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Bill Clinton Tours Tsunami Areas

Former United States President, Bill Clinton, is touring Thailand, Indonesia and other Asian countries as part of a trip to view first hand how these regions are faring after the disastrous Tsunami hit in 2004. Clinton was appointed special envoy for tsunami relief by former United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan. He is due to complete his mission by the end of 2006. Clinton will hear the complaints of many villagers and survivors who claim that relief has been slow coming.

Clinton will first visit a Thai Moken (gypsy) village that was damaged by the tsunami to discuss land right disputes. Thereafter, he will travel to the destitute Aceh region of Indonesia ? home to over half a million tsunami survivors. Many inhabitants have continuously complained that there seems to be no end in sight for their rehabilitation. Relief efforts have been fraught with numerous problems, due in part to the fact that many contractors have fled with money that was handed to them by charity organizations such as the Red Cross.

Although most survivors have since moved out of the temporary tents provided for them by relief missions, and into more permanent structures, many survivors will complain to Clinton about the quality of these homes. In many instances, the structures are infested with termites, leak during the rainy seasons, and are situated in flood areas. Clinton will also meet with former rebels and government officials to discuss peace efforts in a region torn apart by guerilla war.