Asi@news

N° 5

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 newsletter. 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 Meeting on the Tsunami Disaster

 

As it was announced in your Asi@news nb 2, at the occasion of the Permanent Section meeting, which will take place in Salamanca (Spain) in April, 2005, an entire day meeting will be dedicated to the Tsunami disaster.

 

We are now able to give you more precisions about this meeting. It will take place on Friday 22 April, and will be dedicated to:

 

FAR REACHING COMMUNICATION  between :

  • Michael Thio, Deputy Vice-President General for International Structure and General Affairs, and in charge of leading and coordinating the whole campaign
  • John Lee, International Territorial Vice-President for Asia and Oceania
  • Valentine Gonsalves  and  Thomas Tan, Coordinators
  • National Presidents of the 4 countries most affected or their representative: India (Mr Joseph Pandian), Indonesia (Mr Basukisworo), Sri Lanka (Mr Lucian Samarawickrama) and Thailand (Mr Peter Suraphol Seravinin).
  • National Presidents of those countries most likely to participate financially
  • And all others members of the Permanent Section.

 

STAGE OF THE SITUATION

 

  • Summary of the catastrophe
  • Organization in situ
  • Organization based upon international planning
  • Short and medium term needs
  • Stage of financing

 

IMPLEMENTATION OF SPECIFIC PROJECTS

 

·        Countries

·        Objectives

·        Methods

·        medium term needs

·        means

.

 


National Council of Thailand and Camillian Sisters before visiting the victims

A first Action report from Thailand…

 

Before the international Council General decided to send 60,000 euros to Thailand, in order to help them start their 180,000 euros relief project, the National Council received 10,000 Australian Dollars as an emergency donation from their twin country Australia. That is 288,463 Bahts, or 5,770 euros.

 


Thailand has already been able to send us a detailed interim expenses report for these first funds. We are presenting it to you, for your information; looking forward to receive news from the progress of their main project, that was introduced to you in Asi@news Nb. 4 and in which the International Council got involved.

 

This report is presented in a table, for an easier reading of it.

 

Date

Activity

Amount Spent

Thai Bahts

Euros (aprox.)

6 Jan 05 

Advanced Emergency fund from our office and remitted to Diocese of Surat Thani, disaster district  (See Asi@news nb 4)

100,000

2,000

not included in the total (action taken before receiving the funds)

5-7 Jan 05 

Nat’l Council Transportation to disaster areas

19,500

390

Disaster District– Phuket (Conference of Lady of Assumption exist in the area)

28 Dec.04

Bought Food items to assist the victims in the disaster area

7,000

140

8 Jan. 05

Arranged food and necessary items for 300 stranded villagers including 43 hungry babies at Cham island.

20,000

400

10 Jan. 05

Arranged boxed meals, drinking water, clothes for Kamala School children

8,000

160

12 Jan.05

Emergency fund given to 20 sick and helpless people

25,000

500

13 Jan 05 

Transportation expenses for Surat Thani Diocese visited the victims

8,726

174.5

 

Expenses for house utensils for 30 families included blankets

30,000

600

Disaster District – Ranong ( Conference of Sacred Heart of Jesus exist in the area)

9 Jan 05

Bought rice, dried foods, and 200 boxed meals to help the victims

5,000

100

12 Jan 05

Visited survival Morgan people who live in the Low island, we gave them rice, can food and petty cash

6,500

130

15 Jan 05

Help 5 families and their kids

4,500

90

26 Jan 05

Help 4 fisherman families to buy tools and fishing equipments

20,000

400

29 Jan 05

Help victim families and their children

11,000

220

TOTAL

165,226

3,304.5

Balance (at Feb 14th)

123,237

2,465.5

 

Group 2 Coordinator Visit to Sri Lanka… basis of further action

 


Visiting the victims…

I visited Sri Lanka 14 days after the Tsunami. The Sri Lankan Government and the various NGO have done an excellent job on the humanitarian side but the magnitude of the loss to property and people was horrendous.

I stated to the National Council the purpose of my visit which was to see how CGI could supplement help to Sri Lanka and the Vincentians of the country.

