United Way Addresses Long-Term Community
Needs in the Wake of Devastating Tsunami Waves in South
Asia
United Way South Asia Response Fund
Established for Affected Communities
January 6, 2005 - United Way International,
United Way of America, and United Way affiliates local
to the affected areas, are working together with disaster
response partners to assess and address the wide range
long-term response and recovery needs of communities
in southern Asia severely impacted by tsunami waves
in recent days.
“The sweeping and long term impact of this disaster
will require assistance for years to come,” said
Christine James-Brown, president and CEO of United Way
International. “Although some of the immediate
attention of local United Ways will be on supporting
urgent needs like clean water, food and shelter, our
collective focal point as a United Way system will be
on long-term response and recovery.”
While the need for immediate relief is crucial to short-term
recovery efforts in the region, United Way hopes there
will also be generous support for rebuilding the infrastructure
on which these fragile fishing and tourist economies
rely. Not only are roads, and harbors and hotels in
need of repair, but there have been disastrous losses
of homes, schools, health clinics, and even the official
computer files and records on which stability depends.
Long-term recovery, United Way’s focus area, supports
rebuilding lives, homes, businesses, and communities
and takes time, care, and support.
The United Way South Asia Response Fund has been created
to support these long-term recovery efforts and will
be administered by United Way International. We encourage
unrestricted donations to this fund as it will allow
United Way International to direct the funds to where
the need is greatest. Individuals and corporations interested
in donating funds for long-term recovery can make an
online contribution by visiting: www.unitedway.org/tsunamiresponse
or mailing a check or money order to:
United Way South Asia Response Fund
c/o United Way International
701 North Fairfax St.
Alexandria, VA 22314
For those interested in providing immediate relief
assistance, United Way of America strongly encourages
cash donations to responding disaster agencies (versus
material donations) as the most expedient and direct
way to provide needed assistance to disaster victims.
A list of responding agencies accepting donations for
immediate relief assistance can be found at: www.interaction.org,
the website for InterAction, the largest alliance of
U.S.-based international development and humanitarian
nongovernmental organizations.
“It’s important for people to know that
United Way is in international organization as well
as local,” says Sylvia Geisler, president of Greater
Ottawa County United Way & Volunteer Center. “The
relief that United Way International is doing for these
efforts is much like what we do here locally. Working
on long-term solutions and investing in the rebuilding
of communities. I know people are sitting in their homes
watching this desperate situation and wanting to help
and not able to volunteer for this the United Way South
Asia Response Fund.”
Return to News Index |
