| Back Tsunami victims need help: | |
| 12/27/04: (CNN) COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (CNN) -- Weeping residents combed through debris and stunned tourists wandered through litter-strewn streets on Monday, a day after tsunamis swept across the Indian Ocean from Thailand to Somalia, killing at least 23,000 people. | |
| To see what the United Nations is doing to help go to their Relief Web | |
| People throughout Southeast Asia & India need our help. These deadly waves destroyed some of the most beautiful beach towns in the world. Not only will they have to rebuild but, with the loss of tourism, they have lost a large part of their income. These fantastic people will need fresh water, food, medical help, help in rebuilding not only their towns but also their lives. You can help by giving to any of these organizations: I hope you'll have the Christmas spirit. | |
| Be careful there are sure to be a lot a con artists trying to make money from the suffering of others. So make sure you are donating to a legitimate organization. Don't donate to anyone who contacts you. Never give cash and check the organizations that are donating to. You can check them at BBB Wise Giving Alliance. | |
| Action Against Hunger 247 West 37th Street New York, NY 10018 212-967-7800 |
International Orthodox
Christian Charities:
110 West Road, Suite 360
Baltimore, Maryland 21204 U.S.A. Phone: (410) 243-9820 — Fax: (410) 243-9824 |
| ADRA International Asia Tsunami Crisis Fund 12501 Old Columbia Pike Silver Spring, MD 20904 800-424-ADRA (2372) |
International Relief Teams Asia Earthquake/Floods 3547 Camino Del Rio South, Suite C San Diego, CA 92108 619-284-7979 |
| Air Serv International 6583 Merchant Place, Suite 100 Warrenton, VA 20187 540-428-2323 |
International Rescue Committee PO Box 5058 Hagerstown, MD 21741-9874 877-REFUGEE or 733-8433 |
| American Friends Service Committee 1501 Cherry Street Philadelphia, PA 19102 215-241-7050 |
Latter-Day Saint Charities Welfare Services Emergency Response 50 East North Temple Street, Room 701 Salt Lake City, Utah, 84150-6800 801-240-3544 |
| American Jewish Joint Distribution
Committee, Inc. JDC-South Asia Tsunami Relief P.O. Box 321 847A Second Avenue New York, New York 10017 212-885-0832 |
Lutheran World Relief South Asia Tsunami 700 Light Street Baltimore, MD 21230 410-230-2700 |
| American Jewish World Service 45 W. 36th St., 10th Fl. New York, NY 10018 212-736-2597 |
MAP International P.O. Box 215000 Brunswick, GA 31521 800-225-8550 |
| American Red Cross International Response Fund 2025 E St. NW Washington, DC 20006 800-HELP-NOW |
Mercy Corps Southeast Asia Earthquake Dept. W PO Box 2669 Portland, OR 97208-2669 800-852-2100 |
| AmeriCares 88 Hamilton Ave Stamford, CT 06902 800-486-4357 |
Operation Blessing International Asia Earthquake and Tsunami Relief 977 Centerville Turnpike Virginia Beach, VA 23463 1-800-730-2537 |
| Baptist World Aid Asia Tidal Waves 405 North Washington Street Falls Church, VA 22046 703 790 8980 |
Operation USA 8320 Melrose Ave. #200 Los Angeles, CA 90069 800-678-8876 |
| B'nai B'rith International B'nai B'rith Disaster Relief Fund 2020 K Street NW 7th Floor Washington, DC 20006 212-490-32908. |
Oxfam America Asian Earthquake Fund PO Box 1211 Albert Lea, MN 56007-1211 800-77-OXFAM |
| Brother's Brother Foundation 1200 Galveston Ave Pittsburgh, PA 15233 412-321-3160 |
Pan American Health and Education
Foundation Asia Tsunami Relief Fund 525 Twenty Third St, NW Washington, DC 20037 202-974-3416 |
| CARE 151 Ellis Street NE Atlanta, GA 30303 800-521-CARE |
Plan USA Asia Disaster 155 Plan Way Warwick, RI 02886 800-556-7918 |
| Catholic Relief Services 209 West Fayette Street Baltimore, MD 21201 877-HELP-CRS |
Project Concern International 5151 Murphy Canyon Road Suite 320 San Diego, CA 92123 858-279-9690 |
| Christian Children's Fund Child Alert Fund PO Box 26484 Richmond, Virginia - 23261-6484 800-776-6767 |
