The following information is intended to give you an immediate update on what we and HOPE Worldwide are doing to help. The information below has come from emails received from HOPE Worldwide and is listed with the latest news at the top. Please see their website for more information (click here)
Quick Response:
Areas of work:
INDIA - Chennai; Pannyur; Cuddalore; Nagapattinum; Remote villages
INDONESIA - Banda Aceh, Nias Island, Meulaboh
Short Term:
Relief work; Medical care; Pyscho-social counseling
Medium Term:
Infrastructural; Temporary toilets and other facilities; Small loans or grants to purchase nets/boats for fishermen; Assistance with short-term housing and other problems
Long Term:
Establish educational programmes (with special counseling sessions); Micro credit and other programmes; Vocational training; Self-help groups; Other needs not being provided by others; Construction of a Centre of HOPE
I have just been on the phone to the Sri Lankan High Commission and they have requested that we do not send them any more clothes. Please communicate this message to those you know. The public response has been overwhelming and many clothing manufacturers and retailers have been delivering vast quantities of clothing; so much so that the Sri Lankan authorities are not able to manage.
The emphasis has also shifted to tinned food and medicine. Sorry if you have already been engaged in collecting clothing but the needs are changing on an ongoing basis.
For those of you who have already collected clothes might I suggest that you still arrange for them to be brought to the HOPE worldwide office. For those of you who are able to collect tinned food and medicine these will be gratefully received.
Thanks to so many of you already for your offers of both financial assistance and volunteer support. Thanks also to the churches who are donating extra money in addition to the collection next week.
Please remind people that next Sunday's collection will be 100% for the relief effort. We will also be looking to claim as much Gift Aid on these donations as possible -- details to follow later this week.
Regarding the collection of clothes and blankets please note that cotton products are best (there is little requirement for items such as woollen sweaters because Sri Lanka is very hot). Any type of blanket will be helpful.
Indian relief effort
HOPE worldwide was one of the first NGOs to respond on the ground to the tsunami disaster in South India. Within 4 hours of the wave hitting, volunteers were already distributing food and caring for victims south of Chennai. A medical camp for 435 people was conducted that evening, and sheets and other supplies were distributed.
Within 24 hours a team was on its way to Nagapattinam, the worst-hit district. HOPE worldwidevolunteers found themselves along with local people to be the first on the ground helping. They buried the bodies with their own hands. They had brought medicines and opened medical camps. They supplied water and other essentials to victims, and have been involved in psychosocial counselling and other basic activities since the first day.
Other teams are operating in a similar fashion in Panayur (south of Chennai) as well as Cuddalore district. We are planning to start other teams in various locations, depending on funding. If significant funds develop we can send as many as 15 teams to various areas.
The government of India is generally reluctant to accept international aid from other nations. Yet the needs on the ground are immense and are not being met by the government. NGOs like ours are strapped for cash, and yet can do very significant things, if we get the help that we need.
There is a desperate need for cash, which goes a long way. This is our plan:
Short Term
Medium Term
Long Term
Indonesian relief effort
Teams have been working North of Sumatra since the disaster began and have entered some remote areas.
Currently we are planning to send up 5 to 8 small teams to be dispatched to Meulaboh once we get clearance and air transport. The teams are ready to leave as soon as Tuesday morning. Coordination meeting with the Government team on Monday will the determine our next step.
Refugees are still flowing to Medan. Currently 200 HOPE worldwide volunteers are taking care of the 3,000 refugees on one site. Food and drugs are being distributed and counselling is being provided.
HOPE worldwide - Malaysia is sending two containers of body bags, water purification, electric generators, etc. which will reach Indonesia on Tuesday.
On the ground we are working with other NGOs and donors in Nias and focussing on the areas of housing, tuberculosis control, health services and education.
HOPE worldwide affiliates in Hong Kong, Philippines, and Singapore are working hard to bring help to Aceh.
An update on developments which you may wish to share with your congregations tomorrow if you are meeting. Also, given the scale of the disaster 100% of everything we give next week will go to the relief effort.
India
We are among the first NGOs on the ground, and the needs are huge. We are currently working in 3 main areas; Panayur (south of Chennai); Nagapattinam and; Cuddalore. All these places saw a tragic loss of life.
We have already rented a small flat in Nagapattinam for a month or two to carry on with the work. HOPE worldwide teams have been burying people, counselling, distributing (food, water and baby milk), doing medical work, working with government doctors and anything else that can help.
Indonesia
The Disaster Relief Team is working in remote parts of Aceh province. Charles Ham, programme director for HOPE worldwide - Indonesia and member of the HOPE worldwide Indonesian Disaster Relief Team has reported the intense need for medical volunteers and supplies from team headquarters on Nias Island. "Aceh needs help. We need body bags. There are so many dead bodies still on the street," said Ham. "Five days of non-stop, nerve-breaking work is too much for the volunteers already. Some soldiers have deserted their duties due to the pressure".
The events unfolding across South East Asia are of a huge scale. HOPE worldwide along with many other relief agencies are doing their best to bring assistance where it is needed.
HOPE worldwide (Indonesia) is conducting relief efforts north west of Sumatra island and HOPE worldwide (India) is already involved in distributing physical aid (blankets, food, and medical care) in Chennai.
HOPE worldwide (UK) is coordinating clothing and blankets for Sri Lanka. Because of the contact a Sri Lankan sister in the North has with the Sri Lankan High Commission we have the opportunity to collect and distribute blankets and clothes to victims. The High Commission has stressed that these are essential items.
Can you please spread the word to your congregations asking people if they are able to collect and bring to the next two Sunday services (and midweeks) clothes and / or blankets.
We will be taking up a special collection on Sunday 9th January to assist with the relief efforts. Please announce that on this day 50% of the money will go towards the emergency relief effort.