How to Donate to Tsunami Victims?

[Stephanie]

Red Cross? Who is raising funds? This is the most horrible thing I have ever heard. Does anyone know who would be collecting donations for the victims? I will never forget how the whole world tried to help New York. But this disaster is so enormous. It's incomprehensible. What can we do?

[rooboy]

1. A number of Aussie orgs do lots of work in SE Asia...

Who to call, what to do and whom to donate to

http://www.smh.com.au/news/World/Who-to-call-what-to-do-and-whom-to-donate-to/2004/12/27/1103996500015.html

[Stephanie]

3. Thank you so much - info >>>

Donations At least five major charities have set up disaster-relief funds and are asking people in Australia to donate to help their efforts.

CARE Australia, the overseas-aid organisation, has launched its southern Asia earthquake appeal to raise funds for emergency relief, providing food, shelter and clean water. Donations can be made by calling 1800 020 046 or going to http://www.careaustralia.org.au

The Australian Red Cross is collecting funds for its international body's appeal. Donations to its Asia quake and tsunamis appeal can be made by calling 1800 811 700, going to its website at http://www.redcross.org.au or posting a cheque to GPO Box 9949 in your capital city.

Donations can be made to Oxfam's earthquake tsunami emergency fund by calling 1800 034 034 or by going to http://www.oxfam.org.au

The World Vision chief executive, Tim Costello, said they urgently need donations. Donations to its Asia earthquake disaster appeal can be made by calling 13 32 40 or going to its website at http://www.worldvision.com.au

Donations to UNICEF can be made by calling 1300 884 233 or by visiting its website at http://www.unicef.org.au

http://www.smh.com.au/news/World/Who-to-call-what-to-do-and-whom-to-donate-to/2004/12/27/1103996500015.html?oneclick=true

[ChavezSpeakstheTruth]

2. The ICRC

http://www.icrc.org/eng

[Stephanie]

7. Thanks - slow to load

Site must be very busy

[ChavezSpeakstheTruth]

8. No doubt

[BeTheChange]

18. Very slow

I donated earlier, it took some persistance. Im so glad more people are showing support.

[NMDemDist2]

4. Mercy Corp based in Portland has people there already

http://www.oregonlive.com/news/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/news/1104152325120480.xml

The agency already has a large field office with about 60 staff members in the capital city of Jakarta on the main island of Indonesia, which was not affected by the disaster.

It also has a three-person office, set up to operate a feeding program for children, on the island of Sumatra, the earthquake's center.

The northern end of the 1,100-mile-long island was the most devastated portion of the nation. All Mercy Corps workers in Indonesia were unhurt and are trying to figure out how to get to the devastated area and help, says Steve Claborne, the agency's director of operations.

Claborne, who oversees Mercy Corp operations in Southeast Asia from his Portland office, was in Indonesia and Sri Lanka last week. He said reports he got Sunday from contacts in the region have him worried.

The agency is frequently updating its Web site, www.mercycorps.org, with what it learns about needs and conditions in the region, he said.

[Stephanie]

10. thanks - here is their donation page

https://ssl.charityweb.net/mercycorps/giftbasket/donation.htm?pDonorIntent=SoutheastAsiaEarthquake&Custom15=wm

[justinsb]

5. Here is a good overview

of what various nations and individuals are doing as well as a list of charities taking donations

http://www.ssc.uwo.ca/anthropology/jorgensen/aitapedonors.htm

[Stephanie]

9. that list looks old

last updated 1998

[Inland]

6. Intl Red Cross website takes credit cards, you can donate to relieve

specific disaster.

[sandnsea]

11. We have a list

We'll update as we get more info.
http://www.lightupthedarkness.org/blog/?view=plink&id=168

[kerrygoddess]

21. Updated List of Relief Org's on LUTD Blog

http://www.lightupthedarkness.org/blog/default.asp?view=plink&id=168

[Liberty Belle]

12. Will any aid groups take blankets, clothes, etc instead of cash?

We're tapped out financially, but could always dig through closets and send clothing, toiletries, blankets, etc.

