The relief efforts below are being undertaken
by individual Rotary clubs and districts. To contribute to these relief
initiatives, please contact the Rotarian Disaster Relief Coordinator listed
for the appropriate relief effort. Please contact the Rotarian coordinating
relief efforts for guidance on sending contributions from your country.
South Asia - Tsunami
In late December 2004, a huge earthquake off northern Indonesia triggered giant tidal waves and flash floods across western Asia. The quake, one of the largest in history and measuring 8.9 on the Richter scale, struck in the Indian ocean southwest of Aceh province on Sumatra island, unleashing massive destruction throughout the region. South Asia was the worst hit region, with more than 120,000 deaths reported as of 2 January. International aid has begun reaching survivors of tsunamis that swept across the Indian Ocean from Thailand to Somalia and relief workers are now in a race against time to prevent other people from dying of disease and starvation. Below is contact information to contribute to relief efforts:
India:
District 2980 is collecting donated goods and contributions to purchase plates, tumblers, spoons, kerosene stoves, mats, bed sheets, pots and pans, medical supplies, masks, gloves, fishing nets, shelters, and other supplies to aid victims of the tsunami disaster. The affected people rely on fishing as their livelihood and the district will be providing long-term assistance through the provision of fishnets and funds for repairing boats and Catamarans. To contribute to relief efforts and for information about sending contributions, please contact DG R. Ketharnahan, Hotel Saradharam, 19, V.G.P. Street, Chidambaram - 608 001, Tamil Nadu State, India. Inquiries may be directed to DG Ketharnahan, telephone: 91-4144-221-336 or 91-41-44-222-922; fax: 91-41-44-222-656.
Rotarians from District 7780 in the USA are collaborating with Rotarians in District 2980 and are planning a trip to South India in March 2005 to directly assist local Rotarians in the rebuilding of a village devastated by the recent tsunami. If you are interested in joining this group of volunteers, please contact PDG Elias Thomas, District 7780, Ledgewold, Acton, Maine 04001-0007, USA, telephone: 207-636-1246 (home), 207-636-2222 (office), 207-432-2222 (mobile), fax: 207-636-2223.
District 3000 plans to adopt a small village or two in the affected area and is collecting funds to provide total reconstruction and rehabilitation. For information about sending contributions, please contact: Governor M. Elangovan, M D., Hotel Sevana, Tiruchirapalli 620 001. For additional details, contact: Sd. Prof R Panchanadhan, District Secretary, RI District 3000, No 5, 9th Cross, 7th Main, Srinivasanagar, Tiruchirapalli 620 017, India.
District 3020 was affected by the tsunami disaster. A committee of Rotarians is surveying the area and will be posting a report on the damages caused on their Web site: www.rotarydist3020.org. The district is collecting funds to provide long-term, low-cost housing for victims, provide nets and other tools, and provide immediate assistance to all orphaned children. For more information on sending contributions, please contact DG Tikku Satyanarain.
District 3050 has established a relief committee to assist the affected communities in Indonesia, Sri Lanka, India, and neighboring countries. For information on sending contributions, please contact Relief Committee Chairman PDG Ratan Prakash, Hotel Meghdoot, Gupta Chambers, Out Side Sarangpur Gate, Ahmedabad-380002, telephone: 98-24-004-5760 (mobile) or 079-221-73054 (home), fax: 079-221-73066 (office) or 079-268-59714 (home). All registered Rotary Volunteers are requested to contact PDG Ratan Prakash or Deepak Padia, District Secretary regarding offering services to the effected area.
District 3150 is collecting contributions to provide immediate supplies to families affected by the disaster. The district will be distributing packages that include rice, cooking untensils, blankets and clothing to several families. Each kit costs US$27 per family. The district is also planning long-term livelihood assistance projects to support fishermen and their families by providing small boats to support single families each (US$250), large boats to support two families each (US$400), mechanical boats to support 5 families each (US$5,000), and nets (US$300). The district is seeking international partners to apply for a Matching Grant through The Rotary Foundation. For information on sending contributions, please contact DRFC Ravi Vadlamani, telephone: 91-863-235-5891 (home), 91-863-235-5986 (office), fax: 91-863-235-4524.
District 3210 Rotarians are assisting with relief efforts by establishing three relief coordination centers, organizing medical camps where medical assistance is rendered by Rotarian medical doctors, collecting and distributing food items, clothing and medicine to the needy, and instituting a Disaster Relief Committee under the leadership of the district governor and two past district governors. The District plans to provide long-term assistance through an "adopt a village" program that will provide low-cost shelters (US$2,000 each) to those who lost their homes. Land has been obtained for this purpose and beneficiaries are being identified. The district will also distribute fishing nets, boats, and engines.
To contribute to the district's relief efforts, please contact District Secretary, Rotary District Office, Temple Road, Sasthamangalam, Trivandrum 695 010, Kerala State, India. Donations-in-kind may be sent to: Rotary Relief Co-ordination Centre, Rotary Centenary Hall, 63, Beach Road, Tuticorin 628 001, telephone: 91-461-553-1888. For additional details, please contact DGE Joe Villavarayar, telephone: 09-84-217-0707 (mobile).
