Presbyterians across Canada donated more than $345,000 to Presbyterian World Service and Development as of mid-January to help the victims left in the wake of the tsunami that hit southeast Asia. More donations arrive daily from individuals and congregations moved by the plight of millions.
The Canadian government announced it would match funds from individuals given to approved NGOs by Jan. 11 on a one-to-one basis. PWS&D was approved for fund matching on the day of the deadline.
Donations to PWS&D and directed to Canadian Foodgrains Bank are already matched by the Canadian International Development Agency on a four-to-one basis, but these funds are for specific food aid projects only, and largely will not apply to tsunami relief due to government restrictions on grain purchased outside of Canada.
Two weeks after the disaster, PWS&D forwarded $100,000 to Action by Churches Together (ACT) for its work in Sri Lanka, India and Indonesia. PWS&D is a member of ACT, an international alliance of churches and relief agencies.
Once the emergency situation stabilizes and immediate needs are met, the next challenge to tackle is supporting the ravaged countries in the long-term. Rebuilding homes, lives and businesses is a top priority, said Karen Plater, communications coordinator for PWS&D. "Many of the people affected were fishermen and they lost their boats. And many small shops along the beach were destroyed. Those people need help restarting their livelihoods."
She said many of PWS&D's overseas partners are still in the process of assessing the full list of long-term needs. She said since many of the areas were poor to begin with, any relief project should consider this fact when helping. "They need to consider how to make them sustainable communities, so people can continue their lives with dignity."
PWS&D, the relief and development arm of The Presbyterian Church in Canada, immediately responded to the mammoth 9.0 earthquake on Dec. 26. Sri Lanka, Indonesia, India, Thailand, Malaysia, Myanmar, Maldives and Bangladesh were seriously affected. As of January, a total of nearly 150,000 people had been confirmed dead, with more than 1.5 million people left homeless. Support from PWS&D is being directed by ACT, CFGB and the Institute for Development Education, India.
Immediate supplies such as food, clean water, temporary shelter, blankets, soap, cooking utensils and clothing were the first items to be dispensed. In India, Church's Auxiliary for Social Action, a member of ACT, is using 12 teams to meet the need.
Removing bodies and animal carcasses was an urgent task. Such action is necessary to prevent the spread of disease — a growing concern in areas left without sanitation. In early January, U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan encouraged nations who pledged money to the afflicted countries to make good on their promises, reminding them of the World Health Organization's warning that 150,000 more people may die from disease.
Once the immediate needs are met, CASA is planning to help 5,000 families with house reconstruction, while 15 flood and cyclone shelters will be constructed. Food-for-work programs will be established — where those being helped work for the aid they receive — to help people rebuild their lives.
The Institute for Development Education in Chennai, India, PWS&D's long-term development partner, is an example of the poor helping the poor. Women in communities where PWS&D programs are running are the ones responding — regardless of caste or religion. Only days after the disaster, PWS&D sent more than $25,000 to help survivors.
In Canada, the PCC's International Ministries has sent $10,000 from Presbyterians Sharing… to help the Church of North India repair damaged church buildings. Three clergy and their families were killed from the Church of North India, and nine churches were washed away.
To help in the relief effort, contact PWS&D directly at 1-800-619-7301, or contribute through your congregation.