[NoSheep]

14. I heard a very helpful comment about this on NPR today.

The fellow said that money is much better because it involves little resources to reach the victims, unlike clothes, etc. Just more efficient. The idea too is the cash can be spent IN the affected country, so it helps their economy rebuild at the same time. He did mention something about certain churches who could get goods together and provide their own transport of the articles to the country, thus saving transport funds that charities would have to pay. Why not a huge yard sale of unneeded clothes and other goods and send the money that way. He also encouraged those with time, but no money, to train for disaster relief so in the future, they may be able to give their time and energy, but as a trained helper.

[Lisa]

16. the Mennonite Central Committee sometimes puts together relief kits

Our neighbours got involved in this last year, to help Iraqi families.

http://www.mcc.org

The only thing is, they do have particular specifications about what kinds of things are to be collected ... and unless there is a group in your community which is working on this (and has a way to get the supplies to the afflicted area quickly, e.g. a containerload leaving at the end of the month), the MCC, like most disaster relief organizations, really does prefer cash. It's simply more efficient, as earlier posters pointed out.

If you want to donate surplus household goods to someone who'll be sure to use them, a homeless shelter or battered women's care group in your local area would be a better bet.

[Hell Hath No Fury]

13. OxFam...

is also taking donations. An excellent group.

[TheWebHead]

15. anyone groups offering a matching donation?

I was hoping some corporation would match donations for relief, that usually is something offered during situations like this.

[Stephanie]

17. A woman from CARE was on the Newshour

She said the best donation is money so they can purchase supplies at the locations. She said bottled water is urgent. They are concerned about disease.

___________________________

CARE, already at work in most of the countries hit by the tsunamis, is mounting an emergency response. In summary:

* Sri Lanka appears to be the country hit hardest by the tsunami. CARE has already begun relief response programs in the affected areas and expects to provide food for 14,000 people in the Batticaloa district over the next several days.

* In India, the affected area is in the southeast, mainly the coastal parts of Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Kerela, Pondicherry and the nearby islands. CARE is coordinating our emergency response plans with Indian state and federal governments, and with a local partner.

* The area most affected in Thailand includes the provinces of Phuket, Krabi, Phang Nga and Ranong. While CARE did not have programs in these areas, it is now collaborating with aid organizations that do. CARE is assessing the situation with a focus on migrant populations.

* The area most affected in Indonesia currently appears to be the province of Aceh, which felt the full force of the earthquake. While the Indonesian government has announced that the affected areas will be open for humanitarian workers, CARE is waiting to see if travel restrictions will be removed quickly. In the meantime, CARE is preparing to provide clean water to accessible populations.

CARE's emergency response will include provision of items such as food, water purification tablets, soaps, shelter materials, basic medical supplies and cooking supplies.

http://www.careusa.org/newsroom/pressreleases/2004/dec/20041227_asiaquake.asp
___________________________

[Donailin]

19. The US to give $15 Mil for victims aid

http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory?id=363515

friggin CEO's of US corporations get more than that for xmas bonus's.

This president sickens me. 200 BILLION for war and killing, 15 mil for millions of homeless victims and their dead.

On CHRISTMAS DAY, no less. That is the response of the socalled moral Christian president.

[Stephanie]

20. This president will surely rot in hell

Sun Dec 26, 1:59 PM ET

AP

President George Bush (news - web sites) pulls his wife first lady Laura Bush into a photo op with the Crawford High School Pirates at Texas State Technical College in Waco, Texas, Dec. 26, 2004. The Pirates won the State 2A Division II football title this season. Bush is spending the New Year's holiday at his Crawford ranch. Standing in the front row are players, from left, Derek Dumas, Lee Murphy and Hunter Brown. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)

link

[kostya]

22. Go to Charity Navigator, that site will help you. See link below

http://www.charitynavigator.org/ - K

[midnight armadillo]

23. Here's a list

http://www.boston.com/news/world/asia/articles/2004/12/30/how_to_help/

[smedwed]

24. DEC

www.dec.org.uk is one 4 uk- it has online donations and
phone numbers