Expressions of Gratitude Following March 28th Earthquake
Tsunami Relief Update: JDC Allocates $4 million in 4 countries
As soon as the second underwater earthquake, on March 28th, hit the west coast of Sumatra, JDC began communicating with its tsunami program partners in Asia to determine damage or casualties, additional activity that might be required, and how JDC could be of assistance.
JDC’s main partner in Indonesia, the International Rescue Committee, wrote to say that the help received from the American Jewish Community "enables us to be on the ground responding not only to past devastation, but also to respond immediately to this latest earthquake." They went on to report that everyone was accounted for. "There have been communication issues in Meulaboh (on the west coast of Aceh) and they were the last site for us to reach. We had contact with staff in Banda Aceh a little over an hour after the earthquake. There was great concern on the ground about what would happen next…regarding our response to the devastation in Nias, the following was received from our Emergency Response Team late yesterday (March 28th):
‘A 5-ton truck loaded with plastic sheets, blankets, and tents from the IRC warehouse was deployed for a 6-hour trip south to Tapak Tuan. The IRC logistics officer accompanied the truck and will secure a boat there. (Driving south cuts about 12 hours off the boat trip.) The boat will be loaded during the morning of the 29th, at which time we hope to have more information from the UN, Oxfam, and MSF assessments. If it looks like there is a need for additional activity, we can respond. In addition to the trucked items, we have a basic medical kit (big WHO boxes), and food and water for them on the boat.’"
JDC expressions of concern to its partners in Sri Lanka prompted responses from US Government agencies, international aid agencies, and local NGOs. All reported extreme concern immediately following the earthquake when it was not known whether or not tsunamis would result. One partner, in appreciation for the concern expressed, simply responded, "Shalom." A volunteer working with Sarvodaya, the renowned local Sri Lankan NGO, stated, "We thank you and appreciate your concern and commitment. This time around the warning systems worked better, other than the failure in telephone systems to cope with the heavy volume of congested traffic. Thankfully, the region was spared any major impact outside the direct earthquake damage. We alerted the Prime Minister's Office and set up a base at Sarvodaya headquarters for District Coordination Officers and, through this means, the public was informed of the warning. May your commitment be rewarded with contentment, happiness and good health."
Another contact in Sri Lanka wrote to say, "Many thanks for your concern. Yes there was a lot of panic... but almost all people were aware of the earthquake and everyone was warned to take precautions. As there were no tsunami waves we were lucky this time...and thank God for this."
Another colleague in Sri Lanka wrote to say, "Thank you so much for thinking of us. Yes, we had some bad moments last night and were watching BBC/CNN until everyone seemed fairly certain that there would be no tsunamis. The Government had issued an alert and asked people on the coast to vacate. We were in fact trying to call people we know; but obviously everyone had the same mission and so the lines were congested. We do feel sorry for Indonesia, though – it seems there problems just don’t end!"
JDC also received expressions of thanks from Israeli officials in Sri Lanka, and CARITAS/Catholic Relief Services in India. The Meenakshi Hospital and Research Center, with whom JDC and the Israeli NGO, Brit Olam/Topaz, are partnering to provide care and free medicines in Chennai, India, wrote, "Greetings to you from Meenakshi Mission Hospital and Research Centre. Thank you so much for your valuable prayers. Thank God. Nothing happened as like the past… The Government vacated the people from the risky area. Now they have all gone back to their places… We have two volunteers from Israel. They are providing excellent services since 24th March 2005 for the people in the Tsunami-affected area. Once again, thank you for your assistance to execute health-related activities among the tsunami-affected population."
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
