International help is pouring into Japan, but, according to officials, distribution is slow because some of the help is not adequate for the needs, or, relief personnel are not prepared to accept the help.

The Foreign Ministry has accepted contributions of personnel, including rescue teams, from at least 21 nations, territories and international organizations. Also, it has accepted aid supplies from 26 countries.

You can’t blame the Japanese for the slow distribution of aid, some countries are slow on getting the help to Japan. For example: Singapore took eight days, after their announcement of support, to actually send aid. And that’s not to bad, getting huge amounts of aid out can be a logistical nightmare.

Add to that, the recipient country has to have personnel in place, ready to accept the aid.  Many countries, and aid organizations, that want to send help say they have to wait until the get the go ahead from the Japanese government.

So, next time you hear how much aid your country is sending to a disaster area, realize that it’ll likely take weeks before it actually gets there.