CARE Responds to Asia Quake Disaster ATLANTA, GA (December 27, 2004) - On the morning of Sunday December 26, a magnitude 9.0 earthquake struck off the coast of Sumatra Island, Indonesia, sending massive tsunamis across the Bay of Bengal and Indian Ocean. Because many affected areas are inaccessible, the full extent of the damage has yet to be determined. However, it is estimated that more than 40,000 people have died and many more have lost their homes and property.
CARE, already at work in most of the countries hit by the tsunamis, is mounting an emergency response. In summary:
- Sri Lanka appears to be the country hit hardest by the tsunami. CARE has already begun relief response programs in the affected areas and expects to provide food for 14,000 people in the Batticaloa district over the next several days.
- In India, the affected area is in the southeast, mainly the coastal parts of Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Kerela, Pondicherry and the nearby islands. CARE is coordinating our emergency response plans with Indian state and federal governments, and with a local partner.
- The area most affected in Thailand includes the provinces of Phuket, Krabi, Phang Nga and Ranong. While CARE did not have programs in these areas, it is now collaborating with aid organizations that do. CARE is assessing the situation with a focus on migrant populations.
- The area most affected in Indonesia currently appears to be the province of Aceh, which felt the full force of the earthquake. While the Indonesian government has announced that the affected areas will be open for humanitarian workers, CARE is waiting to see if travel restrictions will be removed quickly. In the meantime, CARE is preparing to provide clean water to accessible populations.
CARE's emergency response will include provision of items such as food, water purification tablets, soaps, shelter materials, basic medical supplies and cooking supplies.
If you have questions or would like to make a donation, please call 1-800-422-7385 (8:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. EST) or 1-800-521-CARE (8:00 a.m. to 12:00 a.m. EST).
Para ayuda en español, por favor marcar 1-800-422-7385 y preguntar por Ana Augustine. Si usted está fuera de Los Estados Unidos, marque 404-979-9428. Gracias por su interes en CARE.
Media Contacts:
Atlanta: Lurma Rackley, CARE USA, lrackley@care.org, (404) 979-9450
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