Religious relief groups mobilize aid for tidal wave victims

by Kevin Eckstrom
Religion News Service

Editor’s note: Presbyterian Disaster Assistance, the relief agency of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) which works ecumenically with such partners as Church World Service — has dispatched $220,000 in emergency assistance from One Great Hour of Sharing funds to agencies providing immediate relief to tsunami victims. PDA officials say they hope to raise $1 million in relief funds. To make a donation, contribute through regular church channels; visit the PDA website at www.pcusa.org/pda; or call Presbytel at 800-872-3283. — Jerry L. Van Marter

WASHINGTON — The earthquake and tidal waves that killed more than 23,000 people in South Asia have prompted a massive response by religious and humanitarian aid groups in what one official called one of the most catastrophic natural disasters on record.

      The 9.0 earthquake on Sunday (Dec. 26) — centered about 100 miles off the coast of Indonesia — spawned tsunamis that swept the coasts of the Indian Ocean basin, burying entire villages and displacing at least half a million people.

      The earthquake was the largest in 40 years, and the fourth largest in a century. Reports said the Indonesian island of Sumatra and the low‑lying islands of the Maldives appeared to be hardest hit, with devastation also reported in Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Malaysia, Bangladesh, Burma and Somalia.

      Aid groups, slowed by the Christmas holiday, began full‑scale assessments Monday. The most immediate needs are for emergency shelter, potable water, medical supplies and sanitation, officials said.

      Islamic Relief Worldwide, headquartered in Burbank, CA, said it hopes to raise $1.35 million in humanitarian aid, including $270,000 in immediate intervention in the region and a separate $27,000 in Sri Lanka.

      The American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee, based in New York City, has launched a special appeal to aid victims of the flooding. “This is one of the most catastrophic natural disasters we’ve ever seen,” said Steven Schwager, the group’s executive vice president.

      Baltimore‑based Catholic Relief Services has committed an initial $500,000 to India, Sri Lanka, Indonesia and Thailand, and “we expect that to climb substantially as assessments continue,” said CRS spokeswoman Cecile Sorra.

      Samaritan’s Purse, a Boone, NC, relief agency founded by evangelist Franklin Graham, is sending assessment teams to the region and has not finalized relief plans, said spokesman Jeremy Blume.

      Church World Service, the relief arm of the National Council of Churches, based in New York City, is waiting to hear from local partners in Indonesia, Sri Lanka and India on what relief is needed most. “That will depend on what our partners on the ground say,” said CWS spokeswoman Christina Bahamonde. “If it’s tents, we’ll do our best to get them tents. If it’s (money), we’ll send them money,” she said.

      Daniel Chelliah, the Asia and Middle East program director for Baltimore‑based Lutheran World Relief, said he expects a minimum initial $5 million request from partners in the region. Chelliah estimated that the scope of the devastation will make this one of the most expensive and far‑reaching response efforts to date.

      “Sometimes there is a warning, but this one came so suddenly, so this is going to be one of the worst that we are going to deal with for some time,” Chelliah said. “This is not a one‑ or two‑day response. We’ll have to be there for a much longer period.”