wfn.org | SCOBA Response to South Asia Tidal Wave

[Worldwide Faith News <wfn@igc.org>]

SCOBA NEWS

Latest news online at:
http://www.scoba.us/news

============================================

SCOBA
The Standing Conference of the Canonical Orthodox Bishops in the Americas
8 East 79th Street, New York, NY 10021

IOCC Responding to Massive Earthquake/Tidal Waves Disaster in South Asia
December 27, 2004

Baltimore (IOCC) -- International Orthodox Christian Charities (IOCC) is
joining with its partner Church World Service to respond immediately to
the massive earthquake disaster throughout Southern Asia. Together with
CWS, IOCC is developing a regional response to the crisis, focusing
initially on hardest-hit areas in Sri Lanka, India, Indonesia, and
elsewhere, and CWS assessment and relief teams are on their way to the
region now.

The fourth largest earthquake in recorded history has wreaked major
destruction across approximately a dozen countries in Southern Asia. The
initial quake, which struck 100 miles off the coast of Indonesia's Sumatra
Island at around 7 a.m. Sunday, measured 9.0 in magnitude on the Richter
scale and was part of a powerful series of earthquakes. The undersea
quakes triggered enormous tidal waves which swept across the Indian Ocean,
striking coastal regions of Sri Lanka, India, Indonesia, Thailand,
Bangladesh, Burma and Malaysia, and elsewhere. As of 8 am eastern time on
December 27, the death toll across the region was estimated at 21,000 and
rising.

The joint relief effort may include an airlift of emergency relief
supplies, including hygiene and emergency shelter supplies, from
facilities in the US. IOCC has established a goal of $100,000 for the
initial phase of its relief efforts. This appeal will be updated as
response and recovery actions continue and expand in the coming days.
Donations for IOCC's "Asia Disaster Response" maybe sent to IOCC, P.O. Box
630225, Baltimore, MD 21263-0225. Donations may also be made online at
www.iocc.org or by calling toll-free 1-877-803-IOCC (4622).

For media inquiries, please contact IOCC Communications Associate Stephen
Huba at 1-877-803-4622 or shuba@iocc.org.

============================================