Gentlemen (and ladies), I'd like to take a minute of your time, please. Many of us have been busy with wrapping up end-of-the-year projects, and may not have heard of the unprecedented disaster in South Asia. The death count is well over 50,000 already, and will probably go up significantly as the mud and wreckage are cleaned up. This is the most deadly tidal wave in modern history (the next greatest being the tsunami that hit South China in the late 18th century, with 40,000 dead).
Not only that, but a second disaster of the same magnitude is coming. Excess mortality due to communicable diseases, as well as deaths due to lack of potable water and lack of basic medical care, may claim as many lives in the following month.
By acting quickly, relief organizations can help to prevent this second disaster. They need all the help they can get, as soon as possible. Decisions in the next few days will affect the reach and extent of the relief effort. Their decisions will be made on the basis of money available and pledged to help.
Please take a look at the list below, and at least consider contributing to one of these organizations. They all need as much help as you can give in this holiday season. But please do it as soon as possible.
ACTION AGAINST HUNGER
247 West 37th Street, Suite 1201 New York, N.Y. 10018 212-967-7800 x108AMERICAN JEWISH WORLD SERVICE
45 West 36th Street, 10th Floor New York, N.Y. 10018 800-889-7146AMERICAN JEWISH JOINT DISTRIBUTION COMMITTEE South Asia Tsunami Relief Box 321
847A Second Avenue New York, N.Y. 10017 212-687-6200 ext. 851AMERICAN FRIENDS SERVICE COMMITTEE AFSC Crisis Fund
1501 Cherry Street Philadelphia, Pa. 19102 215-241-7000AMERICAN RED CROSS International Response Fund P.O. Box 37243 Washington, D.C. 20013
800-HELP NOWCARE
151 Ellis Street Atlanta, GA 30303 800-521-CARECATHOLIC RELIEF SERVICES Tsunami Emergency P.O. Box 17090 Baltimore, Md. 21203-7090
800-736-3467DIRECT RELIEF INTERNATIONAL
27 South La Patera Lane Santa Barbara, Calif. 93117 805-964-4767DOCTORS WITHOUT BORDERS P.O. Box 1856 Merrifield, Va. 22116-8056
888-392-0392EPISCOPAL RELIEF AND DEVELOPMENT Emergency Fund P. O. Box 12043 Newark, NJ 07101
800-334-7626INTERNATIONAL FEDERATION OF RED CROSS/RED CRESCENT
INTERNATIONAL MEDICAL CORPS Earthquake/Tsunami Relief
1919 Santa Monica Boulevard, Suite 300 Santa Monica, Calif. 90404 800-481-4462INTERNATIONAL ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN CHARITIES Asia Disaster Response P.O. Box 630225 Baltimore, MD 21263-0225
877-803-4622ISLAMIC RELIEF USA Southeast Asia Earthquake Emergency P.O. Box 6098 Burbank, Calif. 91510
888-479-4968MERCY CORPS Southeast Asia Earthquake Response Dept. W P.O. Box 2669 Portland, Ore. 97208
800-852-2100OPERATION USA
8320 Melrose Avenue, Suite 200 Los Angles, Calif. 90069 800-678-7255OXFAM AMERICA Donor Services Department
26 West Street Boston, MA 12111-1206 800-77-OXFAMSAVE THE CHILDREN Asia Earthquake/Tidal Wave Relief Fund
54 Wilton Road Westport, Conn. 06880 800-728-3843UNICEF General Emergency Fund
333 E. 38th Street New York, NY 10016 800-4-UNICEFThanks for your time and considering giving them a hand.
Chris