South Asia Relief

I am sorry that I just got this e-mail today (1/1/05). So I am posting it as soon as possible:

Please help us to raise money to send emergency aid to women's organizations in Sri Lanka. Forward this message to all your friends and family, lists and listservs, and anyone else you can think of. The best way to raise the support is to forward this letter and ask everyone to forward it to their lists, etc.Thank you to those of you who already contributed.
Sincerely,
Vivian

THE DEATH TOLL IN SOUTH ASIA CONTINUES TO RISE STEADILY AND MAY SOON REACH 100,000. SO FAR, MORE THAN A THIRD OF THE DEAD ARE CHILDREN.

Dear Friends,
We are writing to you today with an absolutely urgent request for help.The December 26th earthquake in South Asia, which caused huge tidalwaves from Malaysia to Africa, is one of the worst natural disasters ever. MADRE is working to help the survivors obtain the services they so desperately need in this terrible moment, and we need your support.As I write, death tolls are rising hourly; already more than 68,000 have died. The UN faces an unprecedented challenge in distributing aid to 10 countries at once. Millions of people are homeless. And the disaster zone is now threatened with outbreaks of disease caused by rotting bodies, broken sewage lines, and the destruction of water supplies. According to the World Health Organization, "In the coming days, additional threats to human life such as diarrheal diseases and acute respiratory infections can be expected to arise from contaminated water sources". A UN health agency has warned that such outbreaks could double the death toll. Sri Lanka and Indonesia are likely to have the greatest need for humanitarian support. In Sri Lanka alone over one million people have been displaced. Among them are tens of thousands of pregnant and nursing women, who are especially susceptible to waterborne diseasesand require emergency medical attention and trauma counseling.We know that this is a time to unite and work with organizations that have the broadest reach possible. That’s why MADRE has chosen to partner with INFORM. They are part of a regional network of women’s groups that can reach out immediately to many different communities. Our partners tell us that medicines, doctors, and clean water are needed urgently. With your tax-deductible donation, MADRE will help establish and equip emergency health centers where:
*survivors can receive the emergency medical attention and clean drinking water they so desperately require and
*displaced women and families can receive crucial trauma counseling,which will help them cope with the deaths of their children and other loved ones, gradually heal from their trauma, and begin to rebuild.
Alone, we can’t do much to help. But together, our power is multiplied and we can make a real difference. Don’t wait. Send as generous agift as you possibly can right now, so that MADRE can help the survivors of the worst natural disaster in recent history.
Sincerely,
Vivian Stromberg Executive Director P.S.

Women in Sri Lanka turned to MADRE because they know that we will respond. Your support can literally make the difference between life and death. Please respond today

TO DONATE NOW BY CREDIT CARD, PLEASE VISIT OUR WEBSITE: http://www.madre.org/ IF YOU PREFER TO MAKE A DONATION BY CHECK OR MONEY ORDER,
PLEASE SENDTO:
MADRE 121 W. 27th Street, #301 New York, NY 10001

Vivian Stromberg Executive Director MADRE 121 West 27th Street #301 New York, NY 10001 tel. 212-627-0444 Fax.212-675-3704 vstromberg@madre.org