Another Tsunami?

Another earthquake has rocked Southeast Asia today, measuring in at 8.7 on the Richter scale. For obvious reasons, the people in the region are undoubtedly nervous and quite panicked. So far, there has not been a tsunami following the quake, but the people are not taking any chances and are heading to higher ground.

What response will this event merit from the international community? If no tsunami hits, people will not throw concerts for those which are affected. They will not begin to collect money for the displaced. There will be a brief pause as people watch to see if another huge wave will wipe out lives and land. And if it doesn't happen, most people will simply go on about their lives untouched.

I hope there is no tsunami for two reasons. The first reason is out of compassion and care for those who would be affected. Any loss of life in a natural disater is tragic. Even if there were no fatalities resulting from another huge wave, the property loss associated with a tsunami is utterly devastating to the local communities and economies. The second reason is that another tsuami will only further remove the world's focus on the situation in Darfur. Up until the December 26th tsunami, the world was beginning to pay attention to the situation in Darfur. After the enormous tragedy of that day, the world focussed on the immediate needs of those affected people and basically turned a blind eye and deaf ear to the cries of the Darfurians. In recent weeks it would appear that maybe the events that are occuring in Darfur are beginning to register on the news sites again.

Just because it isn't a natural disaster doesn't make it any less news worthy.
Just because the numbers of people killed and displaced has taken a year to equal that of December 26th in Southeast Asia, does not make the situation any less tragic.

At some point, the world will have to take notice of Darfur.
In the meantime, thousands die.