Project HOPE Asia Tsunami Response 255 Carter Hall Lane Millwood, VA 22646 800-544-4673 |
| Christian Reformed World Relief Committee
(CRWRC) South Asia Earthquake 2850 Kalamazoo Ave. SE Grand Rapids, MI, 49560 800-55-CRWRC |
SAWSO (Salvation Army World Service
Office) South Asia Relief Fund 615 Slaters Lane Alexandria, VA, 22313 800-SAL-ARMY |
| Church World Service PO Box 968 Elkhart, IN 46515 800-297-1516 |
Save the Children USA 54 Wilton Road Westport, CT 06880 1-800-728-3843 |
| Direct Relief International 27 South La Patera Lane Santa Barbara, CA 93117 805-964-4767 |
Stop Hunger Now SE Asia Crisis 2501 Clark Ave, Suite 200 Raleigh, NC 27607 888-501-8440 |
| Doctors without borders:
333 7th Avenue, 2nd Floor New York, NY 10001-5004 212 679-6800 |
United States Aid
Information Center U.S. Agency for International Development Ronald Reagan Building Washington, D.C. 20523-1000 202 216-3524 |
| Episcopal Relief and
Development South Asia Relief Fund 815 Second Avenue New York, NY 10017 800-334-7626, ext. 5129 |
US Fund for UNICEF General Emergency Fund 333 E. 38th Street New York, NY 10016 800-4-UNICEF |
| Food for the Hungry, Inc. Food for the Hungry Asia Quake Relief 1224 E. Washington St. Phoenix, AZ 85034 800-2-HUNGERS |
World Concern Asia Earthquake and Tsunami 19303 Fremont Avenue North Seattle, WA 98133 800-755-5022 |
| Habitat for Humanity International Asia Tsunami Response Fund 121 Habitat St Americus, GA 31709 229-924-6935 |
World Emergency Relief 2270-D Camino Vida Roble Carlsbad, CA 92009 760-930-8001 |
| International Aid 17011 W. Hickory Spring Lake, MI 49456 800-968-7490 |
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| International Medical
Corps Tsunami Emergency Response 1919 Santa Monica Blvd., Suite 300 Santa Monica, CA 90404-1950 800-481-4462 |
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| You can check the validity of these organizations by going to this site. | |
| Charity Watch | |
| Some of the major airlines are allowing you to donate your frequent flyer miles to the relief effort. If your interested contact your airline. These miles are being used to transport relief workers and other volunteers to the affected area. | |
| Another way you can help is to enjoy a lovely Vacation in one of the areas that were hardest hit. Wait a few months, then go, enjoy yourself and spend some money. It will help bring back their economy & a sense of independence and pride that people get when they feel they're are earning their own way. If they feel like talking about their loss, listen, but don't pry. Give sympathy but don't overwhelm them with it. | |
| These are resort areas that depend on tourism to sustain themselves. Your vacation will help restore that industry. Remember that the people of South Asia are used to bartering so don't be afraid to barter, just let them win. They'll respect you more and you'll be giving them back their self respect. Everybody likes to feel like they are earning their own way. | |
| I've been to Thailand & Indonesia (although not in those areas) and can tell you, your going to meet some of the kindest, most outgoing people, you'll ever know. You'll have a fantastic vacation and still help the people of the area. | |
| If you still want to do more. Find a child who needs help. (Their are a lot of orphans) set up a bank account in their name and you'll then be able to raise money for your new friend and transfer it to their account. They'll have access to money they need and you'll know that you're helping them. Your money will be going to one person who needs it, not to an agency that may draw off half of it to pay for administration fees. Make them a pen pal so you can see how your helping and know that they are alright. You'll also have a reason to vacation near their family and bring a continuing income to the area. | |
| Below are some links where you might find some information: | |
| Thailand Travel Forum | Broadband Forum - South Asia |
| CNN | |