ACTION ALERT – JANUARY 2005

GOOD SHEPHERD VOICES FOR JUSTICE

Earthquake and Tsunami Relief

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Every month, the Good Shepherd Voices for Justice Ministry presents justice issues which are consistent with gospel values and the principles of Catholic social teaching. One important principle of Catholic social teaching is Solidarity – reminding us that we (all peoples on earth) are one human family - whoever or wherever we are. In solidarity with the many who are in such great need in Asia in the aftermath of the earthquake and subsequent tsunamis, we invite you to read the reports, below, from Source 1: Catholic Relief Services and Source 2: Doctors Without Borders (both very well respected and effective agencies for global aid) and donate what you can to support their much needed work at this time. Telephone numbers and/or addresses can be found at the end of each update. You can also get the latest information at their websites:

http://www.catholicrelief.org/our_work/where_we_work/overseas/asia/tsunami/index.cfm

http://www.kintera.org/atf/cf/{A54B526F-06CB-4D53-8A37-C33976730CAB}/dwb.htm

SOURCE 1: CATHOLIC RELIEF SERVICES

A 9.0-magnitude earthquake struck the Bay of Bengal, off the coast of Indonesia, on December 26. It generated a tsunami with waves as high as 30 feet crashing to shore, causing extensive damage and loss of life in surrounding countries.

Ken Hackett, CRS President, said “This terrible disaster requires an immediate outpouring of help from around the world.” “We are moving quickly with our partners on the ground to ensure we are able to do what we possibly can to assist the survivors recover from the pain, the trauma and the devastation they have suffered.

CRS' response is expected to climb into the millions of dollars to meet emergency needs and for the subsequent rebuilding and rehabilitation of the region. The initial money will be used to help our partners bring food and emergency relief to the survivors and to avoid disease

CRS and Caritas/India are working closely together to plan a comprehensive response in India. Without swift action, more people could die in the aftermath, as flood waters contaminate drinking water, and food will be scarce in the affected areas.

In isolated areas such as the remote Andaman and Nicobar Islands, our early contacts there indicate that Government officials estimate more than 3,000 inhabitants, mostly tribal peoples, have been killed there but this figure excludes the more remote island chains.

CRS local partners and the Government of India have begun organizing and providing assistance to many vulnerable persons around schools and other community buildings. Huge mass burials have been conducted all along the coast, with some burying hundreds of victims.

More than 5,700 people have died and more than a million are homeless in the provinces of Aceh and North Sumatra. A rough estimate by the government foresees a 15-day phase of emergency action, followed by 15 days for basic recovery, and a period of rehabilitation that may take years.

ACTION OPTION 1:
To contribute to our efforts today, please:

- call 1-800-HELP-CRS (435-7277)

- Donate online at: http://www.catholicrelief.org/our_work/where_we_work/overseas/asia/tsunami/index.cfm

- Write us at 209 West Fayette Street, Baltimore, MD 21201-3443.

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SOURCE 2: DOCTORS WITHOUT BORDERS

All updated activity reports on what Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) is doing to help in South Asia will be posted below as they are released.

ACTION OPTION 2:

If you would like to make a donation to MSF, please use this link:

Donate securely by credit card or donate by phone at 1-888-392-0392.

Click here for info about volunteering with MSF

EMERGENCY UPDATE: Aid Operations to Disaster Areas in South Asia

December 28, 2004 - Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) emergency medical teams are assessing the needs of populations in the areas hit hardest by the earthquake and tsunami in South Asia. MSF is airlifting more than 60 tons of medical, surgical, and water-and-sanitation equipment to Sri Lanka and Indonesia. Currently, MSF teams are on the ground in India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, and Thailand.

Sri Lanka

MSF has sent 12 humanitarian aid workers, including doctors, surgeons, nurses, and logisticians, to Sri Lanka. Additional aid workers are on stand-by. A full charter plane with 30 tons of aid supplies is leaving Wednesday for Colombo, Sri Lanka. In addition to relief materials, among the cargo is all the equipment and supplies to set up a hospital to assist 10,000 people for a period of three months.

One of the MSF teams is conducting an assessment of the situation in the eastern coastal town of Batticaloa, where the United Nations estimates that more that 650 people have died and 40,000 more have been left homeless. Another MSF team is heading to Ampara, also in the eastern province. At least 5,700 people in the district were killed and more than 90,000 have been displaced by the disaster.

Indonesia

MSF is airlifting 32 tons of medical and sanitation supplies to Medan, in northern Sumatra, which is just south of Banda Aceh. The cargo includes generators, water bladders, and tanks, plastic sheeting, mosquito nets, chlorination kits, and a hospital tent. An eight-person team arrived in Jakarta today with three-and-half tons of medical supplies to re-supply two hospitals and 20 health posts in the area.

"Malaria and dengue fever will be big problems in the current situation," said Jan Weuts, who oversees MSF's emergency operations in Indonesia. "We are specifically looking at limiting the risk of these diseases and driving up the already horrible death toll, in addition to preparing for what we know to expect from our previous experiences of the aftermath of earthquakes and floods."

India

An MSF team is conducting an assessment in Chennai, the capital city of India's Tamil Nadu state, and further south to Nagapattinam district and the city of Pondicherry. The coastal area has been severely affected and families are still searching for missing people. There has been a strong response from the government and local communities.

Thailand, Malaysia, Myanmar/Burma

In addition to these aid operations, MSF is continuing an assessment of the southern coast of Thailand, including in Phuket, the resort area hit by the disaster. MSF also dispatched two physicians to identify any humanitarian needs on Penang Island in Malaysia. MSF has sent a team to evaluate the situation in the coastal areas between Myeik and Kawthong in the far southeast of Myanmar/Burma.