Haiti received $296 million in the first week after the earthquake.
Countries devastated by the Indian Ocean tsunami were given $250 million by the American public.
Yet, a country fighting off three different disasters only took in $49 million in the first six days.
Japan lies in ruin after a 9.0 earthquake and an accompanying 23-foot tsunami. Entire cities were wiped out, leaving crumbling buildings and many places still submerged in water.
Many of the morgues are overwhelmed with the bodies of the dead, body bags are in short supply and rescue attempts have been hampered by freezing temperatures and snow.
According to CNN, the death toll has risen to 12,087. Another 15,552 Japanese are missing and 434,000 people are homeless from the recent disaster.
Several nuclear reactors were damaged in the Fukushima Daiichi Power Plant, creating more fear of radiation. Recently, signs of a radiation leak have been found in contaminated food and water.
Only $49 million.
Of course, there is an excuse for the discrepancy in donations compared to other natural disasters.
“Japan has the second largest economy in the world. They don’t need our help.”
How can we think that? Wealth has nothing to do with this.
Innocent people are going without food, water and electricity because the Japanese government is overwhelmed. Honestly, they can only do so much.
That is where we, the American public, comes in. A few dollars donated to Japan would go to helping the Japanese people survive and rebuild after this horror.
I would like to think that if we were in the same situation, other countries would provide adequate aid.
I would like to think that our strong economy would not factor into their decision help the Japanese suffering.