Acehnese sift through the rubble of a collapsed building with debris scattered
across the street trying to salvage what they can in
Banda Aceh (AFP/Bay Ismoyo)
SE Asia Quake Disaster
Disaster relief/aid donation options for those who wish to help
Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 22 January 2005: - - The magnitude 9.0 earthquake on December 26, off the west coast of Northern Sumatra, Indonesia, triggered massive tsunamis that affected countries throughout South and Southeast Asia, as well as Somalia, Tanzania, and Kenya in East Africa.
Anywhere from 265,000 to 300,000 people are thought to have died as a result of the tsunami, and the count is not yet complete. The true final toll may never be known due to bodies having been swept out to sea, but current estimates use conservative methodologies. Relief agencies warn of the possibility of more deaths to come as a result of epidemics caused by poor sanitation, but the threat of starvation seems now to have been largely averted. The plight of the many affected people and countries has prompted a widespread humanitarian response.
Many are wondering how to get involved, and help. It is recommended the best form of help is to make a donation to one of the organizations working directly in the area of disaster relief.
The surfing community has got behind an industry-wide relief effort. Donations to the Nias Fund maybe made to The Quiksilver Foundation, call 714-889-7198 or email Kathie.Armstrong@quiksilver.com or via SurfAid Disaster Relief www.surfaidinternational.org
The Billabong Tsunami Relief Fund for Northern Sumatra is also working with Surf Aid International. SurfAid is focusing its initial efforts in Nias on their core competencies and therefore targeting the outbreak of malaria, typhoid and cholera. Additionally they will be providing water purification supplies and education. For further information on SurfAid International go to www.surfaidinternational.org
For those who wish to help via other orgnanistions such as Red Cross' International Relief Fund, here is the lhe link to make a Red Cross donation Other suggested International Aid Organisations also provide facilities to channel aid.
Starving victims at a relief camp reach for rice packets being distributed
(AP Photo/Gurinder Osan)
More options for how you may help:
Network for Good
International Aid Organisations
USAID Tsunami/Earthquake Relief
HOW CAN I HELP? (Courtesy USAID)
The most efficient and effective way to help those affected by a disaster overseas is to make a monetary donation to a humanitarian organization that is implementing relief programs in the affected region. There are a few different ways to go about identifying such organizations:
* USAID has a list on its website. Check USAID's home page to see if the particular disaster is listed in the "FEATURES" section. If it is, click on the link, and then look for the "How Can I Help?" box.
* InterAction, an association of non-profit humanitarian organizations, may have a list of responding members on its website. Check InterAction Members Respond: How You Can Help to see if the particular disaster is listed.
* The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) maintains a website called ReliefWeb , which is a repository of information, listed by disaster, submitted by responding humanitarian organizations.
More than 1,000 bodies are gathered outside a Buddhst temple at
Takuapa, Thailand (AP Photo/David Longstreath).
Monetary Donations
Monetary donations are the most effective form of assistance because they allow humanitarian organizations to purchase (often within the affected region itself) the exact type and quantity of items needed by those affected by the crisis.
Volunteering
Volunteer opportunities in disaster settings are extremely rare, and are usually limited to people with prior disaster experience and technical skills (such as health, engineering, etc). To register your skills and experience for a possible volunteer opportunity, go to the Center for International Disaster Information
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Animation of Indonesia tsunami (Credit: NOAA)
Surfersvillage Global Surf News
Tsunami - Surfersvillage
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