Tuesday, December 28, 2004

Disaster Relief

Setting aside last week's exhortation concerning the NRDC (still worthy of donations, just not quite as urgent), anyone looking to help with the disaster in Southern Asia should consider giving to Doctors Without Borders, a fantastic organization that spends nearly 86% of it funds directly on program operations. I'm sure a gift of any size will help make a difference to those whose lives have been upturned and those making direct efforts to help them. If you're prepared to upend your own life for at least 6 months, you can also volunteer for assignments around the world.

The basic info on the organization (also known as Medecins sans Frontieres or MSF) follows:

A private, nonprofit organization, MSF is at the forefront of emergency health care as well as care for populations suffering from endemic diseases and neglect. MSF provides primary health care, performs surgery, rehabilitates hospitals and clinics, runs nutrition and sanitation programs, trains local medical personnel, and provides mental health care. Through longer-term programs, MSF treats chronic diseases such as tuberculosis, malaria, sleeping sickness, and AIDS; assists with the medical and psychological problems of marginalized populations including street children and ethnic minorities; and brings health care to remote, isolated areas where resources and training are limited.

MSF unites direct medical care with a commitment to bearing witness and speaking out against the underlying causes of suffering. Its volunteers protest violations of humanitarian law on behalf of populations who have no voice, and bring the concerns of their patients to public forums, such as the United Nations, governments (in both home and project countries), and the media. In a wide range of circumstances, MSF volunteers have spoken out about forgotten conflicts and underreported atrocities they have witnessed—from Chechnya to Angola, and from Kosovo to Sri Lanka.

1 Comments:

Blogger youthlarge said...

Animals need help too. Here are a couple of relief organizations which I found at the WetNose Campaign:

The Wild Animal Rescue Foundation of Thailand (WAR)' - a non-profit charitable organization dedicated to the welfare and preservation of native species. Based in Thailand, they have a sanctuary in the Tsunami hit area of Baan Talae Nok Village. Website: www.warthai.org

'Soi Dog Foundation in Thailand' Soi Dog Foundation is a volunteer and not-for-profit organization with the aim to better the lives and living conditions of the street and stray dogs in Thailand.
Website: www.soidogfoundation.org

Home and Abroad Animal Welfare' is a small organisation based in Fleet, Hampshire. Janice Down who started the organisation has been working with animals abroad for the past 20 years trying to alleviate some of the suffering that is inflicted upon animals. They visit Sri Lanka 3 times a year educating the Sri-Lankan people.
Website: www.sri-lanka-dogs.org.uk

January 4, 2005 at 12:45 PM  

Post a Comment

<< Home