Asi@news

N° 4

News Bulletin from the International General Council on the disaster in Asia

In order to give the Society the best possible information on what has been undertaken following the « Tsunami » at the end of December, the International General Council (ICG) has decided to publish, periodically, this little newssheet. It will attempt to gather together the most important news items which reach the ICG: on the spot reports, expressed requirements, work undertaken by the SSVP and by the Council. Any news you have will be of interest to your Vincentian Brothers and Sisters! You can send any items of news by email on ssvp.tsunami@ozanet.org

Special issue on projects

Action report and Assessment of financial need to support the tsunami victims - SSVP Thailand

The Diocese of Surat-Thani has set up an emergency relief center at Baan Chum-Praban to assist the victims of the tsunami that hit 6 provinces in the South of Thailand, taking prompt action from the first day on the 26 of December 2004, providing immediate relief and psychological counselling as well as having plans to provide long term assistance.

The SSVP Diocese of Surat Thani has two Conferences working in the Phang-Nga and Krabi areas and has recently been joined by two other Conferences looking after the Phuket and Ranong areas. The task force now numbers 24 Sisters and Brothers. The teams make daily visits to the shelter camps and outlying villages accompanied by the President of the Diocese of Surat-Thani and his son the pastor of Phang-Nga Parish.

The National Council of Thailand (NCT) called a special meeting on 2 January 2005 to discuss and consider solutions and actions to help the tsunami victims. The first act was to provide an emergency cash advance of 100,000 Thai bahts (euros 2,000) to the Diocese of Surat Thani.

On Wednesday, 5 January 2005 a team appointed by the National Council Thailand (NCT) visited Bishop Prathan and Fr. Somphong at the Project Coordinating Operation Center - “Baan Chum Phaban” in Surat Thani. The Bishop provided an in-depth briefing on the situation. Later, visits were made to the Conferences, disaster areas, shelter camps, and various affected villages. It is estimated that at least 8,700 people are in need of aid.

Apart from shelters, losses include public utilities, boats, fishing equipment, agricultural land and livestock.

The total estimated budget is 161 million baht (3.2 million euros). Of this 52 million baht (1.4 million euros) will be generated locally. The remaining 109 million baht is to be general from foreign aid.

SSVP Thailand, in cooperation with the Catholic Bishop’s Conference in Thailand, requests the consideration of the Council General International (CGI) to help fund some of the projects mentioned above. SSVP Thailand is requesting the amount of 9 million Bahts (180,000 Euros).

The breakdown is as follows:

^{SSVP Thailand National Council}

· At Ranong Conference

Fund support has been given at 1,000 Bahts per family per week for total of 67 victim families. The supporting project will be carried on at least for another 6 months.

· At Phanom Conference and Baan Chum Phaban Operation Center

Fund request to buy house utensils for many victim houses for the total of 100,000 Bahts.

· At Phuket Conference

Fund request to support 95 victim families at 1,000 Bahts for each family per week and it will further help at least 6 months or more.

The above activities will be carried out under the three Conferences in the disaster areas, Diocese of Surat Thani.; Funds requested are 4,000,000 Bahts (80,000 euros).

· In cooperation with the Catholic Bishop's Conference in Thailand. SSVP Thailand requests fund under the following items: for Fishery Equipment (1 million Bahts), Scholarships (2 million Bahts), Medical needs (1 million Bahts) and Others (1 million Bahts) for a total of 5 million Bahts (100,000 euros).

To sum up the grand total request is 9,000,000 Bahts or 180,000 EURO

Source : Peter Suraphol Senavinin, National President, SSVP Thailand

Indian SSVP planning to work on a long term basis…

Tuticorin Vincetians visiting victims

Loss to property is worth over billions of dollars as they have lost everything including their houses, properties, vehicles, belongings, trawlers, mechanized boats, fishing boats, catamarans, fishing nets, hutments and their lifetime savings in property, ornaments, etc. Their life has been wildly thrown back by 20 years if not more.

