Friday, December 31, 2004
TEARFUND
PARTNERS
MOUNT URGENT RELIEF EFFORT IN SOUTH ASIA DISASTER
By Michael Ireland
SOUTH ASIA (ANS) -- An
urgent relief operation is underway by Tearfund, one of 12 leading aid
agencies represented by the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC), and
its partners in India and Sri Lanka this week, following the tsunami
quake, which has killed over 124,000 people and left an estimated five
million survivors without the basic survival essentials of water, food
or shelter.
Tearfund’s website says that supporters and churches have responded
with unprecedented generosity following the devastating tidal waves in
South Asia. Tearfund has sent funds and specialist relief workers to
help their partners in the region. You can support them by giving and
praying. See: https://www.donate.bt.com/bt_form_dec.htm
 "We are struggling with the magnitude of the
devastation," says Prince David, Tearfund's Regional Advisor in India
who is currently working with Tearfund partners in Kanniyakumari, on
India's southern most tip, according to a press release from the
ministry. (Pictured: Slum dwellings flattened --
photo Dave Brodie-YWAM-for Worldwide Photos).
"Thousands are still missing, bodies lie rotting in the streets and
many of the survivors are severely traumatized by what they have been
through. Most people lack proper shelter, food, safe water and clothes
and now the ongoing threat of disease threatens to increase the death
toll further,” David said
"Tearfund is fortunate to have exceptional partners who were responding
to the crisis within hours. They are doing all they can to help those
whose lives have been shattered by this tragedy."
In India, where over 10,000 are reported to have been killed, Tearfund
partners EFICOR, the Discipleship Centre and the Emmanuel Hospital
Association are coordinating their efforts to ensure maximum reach and
impact, the release said.
They are providing food and water to over 2,000 people per day, as well
as distributing emergency relief packs to over 560 families, which
include items such as battery operated torches and water purification
tablets.
The agencies have also sent a joint team to the Andaman and Nicobar
islands to conduct a full assessment of the needs there and the
Emmanuel Hospital Association has already sent medical staff and
supplies.
In Sri Lanka, where the death toll has reached over 28,000, Tearfund
partner LEADS is providing relief supplies to over 9,000 families.
These supplies include food and water, water purification tablets,
clothes, shelter and blankets. They are also providing trauma
counseling services and medical assistance, the release said.
Oenone Chadburn, who works for Tearfund's Disaster Management Team in
Afghanistan, was on vacation in Sri Lanka when the Tsunami hit. She is
staying on in Sri Lanka to offer support to LEADS.
Chadburn said: "People are displaying incredible strength in coming
together to cope with this tragedy. Overwhelming shock has now given
way to national motivation to support those in need. I feel very
encouraged by the strength of people in wanting to move on and recover."
Speaking of the response of the British public, Ian Wallace, Tearfund's
International Director said: "We have been humbled by the unprecedented
response Tearfund has received from churches and Tearfund supporters.
It is through their generous gifts that our partners are able to
respond to people's immediate needs and help them rebuild their
futures.
“Despite the situation still unfolding, and the death toll continuing
to rise, this is a long-term crisis and will take many months, if not
years for communities to recover. Long after the cameras leave, the
people of this region will still need the support and generosity of the
international community."
Tearfund is one of 12 leading aid agencies represented by the Disasters
Emergency Committee (DEC) which has launched a television and radio
appeal to deliver emergency aid to hundreds of thousands people caught
up in the tsunami quake.
Tearfund is one of the UK's leading relief and development agencies,
working in partnership with Christian agencies and churches around the
world to tackle the causes and effects of poverty. Website: www.tearfund.org
To make a donation to the DEC appeal, please call 0870 60 60 900 or
visit the DEC website at www.dec.org.uk.
The following individuals are available for media interviews:
Prince David, Tearfund Regional Advisor for India, is currently in
Kanniyakumari, South India Please contact Sylvie White on 020 8943 7936
or 07949 181414 to arrange interviews
Oenone Chadburn is currently available for interview from Sri Lanka.
Please contact Sylvie White on 020 8943 7936 or 07949 181414 to arrange
interviews
For further information, please contact: Sylvie White, Senior Media
Officer on 020 8943 7936 or 07949 181414 or Abby King, Media Officer on
020 8943 7901 or 07767 473516
| ** Michael Ireland is an
international British freelance journalist. A former reporter with a
London newspaper, Michael is the Chief Correspondent for ASSIST News
Service of Garden Grove, CA. Michael immigrated to the United States in
1982 and became a US citizen in Sept., 1995. He is married with two
children. Michael has also been a frequent contributor to UCB Europe, a
British Christian radio station. |
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