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Church World Service Emergency Response Update: Tsunami Recovery/Sri Lanka
Jan. 28, 2005
SITUATION: An update on CWS work in Sri Lanka:
"This is not a regular flood--this is a long journey," CWS Afghanistan/Pakistan Director Marvin Parvez told CWS staff in New York today, reflecting on the response efforts of his office in Sri Lanka following the Dec. 26 tsunami.
In New York to meet with fellow CWS staff members and preparing for his third trip to Sri Lanka next week, Parvez emphasized that CWS's commitment in Sri Lanka--as in Indonesia, India, and other countries affected by the disaster--will need to be long-term, given the immense needs.
In Sri Lanka, more than 500,000 people were displaced by the tsunami, and nearly 31,000 were killed, the United Nations reported today. More than 5,000 people remain missing.
CWS efforts in Sri Lanka have been part of a broad ecumenical effort, as Parvez noted. "This is a big disaster and the ecumenical family is responding in a big way," reported Parvez.
"Those affected, particularly those who made their living from fishing, lost everything," he said.
CWS has assisted its longstanding partner the National Christian Council of Sri Lanka (NCCSL) in distribution of shelter and other material assistance. Future work will focus on rehabilitation efforts.
"Homes and livelihoods: That is what we've focused on in Afghanistan and Pakistan," he said. Similar efforts will be central to future work in Sri Lanka, but will require a long-term commitment on the part of CWS and its denominational members for the work of partner NCCSL in Sri Lanka.
Parvez, who knows intimately the effects of natural and human-caused disasters from his work in Pakistan and Afghanistan, said nothing can prepare even a seasoned disaster responder for the devastation caused by the tsunami.
"I've seen some very bad situations in Afghanistan, but even there foundations of buildings were still standing (after war)," he said. "In Sri Lanka, it looked as if someone had taken a broom to the area and swept everything away."
The tsunami also occurred in the context of an ongoing civil war in Sri Lanka; thus, response and recovery efforts are underway in the midst of what is an enormously complex situation.
"Ethnic tensions, civil war, natural disasters--these are not 'straight-forward' disasters any more," said Parvez , noting that humanitarian agencies like CWS have to respond in increasingly complex environments.
"Responding to emergencies is about speed," Parvez said, "but it's also about being sensitive to local realities."
Contributions to support CWS Tsunami Recovery efforts may be sent to your denomination or directly to:
Church World Service
Tsunami Recovery (Acct. #6970)
P.O. Box 968
Elkhart, IN 46515
Contributions may also be made online by credit card by calling: (800) 297-1516, ext. 222.