Friday, December 31, 2004

World opens its heart, again

Relief efforts gear up for earthquake-tsunami victims


By DANA DUGAN
Express Staff Writer

Since September 11, 2001, the world's people and corporations have understood that giving aid is of vital necessity and the most humane course of action to take, when feeling otherwise helpless.

The Associated Press reported Thursday that the death toll from last weekend's earthquake-tsunami catastrophe rose to more than 114,000 as Indonesia uncovered more and more dead from ravaged Sumatra island, where pilots dropped food to remote villages still unreachable by rescue workers. A false alarm that new killer waves were about to hit sparked panic in India, Sri Lanka and Thailand.

Up to 5 million people around the tsunami-struck Indian Ocean region do not have access to the basics they need to stay alive—clean water, shelter, food, sanitation and health care, the U.N. World Health Organization said, saying it needed $40 million dollars to get those supplies to victims.

The increase in the death toll came after Indonesia reported nearly 28,000 newly confirmed dead in Sumatra, which was closest to the epicenter of last weekend's massive earthquake and was overwhelmed by the tsunami that followed. Some 60 percent of Banda Aceh, the main city in northern Sumatra was destroyed, the U.N. children's agency estimated, and 115 miles of the island's northwest coast—lined with villages—was inundated.

Indonesia, with around 80,000 dead, was the worst hit, followed by Sri Lanka, India and Thailand. The total across 12 nations in southern Asia and East Africa was likely to rise, with thousands still missing and fears that disease could bring a new wave of deaths.

However, while help is badly needed, scammers have already popped out, so be sure the organization you donate to is legitimate by checking their Web sites. These sites supply details on how your money will be used. Also, never write a donation check to an individual.

Several community efforts are under way in the Wood River Valley.

There is a fundraising event sponsored by the American Field Service Students to benefit the American Red Cross Relief Fund from 9 to 5 p.m today at Giacobbi Square in Ketchum. A Disaster Jam party tonight at the Wicked Spud will raise funds for the Mercy Corp Fund and another will announce details for giving locally in Wednesday's Mountain Express.

Meanwhile, the following are accepting donations for aid they or affiliates are providing to those affected by the earthquake and tsunamis in Asia:


American Red Cross
International Response Fund
2025 E Street NW
Washington, DC 20006
(202) 303-5279
www.redcross.org

American Jewish Joint Distribution Co.,
South Asia Tsunami Relief
Box 321
847A Second Avenue
New York, NY 10017
212-885-0867
www.jdc.org

Baptist World Aid
Asia Tidal Waves
405 North Washington St.
Falls Church, VA 22046
703-790-8980
www.bwanet.org/bwaid

B'nai B'rith Disaster Relief Fund
2020 K. St. NW, 7th Floor
Washington, DC 20006
212-490-3290
www.bnaibrith.org

Christian Reformed World Relief Co.
South Asia Earthquake
2850 Kalamazoo Ave. SE
Grand Rapids, MI, 49560
800-55-CRWRC

Episcopal Relief Development
South Asia Relief Fund
815 Second Avenue
New York, NY 10017
(800) 334-7626
www.er-d.org

Food for the Hungry, Inc.
Asia Quake Relief
1224 E. Washington St.
Phoenix, AZ 85034
800-2-HUNGERS
www.fh.org

Habitat for Humanity International
Asia Tsunami Response Fund
121 Habitat St
Americus, GA 31709
229-924-6935
www.habitat.org

International Medical Corps
Tsunami Emergency Response
1919 Santa Monica Blvd., Suite 300
Santa Monica, CA 90404-1950
310-826-7800
www.imcworldwide.org

International Relief Teams
Asia Earthquake/Floods
3547 Camino Del Rio South, Suite C
San Diego, CA 92108
619-284-7979
www.IRTeams.org

Latter-Day Saint Charities
Welfare Services Emergency Response
50 East North Temple Street, Room 701
Salt Lake City, UT 84150-6800
801-240-3544
ldscharities@ldschurch.org

Lutheran World Relief
South Asia Tsunami
700 Light Street
Baltimore, MD 21230
(410) 230-2700
www.lwr.org

Mercy Corps
Southeast Asia Earthquake, Dept. W
PO Box 2669
Portland, OR 97208-2669
(888) 256-1900
www.mercycorps.org

Northwest Medical Teams
SE Asia Disaster Relief Fund
PO Box 10
Portland, OR 97207
800-959-4325 (HEAL)
www.nwmedicalteams.org

Relief International
Asia Earthquake Response
1575 Westwood Blvd., Suite 201
Los Angeles, CA 90024
310-478-1200
www.ri.org

Salvation Army World Service
South Asia Relief Fund
615 Slaters Lane
Alexandria, VA 22313
800-SAL-ARMY

US Fund for UNICEF
World Concern
Asia Earthquake and Tsunami
19303 Fremont Avenue North
Seattle, WA 98133
800-755-5022
www.worldconcern.org

If you are looking for information on a U.S. citizen feared missing, contact the U.S. State Department at 888-407-4747.




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