Title: South-Asian tsunami [letter]

POPLINE Document Number: 281914

Author(s):

Jimba M
Wakai S

Source citation:

Lancet, 2005 Mar 12;365:933-934.

Abstract:

Your Jan 8 Editorial states that “mortality is an insensitive measure of health risk”, but it is a sensitive issue for some. In The Nation, Bangkok’s independent English newspaper, on Jan 5, the tsunami-related fatalities in Thailand were reported as 5246 Thai nationals and 90 Burmese nationals. However, in the same newspaper, there was an article entitled “Hundreds of Burmese dead”, which was based on information collected from the Human Rights Education Institution of Burma. According to the article, more than 500 Burmese migrant workers died and at least 2500 went missing in the tsunami. However, most went unrecorded and unreported in Thailand’s official death toll. The Burmese embassy also seemed to be indifferent to these workers, since most of them migrated into Thailand illegally. (excerpt)

Keywords:

Indonesia
Singapore
Field Report
Natural Disaster
Disaster Relief
Disease Transmission Control
Laboratory Examinations and Diagnoses
Emergency Services
Communicable Disease Control
Coordination
Developing Countries
Asia, Southeastern
Asia
Developed Countries
Environment
Financial Activities
Economic Factors
Prevention and Control
Diseases
Examinations and Diagnoses
Health Services
Delivery of Health Care
Health
Organization and Administration