13 January 2005

South Africans have dug deep over the past two weeks, according to The Star, raising more than R7-million and pledging more than R10-million through various campaigns to assist victims of the tsunami disaster in South East Asia.

The disaster has left over 150 000 people dead in South East Asia and some African countries such as Somalia, Seychelles and Kenya.

How you can help - A good source of information on South African tsunami relief funds is to be found on Thought.co.za's Tsunami Disaster Page. Note the disclaimer, however.

A joint campaign involving the SA Red Cross Society, Absa, Netcare and Pick 'n Pay has raised 6.5-million, an appeal organised by First National Bank has raised over R2-million, while the Independent Newspapers Tsunami Relief Fund has raised over R900 000.

During an SABC telethon on 11 January, South African companies and individuals pledged R5.3-million to help relief efforts for tsunami survivors.

Following official requests for relief assistance from Sri Lanka, the Maldives and Indonesia, the government made a public appeal to South African relief organisations and individuals to join it in lending a hand to the people of these countries.

A centre has been set up at Foreign Affairs in Pretoria to co-ordinate the South African government relief effort. Contact the centre at (012) 351-1520 /1560 /1466, or phone Johan van Wyk on 084-514-7094 or Johan Pasqual on 073-332-0842.

The government has asked people to donate cash rather than clothes or food, and to be aware of fly-by-night organisations seeking donations. The SA Police Service has warned, in particular, of a new 419 scam in the country, advising people to ignore e-mail letters requesting financial aid for tsunami victims.

Foreign Affairs Director-General Ayanda Ntsaluba told journalists at a briefing on Friday that the government's contribution would be not only monetary but also in the form of clothing, food and the provision of services such as safe water and health care.

The government has already sent a cargo plane to Indonesia and the Maldives carrying two helicopters, five tons of relief supplies and a mobile water-purification plant.

On Monday, South Africa also sent a consignment of various goods - including water purifying pills, bottled water, blankets and medicines - to the affected region.

Health Minister Manto Tshabalala-Msimang returned home on Friday after leading a delegation from South Africa's inter-ministerial task team on disaster management to an international donor summit that took place in Indonesia last week.

The minister urged all South Africans to continue lending a hand to people in affected countries such as Thailand, Sri Lanka, Maldives, Somalia and Kenya.

"The greatest challenge facing us as South Africans who want to make a contribution both financially and materially is to coordinate all our efforts so that we can make maximum impact", Tshabalala-Msimang added.

• SA rescue teams in Indonesia
• Tsunami aid 'matches SA capacity'
• SA's search for missing continues

	Kallie and Monique Strydom and their son Luke visit the Department of Foreign Affairs operation centre to give their support to the victims of the disaster in South East Asia. The Strydom couple were victims of a hostage drama in the Phillipines in 2000 (Photo: Department of Foreign Affairs)

	Four South Africans still missing SA rescue teams in Indonesia Tsunami aid 'matches SA capacity' SA's life-saving ambassadors A nation of givers

	Absa/Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund  FNB Tsunami Disaster Relief Fund  Independent Newspapers Fund  Dept of Foreign Affairs

Caring Nation We're not done travelling towards a better South Africa! To help you help us all get there, the IMC is building up a database of charities for those willing to give some of their time, money or goods.