Save The Children Issues 6-Month Progress Report On Tsunami Relief And Recovery Efforts
After six months of helping children and their families recover from one of the world’s worst natural disasters, Save
the Children reported today that it has assisted 625,000 individuals, including more than 250,000 children impacted by
the earthquake and tsunami that devastated coastal communities throughout southern Asia and parts of east Africa on
December 26 2004.
The full report - complete with personal stories, pictures and drawings from children impacted by the tsunami - is
available at www.savethechildren-tsunami-response.org
“Save the Children’s response to this historic disaster was the largest in our 85-year history,” said Chair of the
International Save the Children Alliance Barry Clarke. “Active in many of the worst-affected regions for 30 years or
more, Save the Children was able to swiftly deliver life-saving relief, averting a second wave of death from
malnutrition and disease that many experts anticipated would follow the disaster.”
Save the Children concentrated its efforts in the three countries hardest hit by the tsunami -- Indonesia, Sri Lanka and
India -- while also providing assistance to affected communities in Thailand, Somalia and the Maldives. . To mark the
6-month anniversary of this emergency, Save the Children has released a 12-page report on its progress to date in
tsunami-struck regions. According to the report, Save the Children has registered over 7,000 children separated from
their parents and helped reunite scores of children with family members. In addition, Save the Children has assisted in
helping thousands of children return to school and has played a leading role in helping to protect children from
potential exploitation by creating safe places for children to play and live.
Besides child protection, the report also details the results of Save the Children’s efforts in education, shelter and
water sanitation, health, food and livelihoods in Sri Lanka, Indonesia and India. In Indonesia, for example, the
organisation has:
Distributed nearly 8,000 tons of food to more than 292,000 survivors. Distributed 27,000 household kits of basic
supplies for cooking and shelter. Delivered more than 1,000 school kits benefiting more than 50,000 children.
Distributed 2,000 medical kits and 100 midwife kits to clinics, benefiting more than 4,000 people and supplemental food
kits for 17,000 mothers and babies Vaccinated more than 3,100 children against measles. Set up a “cash for work”
programme in 155 sites to provide short-term income through jobs for more than 17,800 people. Trained up to 1000 new
teachers, benefiting up to 70,000 children.
“Despite these achievements, Save the Children sees many challenges ahead as our focus shifts from relief to recovery
and reconstruction,” said Mr Clarke. “ The process of rebuilding needs to move faster, and we need local and national
authorities to accelerate their plans so that Save the Children and others active in this effort – including the local
communities themselves -- can help with on-the-ground expertise, human resources and financial support.” The report
notes that 27 Save the Children organisations worldwide have received contributions or pledges in excess of NZ$350
million for relief and recovery efforts, with NZ$1.6 million from Save the Children New Zealand. Of the total amount
raised, about 15 percent or NZ$50 million has been spent during the first five months in affected countries.
“This report clearly spells out to New Zealanders and our international supporters that their donations are being spent
wisely,” said Mr Clarke. “94 cents of every dollar raised has gone to relief and recovery programmes in affected areas.”
ENDS