A week has passed since news of the world's deadliest Tsunami broke and
while the loss of life climbs hourly, Christian organizations such as
Operation Blessing International (OBI) have been hard at work on the
ground, providing help and hope.
Operation Blessing is one of the groups with existing operations
strategically located in India, Indonesia, Thailand, Philippines and
Singapore - allowing for quick assessment and response.
"As the full extent of this tragedy continues to unfold, Operation
Blessing will utilize its existing operational, logistical and
distribution systems to effectively respond to the neediest areas,"
says William Horan, president of OBI. "We are uniquely positioned to
best leverage donations - due to our existing infrastructure at the
country level and through the government relationships we have
developed."
In the northern Sumatra area of Indonesia where the epicenter of the
earthquake occurred, OB Indonesia last week transported and distributed
more than 40 tons of emergency relief supplies such as food, tents,
plastic sheeting and medical supplies.
The Associated Press reports at least five million people across Asia
are now homeless. The OBI India team purchased and distributed 1000
blankets in response. "It is getting chilly at night and the people
made homeless need blankets," says one staff member.
OB India also has a medical team south of Chennai at a Catholic convent
run by The Sisters of Mary Immaculate. On Dec. 31 alone, the team
treated 450 patients. In the next few days the nuns will lead the OB
team to small remote villages needing medical assistance. On Jan. 1,
the team began feeding lunch and dinner to a thousand people a day at
the convent.
Thanks to an established relationship with the Indonesian Air Force,
OBI emergency medical supplies and volunteer medical professionals were
airlifted to Banda Aceh, one of the hardest hit areas.
A "second wave of death" could come if diseases such as cholera,
pneumonia and malaria break out on a widespread scale, says Dr. David
Nabarro, executive director of Sustainable Development and Healthy
Environments for the WHO.
OB disaster response teams - comprised of indigenous medical
professionals - are responding to the overwhelming needs in the Sumatra
area of Indonesia, Phuket Thailand, and the coastal Andhra Pradesh
region of India. OB Thailand has also sent a medical team of doctors,
nurses and translators to Pangnga Province to relieve exhausted
hospital staff members who have worked nonstop since the disaster
struck.
Some $4.2 million worth of Cephalosporin antibiotics will be airlifted
to OB Indonesia to help fight disease and infection among tsunami
survivors.
"The carnage is of a scale that defies comprehension," President Bush,
giving his weekly radio address, said of the earthquake and tsunamis.
Bush issued a proclamation calling for U.S. flags to be flown at
half-staff this week in honor of the dead.
"We want to help as many hurting people as we can," says OBI's Horan.
"We will continue to bring food, medicine and hope."
To help those who have been impacted by the Southeast Asia earthquake
and tsunamis, tax-deductible contributions can be made to Operation
Blessing's Disaster Relief Fund by calling 1-800-730-BLES (2537).
Internet users can make a secure online credit card donation by
visiting www.ob.org.
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Founded in 1978, Operation Blessing International
is dedicated to bringing hope to millions through hunger relief,
medical care, outreach programs, and disaster relief. Since its
inception, OBI has served more than 179.7 million people in 96
countries and in all 50 states.
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