JDC announces initial allocation of funds to support South Asia Tsunami Victims
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One week has passed since a magnitude 9.0 earthquake off the coast of Indonesia spawned a series of tsunamis that have devastated coastal areas in South Asia from Thailand to India. The situation remains dire. The death toll has risen to more than 150,000 people; five million people remain homeless; close to two million people need food; and tens of thousands remain at high risk of contracting diseases such as cholera, typhoid and malaria. There have also been reports of widespread diarrhea, which is especially dangerous for children. A report from the World Health Organization has concluded that 50,000 additional deaths would be a reasonable projection.
Many relief agencies, including several Israeli organizations, have set up field operations in the region. Workers are delivering food, water, clothing, fuel, communications equipment, building materials and medical supplies. Despite their hard work, many obstacles exist. Some locales, such as parts of Indonesia and Sri Lanka, are nearly unreachable due to fuel shortages, washed-away highways and decimated civil infrastructure.
To support these efforts, on behalf of the North American Jewish Community, JDC has raised more than $2 million through phone and Internet contributions. We have also shipped more than $300,000 worth of medicine to India, which will be distributed by our partners on the ground. This morning we’ve announced the first in a series of monetary allocations to partner organizations on the ground that are providing near-term relief. We are also looking at longer-term infrastructure rebuilding projects, such as schools, hospitals, orphanages or medical clinics. We will be utilizing a portion of the monies we raise to support such projects, and we plan to announce which long-term projects we will be supporting at a later date.
This morning’s allocations to JDC’s partners include:
Additionally, JDC has dispatched a team of regional experts to Sri Lanka to determine which critical areas of need are not being serviced adequately and to select a partner agency on the ground with whom to work. Once this assessment is complete, we will make an immediate allocation of $150,000 to support relief efforts in Sri Lanka.
For the latest Situation Report that provides more detailed information , please click here: Latest Situation Update.
For JDC's historical role, please click here:
JDC Non-Sectarian Programs: 90 Years of Strengthening the World
JDC's Disaster Responses over the past two decades
HOW TO DONATE
Contributions can be made by credit card via JDC's website:
https://www.jdc.org/donation/jdc_form.cfm,
via phone: 212-687-6200, or by check payable to:
"JDC: South Asia Tsunami Relief"
Box 321
847A Second Avenue
New York, NY 10017
JDC serves as the overseas arm of the North American Jewish community providing relief, promoting Jewish renewal, rebuilding Jewish communities in 60 countries around the world, helping Israel address its most urgent social challenges and supporting non-sectarian relief efforts. JDC's programs are supported primarily by contributions to the annual campaigns of the Jewish Community Federations throughout North America in partnership with United Jewish Communities (UJC).
January 2005