 


To place the SL Vincentians immediately with funds I handed over to the President Lucian the sum of US$.3000/-as approved by CGI to start their work immediately. I also gave them ideas of the various ways they could help the victims but I reassured them that it was their decision that would count and not mine.

 

Before asking for any help it was suggested that I be taken to a few selected areas to see for myself the damage. I was first taken to the south of Colombo where the Tsunami had also struck, I visited the places of Moratuwa, Panadura, Kalutara, Maggona and Beruwala (all in the south) saw the damage caused and also spoke to the local fisherman some of whom had returned to their broken up home, only for the day, at night they would sleep far away from the sea.

 

The next day, the 11th of January 2005 we drove for ten hours to visit Batticoloa. We visited several areas of this beautiful city but the Dutchbarr area was the worst hit. Hundreds of fully reinforced building were uprooted from their foundations and thrown far away. 75% of the people and property perished in a matter of minutes.

Our discussion with Vincentians, the Hierarchy, the clergy and the religious, people from Government indicated that the people were well fed and their medical needs were by and large catered for. They were given clothes and roof over their heads by the building of thousands of tents built by UNHCR, the Red Cross and other NGO's.

 

           
                       Families can only check out the damage…

 

Both the Bishop of Batticoloa and the Archbishop of Colombo suggested an immediate and long term strategy to help. Since most of the poor people that had suffered and died were from the fishermen community it was suggested that new tools and equipments are purchased for them so that they could go back to fishing. Secondly, the government is committed to provide new lands to the fisherman. Here the Vincentians suggested that homes be built for some of the fishermen with the means of the society. These homes could be built within the sum of US$1000/ per unit.

 

The Bishops had advised that all the affected Fishermen would be allocated free land, 300 meters away from the beaches. ONLY LAND.  The Fishermen had to build their own houses on the land allotted and it was here that SVP could get involved in a limited way.

The Bishop of Batticaloa Bishop Kingsley Swamipillai was most grateful for the visit of SVP visitors especially reps from CGI.  It was the first visit to the area by a foreign based Vincentian.  The Bishop then advised the Sri Lankan Vincentians on what areas that needed help immediately and in future. Food was plentiful and the building of Houses would take a little time to commence as the logistics had not been worked out by the Government. SVP were told to start preparing for this project.


Also as advised earlier to CGI, duplication of efforts should be avoided and it is recommended that SVP work with the Church to avoid clash.  The aspect of accountability was over stressed and its importance communicated in no uncertain terms.

 

Bro. Samarawickrama is a good leader.  He would be able to put through the limited Housing Scheme as he has the experience.  CGI should monitor the funds from Paris and release it only on the full accountability.  I also intend to revisit Sri Lanka and would be holding a Group I Asia Meeting there in April/May 2005 in Batticaloa.

 

“ I and my friends saw a huge wave coming towards us from the beach.  We scrambled to higher territory but what we saw from the other side was that the waters were being sucked back to the beaches bringing along with it reinforced concrete homes, people, boats, trees and everything”.

A little boy from Sri Lanka 

 

Source: reports from Mr Valentine C. Gonsalves

 

 

Last news…

 

The Technical Commission is keeping on supporting our Vincentian projects in tsunami affected areas: about 33% of our two main projects in Thailand and India (phase 1) are being funded.

We are now awaiting more projects from other tsunami affected countries, and will inform you through Asi@news as soon as we receive information.

 

 

Balance of fund movements (in Euros at 3rd March 2005)

 

Donor / Recipient

Promised

 not yet received

Funds received

Funds Sent

Funds directly sent through twinning

At 22nd  February (see Asi@news nb.4)
Amounts corrected after bank costs/exchange rates

203,000

198,313

112,290

157,900

200,000

remaining

Singapore National Council

30,000

 

 

 

Other Councils (Turkey)

 

2,975

 

 

National Council Scotland

 

50,000

 

 

National Council India

 

 

80,000

 

Total

230,000

 

 

157,900

Total

 

251,288

192,290

 

Available at 3rd March, 2005

 

58,998

 

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…

 

… that Venezuela has just been struck by important floods, in 11 out of 23 sates in the country! The Society is present and very active there… it needs your help!

 

Do not forget the International Council General Disaster Fund, which could allow us to take rapid and effective action in such cases!