Asi@news

N° 6 – April 29^th, 2005

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

Special Issue about Salamanca Meeting – 22 April 2005

As you know, on the occasion of the Permanent Section meeting that was held from April 19^th to 21^st, a special meeting day was reserved, on the 22^nd, to the tsunami disaster.

     Representatives the Society of the four main affected countries attended - Lucian Samarawickrama, national President of Sri Lanka; Joseph Pandian, National President of India, Peter Suraphol Senanivin, National President of Thailand and Mr Basukisworo, National Development Officer representing the National Council of Indonesia, - together with the persons in charge of the structure in that zone: Mr Valentine Gonsalves, from Pakistan and Thomas Tan, from Singapore, Coordinators of Asia Group 1 and 2 respectively and Mr John Lee, Territorial Vice President for Asia and Oceania. The meeting was presided by Mr Michael Thio, Deputy Vice President for the Structure, and in charge of coordinating the tsunami campaign.

They were able to meet with the Permanent Section, members of the Technical Commission and with representatives of the main donor countries. Representatives of the AIC, of the Daughters of Charity and of the Congregation of the mission were also invited to exchange their views and, for the first time, consider real collaboration and actual joint work.

After a brief presentation by Michael Thio, stressing on the emergence of 1,600,000 “new poor”, in fraternity, they were able to present their work and needs, to exchange their views and experience. All presentations, lasting around 45 minutes, were to include a summary of the catastrophe; the organisation in situ; short and medium-term needs; identification, objectives methods and implementation of specific projects and stages of financing, and some time reserved for questions and answers.

All attendees have carefully listened to the presenters. The opportunity was given to ask all of them any question and/or clarification: fraternity, solidarity and confidence led the debates, but never losing sight of seriousness and preciseness. Arising from the presentations, CGI has earnmarked a sum of Euro 410,000 from the Asia Disaster Fund to be distributed to the 4 countries, taking into account their needs and possibilities, and conciliating the absolute need to keep on working and the absolute need to provide a clear and extremely precise accountability of all actions taken thanks to the funds sent from our Society all over the world.

This issue of Asi@news will present with you a summary of the main news that has been given, and of the decision that have been taken. Our forthcoming issues will give you more details about the projects.

Brief Summary of the Meeting

INDIA

On the very first days after the tsunami, the Society rapidly organised immediate relief and counselling. A Tsunami Disaster Relief Committee was set up to build up projects and plans on a longer term basis.

Projects

The work of the Indian Society is based on two phases.

The first phase includes the supply of nets and fishing equipment and repair of country crafts and catamarans, to allow fishermen to go back to work. A second step, will deal with repairs of houses. The 3^rd part of this phase 1 will consist in the supply of live stocks (chicken, goats, etc.) and equipments. Last, the fourth phase is allocated to 50% of all the remaining items requested (nets, house repairs, boats, animals, equipment…).

Decision of the Permanent Section

Euro 160,000 will be sent for Education grant for lower and higher education and for adoption of 200 children for education too.

INDONESIA

First of all we have to remind that, only 3 months after the Tsunami struck, a huge earthquake affected the Nias Island in Indonesia, causing, once again, damage, death and distress. .

About the tsunami, it has to be said that the Society only has one Conference (Christ the King) in the affected zone, (which is 95% Muslim, which makes work more difficult). Assistance is arriving from SSVP Malaysia (see previous issues of Asi@news), and the Indonesian Society is networking with Medan Archdiocese, INTI (Chinese) organisations, and Holy Spirit Missionary Sisters on emergency, reconstruction and rehabilitation. Their approximation of Euro 171,590 budget needs precisions, and will thus be considered again later on.

The Society, however, is able to work in Nias which is a 90% Catholic area. Emergency programmes have been started (distribution of food, medicines, blankets in Alvera’s convent where there are 1500 victims; taking care of 16 injured people in Deli Hospital) as well as assistance relief programmes (reconstruction and rehabilitation with Sibolga Archdiocese, Alvera’s Sisters and INTI organisations; scholarships; restoring livelihood and trauma healing). The budget approximation is 160,000 Euros.

Decision of the Permanent Section       

Awaiting for precise and detailed information about Aceh projects, 90,000 Euro will be sent to Indonesia National Council for Nias Island,  for essential relief assistance in food, clothes, medical care/medicine, scholarship; excluding, for now, “trauma healing” activity which also needs more precise information.

 SRI LANKA

Apart from immediate relief, made possible by the amounts sent from New Zealand and the ICG (see previous issues of Asi@news) consisted in houses, nets and boats repairs, supply of essential needs such as food, medicines and sanitary material, clothes, sleeping gear, mosquito nets, drinking water, by the Conferences and the 5 Regional Councils in the area, with a special attention to children welfare.

Estimating and identifying buildings that need repairs is in course, with care to avoid conflicts and with the guidance of Priests and Bishops. This will take time. Finding land to build new houses will also be problematic, for price and availability reasons, and the SSVP will have to wait for land to be allocated before starting building. Funds have to be found for this purpose.

Meanwhile, the Society keeps on working, and will need funds to go further: buying and repairs of boats and fishnets, bicycles, sewing machines, carts for vendors of vegetables and fish, weighing scales, tools… to allow victims to go back to work or start their own small-help business.

Decision of the Permanent Section

Viewing needs and possibilities, the Permanent Section has taken the decision of allocating 100,000 Euro to Sri Lanka Superior Council for their short and medium term projects of building houses, boats, and essential relief assistance.

THAILAND

As a proof of its seriousness, the budget remains the same as it was initially: 180,000 euros for medium term needs (3 to 6 months). Thanks to 5,770 Euro from Australia, 1,740 euros collected from local Conferences and 60,000 euros sent by ICG earlier, the Thai Society has been able to lead this campaign up to now.

Decision of the Permanent Section :

In order to allow them to keep on working, it is decided to send another Euro 60,000 for medium term relief assistance in Family Welfare, fishing equipment/boats, scholarships, medical care etc.

Balance of fund movements (in Euros at April 27^th, 2005)

Figures may slightly change because of exchange rates and bank costs

Let’s keep on helping them!

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 all Central Africa is undergoing a tremendous crisis situation: wars, hunger, drought, displaced people,… the Society is present in almost all these countries but can hardly work by lack of money…

            The Permanent Section has recognized this whole zone as a “Disaster Zone” during Salamanca meeting: any donation you would like to make under general Disaster funds or under specific Africa Disaster fund may then be used in this zone and allow the Society to work properly.