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Indonesian
Children’s Relief Press Release
ICR’s Emergency Disaster Appeal for Tsunami Victims
The
recent earthquake which took place in the Indian Ocean has devastated large
areas of
Southern Asia
, bringing immense suffering and hardship to an already poverty stricken region.
Nearly 120,000 people are confirmed dead in countries ranging from
Indonesia
,
Sri Lanka
,
India
and
Thailand
to as far a field as
Somalia
on the east coast of
Africa
. Millions have already lost their homes and experts have warned that disease
and starvation could increase the death toll considerably before the situation
can be stabilized.
With the epicenter of the earthquake being only 155 miles from the
island of Sumatra, Indonesia has borne the brunt of last Sunday’s
catastrophe. The
northern province
of Aceh has been most severely
affected with health ministry officials putting the current death toll
at more than 80,000. Large areas of Aceh are still submerged under
water and many of the surrounding islands are completely cut off.
Nearly half the victims have been children.
Indonesian Children’s Relief is a
UK
based non-governmental organization founded in January 2002. It focuses on
alleviating the suffering of deprived children in
Indonesia
, whose needs are largely ignored. In addition to relief work and health related
projects, ICR supports over 240 orphans and widows, as well as a large number of
disadvantaged children and students. All people involved in the organization are
volunteers and money for orphan sponsorship goes directly to the children in
need.
ICR has launched an emergency appeal to raise funds for the victims of the
disaster, and a special fundraising and awareness dinner is to be held on Saturday
8th January at the
London
Muslim Centre,
46-80 Whitechapel Road
,
London
E1 1JX
. The program will commence at 5pm.
The purpose of this event is not only to raise as much funds as
possible for those who are suffering, but also to increase awareness of natural
disasters and discuss ways in which members of the community can get practically
involved in disaster management, relief and charity work.
Representatives from a wide range of organizations will be attending the dinner,
including delegates from the Indonesian Embassy who will update us on the
current extent of the crisis and the latest information with regards to
humanitarian efforts taking place on the ground.
ICR works in close coordination with local charities in
Indonesia
,
notably Mer-C (Medical Emergency Rescue Committee). It is also in the process of
sending volunteers from the
UK
to assess the situation in Aceh so that an efficient channel for funds and
logistics can be quickly established.
For further information regarding the event or if you would like to
contribute to the victims fund, please contact us on the details below:
Ms Nizma Scoffield, Chairperson - 07932 798 042, nizma@icruk.org
Mr Nawaf Ibrahim, CEO - 07960 028 121, nawaf@icruk.org
Website - www.icruk.org
NatWest Bank Plc - Aldersgate Branch
Account Number: 82238545
Sort Code: 60-05-37
Indonesian Children’s Relief, P.O. Box 654, Bromley, Kent, BR1 2XN
Company Registration No. 4931656
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