Tsunami Donation for Southeast Asia

The earthquake and tsunami happened in Aceh which have been costing lots of damages in other areas such as Thailand, Sri Lanka, India, Maldives and even East Africa really breaking my heart as an Indonesian. No body wants that to happen especially the people of Aceh who have sufferred a lot before,... but still i'm amazed at what the mother nature can do to us. Even at the moment, when i'm in Leiden - The Netherlands, winter is not that much of a cold. It's like spring. As a tropical person, I feel lucky not to experience the coldness of winter, but on the other hand, i also wonder, what's wrong with the weather...what is happening...

Living in other part of the world while working with the government after this tsunami disaster I learn that lots of people here in the Netherlands want to give aid. Every single day the phone in my office ringing from lots of people asking about how can they give their donation, how can they get visa to go to Aceh as volunteers and so on. It's really pleasing and soothing to know that we actually have bunch of generous people out there. But it turns out that nothing is free....really... not even for humanity.

Donation does not only come from genuine individuals but also from big corporations or foundations or bussinessmen, or NGOs. As much as you need the aid, when working with the government you have to realize that things are so political. There's always a catch. Strings attached. No body gives donation for free...nobody... not even when you want to help your dearest friends. You may not ask them anything now, but face it..you will remember the day you have helped them and hope that in the future they would help you when you're in need. I admit it.

In the case of tsunami and the earthquake in Aceh... those people suffer a lot. They have been living with danger from separatist movement, from a very disturbing, unconvinient life surrounded by men in arms....and now from a blast natural disaster. Now world's eyes are on them racing to help with hopes that they would get something in return in the near future. Although you cannot always blame them for taking advantages and benefits, it makes me sad and as naive as i am..it makes me wonder, why can we, you, and I help others in the name of humanity without asking anything in return ?