 Christian
World Service
PO Box
22652 Christchurch
Ph: 03 366 9274 Fax: 03 365 2919
cws@cws.org.nz
www.cws.org.nz
29 December
2004
Dear Friends,
We ask for
your assistance in publicising the following appeal amongst your members and
your community. A leaflet is included which can be copied for use in newsletters
etc. We will keep you updated as more information is received from our partners:
“Please Help Us” – South Asians plea for assistance
Christian World Service (CWS) has
launched an immediate appeal for emergency assistance to the victims of the
massive earthquake and tsunamis in south and south east Asia. CWS partners are
calling for help in response to the devastation.
CWS has been
working with groups in South India and Sri Lanka for decades and now fears for
the safety of many poor communities and families in coastal regions. “We are
still waiting to hear from groups working amongst the fisherfolk off the
southern most coast of India,” says Projects Officer, Elizabeth Mackie. “They
are extremely poor and live in fragile dwellings on the sand dunes. There would
be no where for them to go and I fear for their lives,” she adds.
Although there
has been no word from Neythal (the South Indian partner), the Indian Church’s
Auxiliary for Social Action (CASA) has begun assessing the peoples needs. Two
assessment teams of 15 people each are travelling the coast to set up
appropriate emergency responses.
Christian
World Service has also received news from partners working through the global
alliance of which it is a part, Action by Churches Together (ACT) International
to respond to this unprecedented disaster. The National Council of Churches of
Sri Lanka (NCCSL) reports that there has been severe flooding in Trinco,
Batticaloa, Amaprai, Matara and Galle.
”I can’t describe the disaster that has hit Sri Lanka very unexpectedly and has
thrown millions of lives into complete disarray. We have broken our vacation
and are working today to assist those who are helpless during these times.
Please help us,” says Xavier, an emergency officer with the NCCSL. He reports
that the people are gathering to share their experiences and “are utterly
frightened”.
The NSCCL has
already dispatched money for food parcels and the churches are in the process of
sending three teams to the affected regions. “We keep receiving requests from
all over,” he says.
In Indonesia
the local churches are also coordinating responses on the different islands.
The island of Nias has been devastated and the churches express grave concern
about the situation in Aceh which is very isolated because of the Indonesian
government’s clampdown on the fighting with separatist rebels.
“These are
people that we know,” says Elizabeth Mackie. “I ask all New Zealanders to give
generously to help the families and communities whose lives have been destroyed
by this disaster.”
Donations can
be made to the South Asia Tsunami Appeal by :
Christian World
Service is the Development, Justice and Aid Agency
of the
Conference of Churches in Aotearoa New Zealand
“Please Help Us!” – South
Asians” plea for assistance
First contact
with CWS partners in Sri Lanka and South India indicates that the devastation
caused by the tsunami is even greater than reported so far.
In Sri Lanka,
our partners report that many coastal villages and towns were simply washed
away. Sarath Fernando says that the groups in MONLAR are using all their
networks to get immediate assistance to the poorest communities who are most
likely to be overlooked. The National Council of Churches in Sri Lanka is
distributing food parcels to those who have taken shelter in temples, mosques,
churches and schools.
In India as
well, the churches have set up emergency feeding programmes, and are
distributing clothing and drinking water. They are anticipating a massive need
for food-for-work programmes to help reclaim flooded land and re-establish the
people’s livelihoods.
Donations are
urgently needed to help support this work.
_________________________________________________________________
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YES, I want to help VICTIMS OF THE TSUNAMI
28/12/04
Enclosed is my cheque for
r$20
r$50
r$100
Other $ _____________
Mrs/ Mr/ Miss/
Ms___________________________________________________
Address____________________________________ __________________
City_____________________________ email ____________________________
Parish___________________________
rBankcard/
Mastercard
rVisa
rDiners
rAmex
$___________
Signature______________________________ Expiry Date ____ /_____
Card Number
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Mail:
Christian World Service PO Box 22652 Christchurch 8032
Credit Card donations:
Tel. 0800 74 73 72. Website:
www.cws.org.nz
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