish. People who plan to go to the concert should give 500 baht now, and more on April 2.