Disaster relief

It is hard to fathom the thinking of the military leaders of Myanmar in the wake of a typhoon that has left more than 77,000 people dead and nearly 56,000 still missing. All the more tragic is knowing that, unless aid offered by nations around the world reaches the typhoon victims, thousands more will die.

It is equally hard to fathom the scope of disasters like the Myanmar typhoon or the earthquake and aftershocks that have devastated a large area of China. Chinese government officials, however, have organized a massive relief effort to recover the bodies of the dead, rescue survivors and provide food and medical attention to quake victims whose homes, workplaces, schools, hospitals and food supplies have been crushed.

Even with real-time reporting of disasters like the typhoon, the earthquake and the deadly rash of tornadoes that have ripped across much of the southern United States, it is hard to grasp how much damage has occurred or how many people have been affected.

As demonstrated in the wake of recent disaster, it is the tendency of compassionate people to respond by seeking to help. Many government agencies and relief organizations like the Red Cross stand ready to provide assistance in trying times. Let's hope that even despots in places like Myanmar will eventually place with needs of starving victims ahead of their own political fortunes.