OTTAWA, Canada Donors across the country are responding to SOS Children's Villages Canada's (SOS) campaign to fund long-term relief in some of the hardest hit countries in South Asia. SOS National Director Boyd McBride reports that there has been a steady flow of cheques and online donations to the organization since the campaign had its official launch at a national press conference in Ottawa on January 11. "We've been extremely pleased with the response we've received," he said. "Donors who have been with us for years are increasing their regular support by giving additonal funds to the tsunami relief campaign, and new donors are sending in their cheques as well," he continued.
According to Mr. McBride, the SOS long term relief strategy is well in place in both Sri Lanka and India. As the devastation and death tolls continue to climb in Indonesia, the organization is still supplying emergency relief and assessing the situation in order to put long term support plans in place for vulnerable families and children.
SOS has already implemented programs to help around 2,000 tsunami-hit families (around 7,000 people) in India and Sri Lanka to rebuild their homes, communities and livelihoods. In both countries, many families have lost either a mother or father, leaving behind a grief-stricken parent with children who are still dealing with not only the devastation to their lives, but the emotional trauma as well.
"In order to give these children hope for the future, it is vital to support their struggling parents in the rebuilding of their homes, communities and livelihoods," said Siddhartha Kaul, Continental Director of SOS Children¹s Villages in Asia.
SOS Children's Villages has identified some 1,000 children from such vulnerable single-parent families in India. Most of these families are women-headed, which means that they have lost their main breadwinner and are therefore in near destitute situations. SOS will be providing long term support to these families through education, nutrition and healthcare programs.
Efforts to rebuild the devastated Indian communities of Pudukuppam, Singaravalen and Akkampettai are currently underway. SOS has already constructed temporary shelter for 300 affected families, who will also receive cooking utensils and a month¹s supply of food. As well, nine SOS Child Activity Centres are providing day-care, nutrition, therapeutic activities and psychological counseling for affected children.
In Sri Lanka, SOS is working in and around the southern towns of Galle and Piliyandala. SOS is one of a very few organizations providing aid to the ravaged eastern coast which encompasses some areas under the control of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) control.
Eight SOS Child Activity Centres are being set up at refugee camps in Komari, Iralodei, Wattawan and Kayankerni. These hubs will provide basic education and therapeutic activities to close to 1,500 children. In addition, some 1,000 affected families in eastern Sri Lanka are being given grants to help recipients purchase food and other basic necessities, and to to build temporary shelters. Sixty youths, ages 15 to 21 years, who have grown up in SOS Children¹s Villages across Sri Lanka, are helping with the clean-up and rebuilding operations.
"Our long-standing infrastructure has allowed us to get these programs into operation in a very short time frame," commented Mr. McBride. "We have a reputation for effectiveness and accountability is these countries, so we have good working relationships with all levels of government. That goes a long way towards getting the work done," he said.