Concern Citizens Initiative

The Prime Minister of Singapore,
Mr Lee Hsien Loong

Prime Minister's Office
Orchard Road, Istana Annex
Singapore 238823
Fax :6732-4627


Dear Prime Minister Lee,

Re: An Appeal to Make A Difference

We, the concern residents of Singapore, urge the Government of Singapore to reach out and respond decisively to our region's hour of need by contributing more substantially to the disaster relief especially through a significant increase in financial assistance.

We are profoundly saddened and unsettled by this terrible tragedy that has blighted our region and neighbours in the final days of this year. The undersea earthquake that occurred just off the North-Western tip of the Indonesia island of Sumatra wrecked havoc on an unprecedented scale affecting countries as far off as Somalia and Kenya, thousands of miles away from the epicentre of the earthquake.

Closer to home, the human death toll in South and Southeast Asia exacted by the tsunami threaten to exceed well beyond 80,000, (at the time of writing.) Many are children, elderly and vulnerable, those least able to escape from the tidal waves. Indonesia accounts for more than half this number. Sadly this is not the final picture. The true scale of the disaster along the North-west coast of Sumatra remains unassessed. In one coastal town alone, Meulaboh, 10,000 people, a tenth of the town's population are reported to be dead.

This gruesome scene of devastation is mercilessly re-enacted over and over in every coastal community encircling the Bay of Bengal from Sumatra to Sri Lanka .

The millions of people who have survived, live to endure the harrowing loss of their loved ones, homes, businesses and livelihoods as entire towns and villages are washed away by the engulfing waves.

The world has responded by dispatching relief and pledging millions of dollars to assist these disaster stricken countries. Yet the enormity of the devastation seems to dwarf the amount of aid offered, leading the UN Emergency Coordinator to cry out that the world richest countries have been "stingy" in their assistance. The US has since more than doubled its initial pledge to $35 million. Other countries outside the region such as Japan, Australia, the UK and Germany have followed suit, declaring an increase in financial aid.

The aftermath of the calamity poses as much a threat to further losses of human lives. The World Health Organisation has already warned the numbers killed by subsequent diseases could exceed those who died when the tsunamis hit on Sunday. Cholera, malaria, dengue fever and diarrhoeal diseases could take hold in the next week unless fresh drinking water and medical supplies reach the areas affected by the disaster.

While the earthquake and ensuing tsunamis could not have been averted, decisive human intervention can soften the unforgiving consequences of nature.

We in Singapore have been fortunate. Despite our proximity to the source of the earthquake, our homes have been left unscathed as huge landmass of Sumatra bore the brunt of its violence.

We grieve with our brothers and sisters in the region for their inconsolable losses, for Singapore too has lost her sons and daughters in this human tragedy. We need to show solidarity with the region in this moment of anguish. We therefore urge you and the Government of Singapore to reach out and respond decisively to our region's hour of need by contributing more substantially to the disaster relief especially through a significant increase in financial assistance. We hope that not only will we be involved in the relief efforts, but we will also continue to assist in the reconstruction of these devastated communities in our neighbourhood. Much more money, resources and coordination would be needed for these sustained efforts, and hence the importance of the Government taking the lead.

We look forward to your favourable reply.