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Focus of United Way Relief Efforts
United Way International, United Way of America, and United Way affiliates in India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and East Africa are working together with disaster response partners to assess and address the wide range of response and recovery needs of communities severely impacted by the recent earthquake and tsunami.

United Ways and United Way affiliates are working with a myriad of international, national and community-based organizations, corporations and governmental agencies to identify priority needs and develop efficient and effective response and aid distribution systems. Specifically, United Ways are convening coalitions of response partners to insure timely and unduplicated relief, administering response funds, providing technology infrastructure for communication, donation and volunteer management and communications to assist in coordination efforts, and linking resource providers to agencies that can directly assist victims.

Long-Term Recovery Assistance Needed
The United Way South Asia Response Fund is focused on long-term recovery efforts such as rebuilding the infrastructure in the impacted region.

United Way is supporting the emergency relief phase by assisting disaster response partners with the expertise in providing fresh water, food, medical assistance and temporary shelter, but the Fund's primary focus will be long-term reconstruction and recovery.

While the need for immediate relief is crucial to short-term recovery efforts in the region, United Way hopes there will also be generous support for rebuilding the infrastructure on which these fragile fishing and tourist economies rely. Not only are roads, harbors and hotels in need of repair, but there have been disastrous losses of homes, schools, health clinics and even the official computer files and records on which stability depends. Long-term recovery, United Way's focus area, supports rebuilding lives, homes, businesses and communities; this will take time, care and support.

United Ways and their community partners will aid in rebuilding homes, schools, public works, and health facilities; restoring destroyed fisheries and farms, replanting of crops and reforestation; providing for mental health assistance and support of at-risk populations; and, participate in strategic planning/mitigation management and other needs as determined over time.

The United Way South Asia Response Fund has been created to support these long-term recovery efforts and will be administered by United Way International. Individuals and corporations interested in donating funds for long-term recovery can find out more and make an online contribution at:

or by mailing a check or money order to:

United Way South Asia Response Fund
c/o United Way International
701 North Fairfax Street
Alexandria, VA 22314

Please note that all gifts are tax-deductible in the U.S. and a 2 percent administrative fee will be applied to all donations in addition to applicable credit card fees.

Local Progress Reports

India - United Way of Mumbai
United Way of Mumbai is working in partnership to assess specific needs and establish an effective delivery system to the most severely affected regions. Immediate needs are to address the distribution of water purification plants/units, oral rehydration salts, anti-malaria drugs, basic emergency health kits, temporary shelters, food, clothing and medical aid. The long-term recovery focus areas include shelter and public works reconstruction, support of at-risk social groups, restoration of fisheries, reforestation and strategic planning.

Indonesia - Yayasan Mitra Mandiri
Relief efforts will target those who were affected in Banda Aceh, Lhoksumawe, Bireun and Pidie and Nias Island. The initial relief efforts are focused on providing fresh water, food, shelter, medical assistance, family reunification, burial of the deceased, mental health and stabilization efforts.

Long-term recovery assessments are not yet fully underway, but focus areas will likely include: education, housing and public facilities, and economic recovery.

Yayasan Mitra Mandiri is working closely with organizations such as Habitat for Humanity Kemanusiaan Indonesia, Operation Blessing Obor Berkat Indonesia, Nurani Dunia and coordinating with the Indonesian Navy, Air Force and Army to assist with transportation.

Malaysia - Malaysian Humanitarian Foundation
The Malaysia Humanitarian Foundation convened a meeting on December 28 with representatives from the United Nations to request funding structures and inventory support. They have been working through the Nationl Federation of Disaster organizations, of which they are a founding member. The Federations is comprised of 14 organizations that have significant disaster relief experience.

Thailand - National Council on Social Welfare of Thailand
The National Council on Social Welfare of Thailand has mobilized their member organizations in southern Thailand and has plans to rebuild homes and schools are part of the long-term recovery efforts. They will also partner with local businesses to facilitate the immediate relief efforts.

Help With Immediate Needs
For those interested in providing immediate relief assistance, United Way of America strongly encourages donations to responding disaster agencies. A list of responding agencies that are accepting donations for immediate relief assistance can be found at the website for InterAction, the largest alliance of U.S.-based international development and humanitarian nongovernmental organizations, at:

www.interaction.org

United Way International is one of more than 160 InterAction members currently working in partnership to assess the extent of the disaster and to prioritize emergency needs.

InterAction has also developed guidelines on the most appropriate ways to help those affected by overseas disasters. See their Guide to Disaster Giving at www.interaction.org/disaster/guide_giving.html.

About United Way International
United Way International is a leader in global philanthropy, operating through a network of nonprofit organizations in more than 45 countries. It is established as an independent organization that serves internationally by helping establish United Way-type organizations according to the request of communities around the world. Although it has its headquarters in the U.S., members of the United Way International movement are locally-based organizations, serving the greatest local needs. For more information on United Way International, visit www.uwint.org.