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News from around VSO > South Asia
What VSO is doing in the countries affected by the South Asia Tsunami
(18 January 2005)
All VSO staff and volunteers working in the affected countries have been accounted for and are safe. Across the region many of them are helping in some way with the relief operation that is underway.
Sri Lanka
In Sri Lanka VSO staff and volunteers are heavily involved in the relief effort in a range of ways. All volunteers whose partner organisations were directly affected by the tsunami are working with their partners in relief and rehabilitation and some medical volunteers from other placements have been redeployed to support the relief effort. The country director has been temporarily seconded as the NGO liaison representative on the relief co-ordination team in the president's office. It was felt by the major relief agencies that he was in a good position to represent their voice at a time when they themselves are busy with delivering aid on the ground.
Maldives
In the Maldives VSO staff are working with the Relief Task Force established by the government - helping to coordinate the relief operation across the many devastated islands. Volunteers are using their professional and technical skills in a range of relief activities local to their placements, eg in hospitals and restoring communications systems.
Indonesia
In Indonesia the VSO programme office has become a collection point for food, water, blankets, clothes and other goods to be deployed to the worst effected province of Aceh. Volunteers and staff members are also helping to gather goods through local supermarkets and other initiatives. VSO is exploring redeployment of some volunteers into the main relief effort in Aceh, eg MSF have requested experienced medical personnel.
Thailand
In Thailand VSO staff and volunteers have offered their services to UNICEF, Oxfam and the British Embassy. Two volunteers have already been involved in the immediate relief effort in the affected coastal resorts.
All countries in the region have requested additional funds to enable them to distribute food and other aid to affected communities.
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