Tuesday, December 28, 2004
Blogging To Help The Tsunami-Striken
You've probably heard about the devastating tsunami that swept, among other regions, the east coast of India and Sri Lanka. I live on the west coast of India, which was only mildly affected. We were untouched in body, but not in spirit.
40,000 are confirmed dead so far and aid groups have begun historic relief efforts. The International Red Cross has issued an emergency appeal for immediate aid to hundreds of thousands of people stricken by the tsunamis in South-East Asia.
A group of bloggers has launched The South-East Asia Earthquake and Tsunami (SEA-EAT) blog with news and information about resources, aid, donations and volunteer efforts.
My friend, Fahad Hassan, an internet marketer from Sri lanka, just sent me this heart-rending account of his experience. I am reprinting it here verbatim.
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Thanks so much for your interest in this tragedy. India, US, Norway and many others helping us in terms of medicine and foods. They are on the way and Sri Lankan people are helping a lot for the victims. We also just participated in organising them from here. From Colombo, Kalutara and other little affected areas (where we are), we send lorries to affected areas - Galle and Ampara and other areas - food, water and other things.
Biggest problem is, some people scream "where's my sister", another screams "where's my mama" and some small children had to be taken to the orphanages. There is so much of damage in terms of property also. Some affected people questions that we'll aid them today tommorrow and perhaps for 15 days or a month. Whats their fate after that? We don't have answers to them.
We are helping people the way we can. Many people have donated a lot and even the media companies are helping. All are stuck and stunned by this. First time this has ever happenned to Sri Lanka. If anybody is there who would like to make any donation, give them the following link, where they can find all the information about this and account numbers.
Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation
The site also has pictures related to the tragedy. All the businesses and shops are closed and nobody is "in the mode" to do anything. All of us here are shocked..
Think about it this way. We don't have a guarantee whether we will live tomorrow. We aren't sure whether our biz or properties would exist tommorrow. God can change everything within a second. One of my far-relations in Galle lost all the stock in his shop, which is about 30 lakhs of Sri Lankan money. This is one case. How many others may have happenned that way?
Thanks for your interest in this.
Fahad
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Here are some places where you can send your donations:
The International Red Cross
The Indian Prime Minister's Relief Fund
National Association of Asian American Professionals
Latest News from Sri Lanka
