ADRA continues multi-country tsunami response

The Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) is continuing its response in India, Thailand, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, and the Andaman Islands to assist those affected by last Sunday's earthquake and tsunami.

ADRA's office in Sri Lanka is distributing World Health Organization emergency kits, which will provide a one-month supply of medicine for 90,000 people in Colombo. These three tons of medicines, provided through ADRA Germany, arrived with a team of medical specialists. Formula, valued at nearly US$16,000, is also being provided for 1,000 vulnerable infants.

Water specialists are arriving from South Africa to rehabilitate the bulk water supply. Nearly 200,000 one-liter bottles of drinking water and 50,000 water purification tablets have been provided. Last night, 70 tons of additional emergency medical aid also arrived in Sri Lanka.

ADRA Indonesia began distribution of 15 tons of rice and 800 boxes of instant noodles this morning in the towns of Lhokeseumawe and Biruen.

Tomorrow, ADRA Spain is planning to airlift soymilk, tofu, breakfast cereals with nuts, 500 blankets and 40,000 water purifying tablets. These items, valued at US$80,000, will be distributed in Banda Aceh, Indonesia. The Government of Spain is providing the airlift. This evening, 708 personal care kits and nearly 250 pounds of toilet paper will arrive in Indonesia.

These items were provided through ADRA Czech Republic. The government of the Czech Republic provided the airlift.

In India, ADRA has distributed dry food valued at US$10,000 and is providing a 10-day supply of food for 7,250 people including rice, dal, cooking oil, suji (cream of wheat), and water. The project, funded by ADRA International, the Adventist church in Southeast India, and the Adventist church's regional headquarters for Southern Asia, is valued at more than US$10,000. ADRA is also providing other non-food relief items such as shelter materials, blankets, drinking water, water containers, chlorine tablets, and mosquito nets.

In Thailand, care packages that include items such as rice, instant noodles, Ovaltine, soap, toothbrush, toothpaste, shampoo, water, medicine, and clothing have been provided for 3,000 people in Phuket Province. The kits, valued at USд10,000, were funded by ADRA Thailand, ADRA Asia, and ADRA International.

In the Andaman Islands ADRA is distributing non-food emergency items such as blankets, clothing, and shelter materials.

ADRA has set up a crisis command centre in Bangkok, Thailand to coordinate its network-wide response.

Emergency monetary donations can be made to the Asia Tsunami Crisis Fund online at www.adra.org .

With headquarters in Silver Spring, Maryland (USA), and a presence in more than 120 countries, the Adventist Development and Relief Agency International (ADRA), is the worldwide humanitarian arm of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. Established for the specific purposes of individual and
community development and disaster relief, ADRA International fulfils this primary directive of its charter without regard to race, gender, political or religious affiliation.