South Asia Tsunami Victim Relief Donations

While the full impact of the tragedies that have occurred in South East Asia are still too much for anyone to fathom, there are ways to help. With the estimated death toll rising day by day, this tragedy has already eclipsed the number of American solider deaths of almost three Vietnam Wars (58,000). The following is excerpted from Asian Media Watch on ways you can get involved to help and should be used as a reference—please do your own due diligence in deciding how you can contribute.

Fraudulent requests for donations commonly surface to exploit the public's concern following a devastating natural disaster such as the South Asia earthquake/tidal wave. Evidence of possible fraud is already surfacing. Be on the alert for and report potential fraud. Work with and donate directly to legitimate, well-established disaster relief organizations that are currently operating in the affected region and are providing emergency services to the victims.

How You Can Help

Excerpted from the U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) - National Donations Strategy www.fema.gov/rrr/help2.shtm
  1. Contributions of Cash - Often the Best Donation
    Monetary contributions allow professional relief organizations to purchase exactly what is most urgently needed by disaster victims and to pay for the transportation necessary to distribute the supplies. Donations of money given to recognized relief organizations are tax deductible and allow the relief supplies to be purchased in locations near the disaster site. This stimulates the economy and ensures the supplies will arrive as quickly as possible.
  2. Confirm the Need
    Check with a relief organization on site at the disaster for exactly what is needed. Only provide the requests associated with the needs list which is current and appropriate for the victims being served.
  3. Donate Through an Organization
    Before starting a collection of goods to send to a disaster site, it is essential to locate a reliable relief organization willing to receive the shipment of donated goods.
Distributing the relief supplies requires personnel and financial resources within the affected area. When unsolicited truckloads of items arrive at a disaster site there is often no place to unload the goods. This often creates a problem resulting in not being able to utilize the items regardless of the need. To avoid this, designate a relief organization and work with them from start to finish.

The American Institute of Philanthropy www.charitywatch.org/hottopics/tsunami_asia.html echoes these sentiments with "Send Cash, Not Goods"

International Disaster Relief Agencies

Guidelines for choosing a disaster relief agency for your donations:
  • Has an established track record for helping people in the affected region
  • Is currently providing emergency services to the victims
  • Has received a top rating from a charity watchdog group for budgetary and fundraising efficiency such as the American Institute of Philanthropy
  • Does not discriminate on the basis of sex, age, social class, disability, HIV status, sexual preference, religion, race or ethnicity
  • Has designated a special fund for the victims of the South Asia earthquake/tidal wave
To help, call your preferred humanitarian relief agency and designate your gift to the South Asia earthquake/tidal wave disaster relief effort. Following are several international relief agencies responding to this disaster.

This is not an endorsement.

  • Doctors without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières ("A" rating)
    Donations go into a general fund. Call for more information. 1-888-392-0392
  • International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies ("A+" rating)
    A special fund has been designated. Donate on the Web to: Asia - Earthquake and Tsunamis Fund www.ifrc.org/helpnow/donate/donate_response.asp or c/o American Red Cross Donations go into a general fund. International Response Fund. Call for more information. 800) HELP-NOW
  • International Save the Children Alliance ("A" rating)
    c/o Save the Children U.S. A special fund has been designated. Donate on the Web to: Asia Earthquake/Tidal Wave Relief Fund https://secure.ga3.org/01/helpasia?stationpub=hp_radio_asia_earthq or call 1-800-SAVETHECHILDREN
  • United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) ("A" rating)
    c/o United States Fund for UNICEF. A special fund has been designated. Donate on the Web to: South Asia Tsunami Relief Efforts www.unicefusa.org/tsunami or call 800) 4UNICEF

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(Info provided by Asian Media Watch
© Copyright 2004 Asian Media Watch