This program is 29 minutes long
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(Banda Aceh: Brian Williams) Death toll from the tsunami in the Indian Ocean cited; scenes shown of Secretary of State Colin Powell arriving in Indonesia to survey the damage. Interview held with Powell about the situation in the disaster zone; aerial scenes shown of the damage; details given about the massive relief effort. [At a field hospital, POWELL – speaks of the destruction; comments on the impact of US aid in a Muslim region; talks about logistical problems in delivering aid; praises the US military for their role in assistance.] The US State Department’s warning against adopting children from the region noted.
(Galle, Sri Lanka: John Seigenthaler) Concern about emotional trauma for the children in the disaster zone featured; scenes shown from a refugee camp. [UNICEF child protection officer Michael COPELAND†- comments on the challenge of putting family structure back together.] [Orphaned girl’s AUNT – says her niece would feel abandoned if given over to a facility.]
(Banda Aceh: Brian Williams) Figures on relief pledges from President Bush and nations around the world cited.
(Washington: Lisa Myers) The gap between relief money pledged and the amount that actually came in for victims of the Bam, Iran, earthquake examined in light of the tsunami disaster; scenes shown from Bam, where rubble remains in the streets, survivors still live in tents, and the water supply is limited; statistics cited on Iran earthquake aid. [In Bam, WOMAN, MAN {thru translator} – describe sanitation problems & poverty.] [Former U.N. relief official Frederick BARTON†- says there is no system for follow-up {on pledges.}] [U.N. humanitarian emergency branch Kevin KENNEDY†- comments on an appeal for money that went largely unanswered.]
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(Banda Aceh: Brian Williams) The latest violence in Iraq reviewed; scenes shown of a car bombing site in Hillah.
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(Studio: Lester Holt) Report introduced.
(Pentagon: Jim Miklaszewski) The disappearance of Marine Cpl. Wassef Hassoun††, who was charged with desertion stemming from his disappearance in Iraq last summer, featured; details given of the tracking of Hassoun, who should have returned to Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, to Lebanon.
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(Studio: Lester Holt) Report introduced.
(White House: David Gregory) President Bush’s proposal to end “junk” lawsuits involving medical malpractice claims featured; details given of the proposed changes to the legal system; ad from USAction shown. [In Collinsville, Illinois, BUSH – states health care professionals should be fighting illnesses, not lawsuits.] [Senator Harry REID†- criticizes Bush’s plan.]
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(Studio: Lester Holt) Series on consumer debt continued.
(Chicago: Kevin Tibbles) The risk of home refinancing examined; statistics on refinancing & foreclosures cited. [Homeowner Ed DERDZINSKI††- comments.] [Harvard Law School professor Elizabeth WARREN†- says people can borrow more money than they can repay.]
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(Banda Aceh: Brian Williams) Report introduced.
(Sri Lanka: Ann Curry) The overwhelming first day of the tsunami disaster at a hospital in Sri Lanka recalled; scenes shown of waves of the injured & dead arriving and people looking at photographs of the dead. [Dr. PATHARAJ‡- says we were working like a machine; explains how they dealt with the corpses.]
(Banda Aceh: Brian Williams) The recollection of Secretary of State Colin Powell, who is surveying the damage in Indonesia, of his time on a warship, noted.
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