District 3230 has started a project to provide relief to the fishermen community and general public who lost their families as well as property. The district will provide 3,000 to 5,000 blankets to the affected people who are presently housed in schools, churches, and temples. Additionally, rehabilitation kits will be given to families when they return to their village. The kits will consist of cooking utensils, a kerosene stove, mats, and bed sheets. Rotaract clubs and Rotary Community Corps will assist in assessing the needs of the communities and will provide counseling. For more information about contributing to this relief effort, please contact DG Benjamin Cherian, #38 Malony Road, T. Nagar, Chennai - 600 017, India; telephone: 91-44-243-41079 (office) or 91-44-2434-2136, fax: 91-44-2434-6736. For additional information regarding the district's relief efforts, please refer to their Web site: www.ri3230.org/lidc_tsunamirelieffund.html.
The Rotary Club of Port Blair, in District 3290 is helping to provide relief to those left homeless and are who now sheltered in Relief Camps at Port Blair. Relief kitchens have been established and club members are collecting, sorting, packing, and distributing donations-in-kind. The club is working with relief organizations and has shipped two truckloads of relief materials to be airlifted to islands inaccessible by land. The club is distributing bottled water, dry food (peanuts, roasted gram, rice, jaggery), food, clothes, and tarpaulins. Donations may be sent directly to: "Eastern India Rotary Welfare Trust", c/o Secretary, Binod Khaitan, 26 hitaranjan Avenue, Kolkata - 700 012, India. Long-term rebuilding projects are being developed and the club plans to apply for grants through The Rotary Foundation. Interested international Clubs/Districts may contact: Binod Khaitan, RC Central Calcutta - RID 3290, 26, Chittaranjan Avenue, Kolkata, 700 012, India, telephone: 91-33-2461-4474/4311, fax: 91-33-2461 4309, alternative e-mail: binodkay@yahoo.com. Please visit: www.rccentralcal.org or www.rotary3290.org for more information.
Indonesia:
District 3400 has set up a Disaster Relief Task Force to collect and distribute medicine, food, water, clothes, and other items to the disaster area and welcomes any donations and funds to help victims of the disaster. For information about sending contributions, please contact DG Ritje Rihatinah, Nusa Dua Dental Clinic Jl Pratama 81A-Nusa Dua-Bali 80363, Indonesia; telephone: 62 362 775561, fax: 62-361 775-562, alternative e-mail: centennialgovernor@yahoo.com. You may also contact PDG Osman Aman. For detailed information from the District 3400 Task Force of Disaster in North Sumatra and Aceh, Indonesia, please contact PP Mahyuzar/Rotarian Emmy, Secretariat of Rotary Club of Deli Medan, No 6 Kapten Maulana Lubis Street, Medan, Indonesia; telephone: 08-11-63-3636 or 08-11-634-825; alternative e-mail: emmysaswita@yahoo.com; or visit www.govritje.com.
The Rotary Club of Bali Ubud has collected more than US$10,000 in donations to assist the residents of Aceh in Sumatra, Indonesia. Funds will be used to assist North Sumatra and Batam club members with the health clinics they have established. Qualified and/or experienced medical professionals who wish to volunteer may contact Dr. Sunardi Djaya. The club is planning to provide long-term assistance and is planning a sponsorship program for orphans, an "adopt a community" program to provide reconstruction and repair to schools and wells, and a micro-credit program that will enable survivors to rebuild their businesses. The club has set up a mailing list to keep in contact with donors and report progress. For information about supporting their efforts, sign up at the club's Web site, where the latest updates will also be posted.
Sri Lanka:
For details on Rotary District 3220's current relief efforts, please contact Governor Lucky Pieris, alternative e-mail: governor.lucky@rotarysrilanka.org.
For contributions to relief efforts being undertaken by the Rotary Club of Colombo Regency, please contact: Gehan de Alwis, Rotary Club of Colombo Regency, c/o Omega Technologies (Private) Limited, # 618 1/2, Galle Road, Colombo 3, Sri Lanka, telephone: 94-77-736-8820 (mobile), alternative e-mail: gehan77@hotmail.com. Please also refer to their Web site: www.reliefforsrilanka.blogspot.com. Additionally, www.lankafood.com has set up a site for purchasing donations online. Donations will be routed to the Rotary Club of Colombo Regency to help the affected areas.
The Rotary Club of Seeduwa is accepting contributions to assist with relief efforts. For information on sending contributions, please contact Professor Risiman Amarasinghe, Amara Medura, Seeduwa North, Seeduwa, Sri Lanka, alternative e-mail: dharmapalaolcott@hotmail.com; telephone: 00-94225-2774, fax: 00-94-225-2774.
Thailand:
For information on sending contributions to assist in Thailand, please contact Krit Indhewat or Miss Danucha Pumitavorn, Director, Rotary Centre in Thailand, 32/f Ocean Tower 2, 75-82-83 Soi Watana, Asoke Road, Watana, Bangkok 10110, Thailand; telephone: 662-661-6720, fax: 662-661-6719.
Governor Voravut of District 3330 will lead a caravan of trucks loaded with relief from all joining clubs to Phuket, stopping en route in Suratthani to preside at the Rotary Club of Sritapee President Duangkamol's funeral services. DG Voravut Pongvitayapanu has opened a bank account in Kanchanaburi while PDGs and ADGs in Phuket have opened another account in Phuket to accept contributions to assist victims of the earthquake. For information on contribution, please contact DG Pongvitayapanu, telephone: 66-1856-8106, fax: 66-3463-6626 or PDG Prasert Fakthongphon, telephone: 66-1374-6565, fax: 66-7657-1205.