InterAction Members Provide Emergency Relief in Southeast Asian Floods Sep 2000

Floods triggered by monsoon rainfall have caused extensive damage in several Southeast Asian countries. Water levels of the Mekong river have risen in recent weeks, causing massive flooding in Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, and Vietnam. This flooding may be the worst flooding in 35 years. Tens of thousands of families are displaced after their homes were flooded, and are now in need of food, water, and shelter. Crops are being destroyed and agricultural land lost to flood waters. Infrastructure has been damaged or destroyed, including roads, hospitals, schools, and water and communication systems.
The following list was produced by InterAction, a coalition of more than 160 US-based private relief, development and refugee assistance agencies. InterAction members have agreed to abide by a set of standards to ensure accountability to donors, professional competence and quality of service.

InterAction members listed below are accepting contributions for assistance they or their affiliates are providing to victims of the Southeast Asian Floods. Visit the following links for further information:

Details on current assistance being provided by InterAction members
Reliefweb www.reliefweb.int for up-to-date information on the Southeast Asian Floods
InterAction's Guide to Appropriate Giving and Donations.

Details of InterAction Member Assistance Being Provided

Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA)
(September 26, 00)

ADRA is responding with relief assistance to 1,000 affected families in the southern Takeo province and the eastern Kratie province in Cambodia. In Thailand, ADRA is assisting 4,300 people with food, clothing, and hygiene packets. The food packets will include rice, canned fish, dried noodles, and milk powder for infants.

CARE
(September 25, 00)

CARE works in seven provinces throughout Cambodia, and has dispatched additional staff to the hard-hit areas of Kandal, Kompong Chhnang, Battambang, and Pursat. They are providing medicine, hygiene messages instructing villagers on what steps to take to prevent waterborne diseases, and five tons of food and other basic necessities. In Vietnam, CARE will provide relief materials to meet immediate needs as well as items, like boats and fishing nets, to help people start to rebuild their livelihoods.

Church World Service (CWS)
(September 25, 2000)

In Cambodia, CWS has already donated $10,000 in blanket funds to the Cambodia Red Cross for distribution in the form of plastic sheets, towels, and blankets. CWS Cambodia now has $40,000 in CWS blanket funds available. CWS is also prepared to continue to make specific grants to the Cambodia Red Cross as needed and may, in conjunction with Lutheran World Service, become more active in buying and distributing short term rice seed in CWS project locations as the flood water recedes. In Vietnam, CWS is providing $40,000 in blanket funds for the purchase of blankets, plastic sheeting, and mosquito nets for survivors in affected areas, including Long An province.

Food for the Hungry (FH)
(September 25, 2000)

FH has been working in Vietnam since 1994, and is currently raising $15,000 for the purchase and distribution of relief packages (blankets, mosquito nets, waterproofed canvas tarps, and rice) to families in the flooded province of Dong Thap. Additionally, FH has been aiding the region's non-land owning families who were working as daily laborers in the rice fields before the flood. Rations of rice and small wooden boats have been distributed to the neediest families. By providing them with boats, FH not only gives families the means to ride out the effects of the flooding, but also a way to generate income in the future.

Operation USA
(September 25, 2000)

Operation USA is sea shipping medications and replacement equipment for medical clinics and hospitals damaged by flooding. They are accepting cash donations as well as bulk relief commodities(pre-screened by their staff). Partner Agencies include Sihanouk Hospital/Hope Worldwide (Cambodia), Center of Pediatrics, Development & Health(Vietnam), and provincial health authorities in the affected provinces.

Oxfam America
(September 25, 2000)

Oxfam has already granted nearly $250,000 to our long-term development partners. Oxfam will be supplying immediate relief to partners in the form of plastic sheeting, water and sanitation facilities, and general safety and shelter. In addition, Oxfam's program work will continue during the next few critical months. Oxfam will be addressing food security in this region since the rice crops have been decimated.

Partners for Development (PFD)
(September 25, 2000)

PFD has worked for several years in two of Cambodia's most flood-affected provinces, Kratie and Steung Treng, both of which are bisected by the Mekong river. PFD is working closely with the Royal Government of Cambodia, the Cambodian Red Cross, the World Food Program, and local NGOs to provide clean water, food, mosquito nets, medicine, and other assistance.

World Vision
(September 25, 2000)

World Vision is providing $120,000 to assist more than 12,000 families with food, shelter materials, mosquito nets and cooking utensils in Cambodia and Vietnam. The agency is transporting emergency food by boat to the most flood-affected areas, evacuating families to shelters, and distributing medications for ARI (acute respiratory infection), diarrhea and malaria. As part of long-term relief recovery activities, World Vision will seek funding to address major food security issues brought about by the loss of tens of thousands of rice crops and livestock. This will include distribution of seeds and tools to help farmers replant their crops and the reconstruction of roads and infrastructure.

Press Contact: Shanta Bryant, 202-667-8227 x115
NGO Contacts: James Bishop, Director of Humanitarian Response, 202-667-8227, x104
Tony Stitt, Senior Program Associate, x106