PDA surpasses tsunami appeal goal

Plans call for five-year response effort, sending officials to Sri Lanka

by Evan Silverstein, Presbyterian News Service

LOUISVILLE -- February 4, 2005 -- Presbyterian Disaster Assistance (PDA) has received $3.26 million in individual contributions for tsunami relief aid following the devastating Dec. 26 disaster in Southeast Asia.

The total means the disaster response arm of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) has surpassed its tsunami aid goal of $2.5 million, which it set in an appeal issued in early January.

"The response has been a couple of things," Susan Ryan, PDA's coordinator, told the Presbyterian News Service. "It's been extremely heartening in how quick it was. It's been very heartening that individual Presbyterians know us, have confidence (in us), and gave directly and quickly. It has made all the difference in the world in our being able to make effective long-term plans and commitments on the ground at the early stages of this crisis."

As of Feb. 2, PDA had received the estimated $3.26 million for tsunami relief thanks to some 10,490 contributions from Presbyterians and other individuals since late December, according to Steve Sexton, manager of the PC(USA)'s Central Receiving Service, which processes the contributions.

Gifts from congregations and presbyteries are currently not reflected in the official total, but Sexton is estimating such giving at $595,642.

Tsunami relief money started rolling in immediately after a magnitude 9 earthquake off the coast of the island of Sumatra, Indonesia, sent massive waves inland that ripped across the Indian Ocean, slamming a dozen nations and killing tens of thousands.

PDA, which works ecumenically with other partners such as the National Council of Churches-related Church World Service (CWS), has been active in the tsunami relief effort since it began.

PDA has already dispatched $520,000 in emergency assistance to impacted areas from One Great Hour of Sharing funds and designated gifts. So far money has gone for such items as medicine, blankets, clothing and dry food rations.

Ryan said PDA is working to prepare a "five-year recovery and rehabilitation" plan for tsunami-hit nations.

Staff members from PDA and other PC(USA) offices made an initial visit to both Sri Lanka and Indonesia in mid-January to make immediate connections with local churches and members of the Action by Churches Together (ACT) alliance active in the response.

As a result of findings from that visit, PDA is dispatching a three-person team of South Asians to begin working in Sri Lanka with the fishing industry and looking at issues related to vulnerable women and widows.

"Their terms of reference basically are to outline what our long-term developmental response is going to be," Ryan said.

In particular, PDA is exploring ways that the Joining Hands Against Hunger program of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) Hunger Program (PHP) could be an effective model for Sri Lanka.

"We are also exploring expansion of our presence in Indonesia," the nation hit worst by the disaster, Ryan said. "We are thankful for Presbyterians with many years of experience and connections in the region who can help us connect with the poorest of the poor in this situation."

Estimates of the overall tsunami death toll as of Feb. 2 ranged from about 158,000 to 178,000 across 12 nations, reflecting different agency numbers in Indonesia and Sri Lanka. With estimates of up to 142,000 missing, more than a quarter of a million people may have been lost.

Ryan said PDA is working in impacted areas where the Christian church is a minority and where relations between the Christian community and other faith traditions have become strained by the aggressive posturing of some Christian denominational groups.

After the attacks on Sept. 11, 2001, the Presbyterian Church through PDA provided funding for the start of the Interfaith Listening project, which worked to help build bridges between Christians and Muslims both within and between countries.

Ryan said PDA "will continue to respond to emergency needs, build long-term capacity, work to restore livelihoods, and facilitate dialogue in the very tense environments of tsunami-ravagedareas."

Contributions for tsunami relief may be sent through normal mission giving channels. Gifts by credit card can be made by calling PresbyTel at 800-872-3283 or online at www.pcusa.org/pda. Checks payable to the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) can also be mailed directly to: Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), Individual Remittance Processing, P.O. Box 643700, Pittsburgh, PA 15264-3700.