Our Vincentians have been toiling day in and day out in rendering physical assistance to those rendered homeless, by providing shelter in our schools and convents; providing food, clothes, water, emergency medicines, etc

We Vincentians are involved in conducting an in-depth survey of the casualties and damages and as a first step. We are trying to give them essential requirements of food, clothing, water and shelter and having the losses registered with appropriate authority, so that survivors stand to get the benefits announced by the Central and State Governments in India. We are also undertaking counselling work to the traumatized. But all this appears to be meagre.

Kottar Central Council at work…

The reconstruction involves rendering short term relief and planning out long term relief measures of multifarious activities. All Central Councils and each and every Vincentian in India has been called upon to rise to the occasion and donate the best they can. A National level Tsunami Disaster Committee has been formed to assess, guide and monitor the rehabilitation work.

Yet, considering the enormity of the issue we have to approach the Council General International and all our overseas Councils to lend us a helping hand to tide over these crises.

The first step of our projects is about emergency rehabilitation: reparation of houses, providing boats and nets to fishermen families, animals and crop for farmers, educational material, food and water… all that items are needed by thousands of families over the action area of 18 Central Councils. The estimated needs are worth 1,034,894 euros, over 3 to 5 years.

I have been very moved by the events that took place in Asia.

I give my most heartfelt condolence to all the families. May the Lord bring comfort and benediction to all those families who have lost their beloved persons, may God grant them His Mercy, for peace to reign in their hearts.

Very fraternally, in Jesus Christ,

A Sister from Congo Brazzaville

House Construction is taken up in the second phase, waiting for the allotment of land to affected fisherman by the Government to be completed and so as to avoid duplication of House construction by the Governments and other major agencies like Caritas.

Education of Tsunami affected children is also separately taken up as an ongoing long-term scheme.

The estimation for both items above is Euros 1,373,129.

The total amount of the Indian project for tsunami victims reaches more than 2,300,000 Euros over around 5 years. 170,000 euros have been raised locally, and India can count on its Twin countries. But yet, the needs and possibilities are huge!

Moreover, the National Council is planning to provide additional funds to all S.S.V.P homes for the aged in India that may accommodate Tsunami affected elderly people. It also endeavours to have project for orphaned children.

Source : Joseph Pandian, National President, SSVP India

As you may have seen on the third issue of Asi@news, the International Council General has started supporting these two projects using the funds that were available in the Asia Disaster Fund; it will obviously continue supporting them, with a precise follow up of the way these funds are used, and considering any other project coming from the Tsunami affected countries. You will be kept informed of all that in further issues of Asi@news, always available on your international website www.ozanet.org.

Balance of fund movements (in Euros at 22th February 2005)

Donor / Recipient	Promised not yet received	Funds received	Funds Sent	Funds directly sent through twinnings
At 7^th February (see Asi@news nb.3) Amounts corrected after bank costs/exchange rates	(214,800)	122,839	112,290	157,900
	100,000 remaining	122,839	112,290	157,900
Individuals, Conferences, Congregations, Parishes.		462
National Council Scotland		50,000
National Council Hong-Kong		25,012
National Council of France	100,000
Other Councils (Turkey)	3,000
Total	203,000			157,900
TOTAL		198,313	112,290
Available at 22 Feb 2005		86,023

Figures may slightly change because of exchange rates and bank costs

Let’s keep on helping them!

All the money raised and sent to the General Council will be forwarded to the countries involved as soon as possible. It is very important that these funds pass through the General Council to ensure good management and good use of these funds which are sometimes vital for precise and definite projects. You can send your funds to:

Société de St. Vincent de Paul

Conseil Général International

5, rue du Prés-aux-Clercs

75007 Paris, FRANCE

Or by T/T transfer:

Banque CIC- Paris Bac

2 Bd Raspail

75007 Paris, FRANCE

Account Nb. FR76 3006 6100 4100 0105 8120 129

Please specify “For the Asian Disaster fund”

Even though a great amount of money is needed, each contribution, no matter how modest, has the same symbolic value; it is a sign of fraternity and solidarity; a small amount sent by a country with little means involves a great effort, which true worth will be appreciated.”

But let us not forget…

Disasters of all kinds take place every day all over the world… Television and press are not always there, but the Society of St Vincent de Paul often is!

The General Appeal on Disasters is still going on! The ICG Disaster fund is not sufficiently supplied with; and it will never be.

Your generosity is essential for the Society to keep up the good work!