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Project Spotlight
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Welcome to Givewell's Project Spotlight. Each month we highlight a project for which a charity is currently seeking funds. We also provide details on how to give directly for this project.
Background Information: As a non-profit humanitarian aid organisation, SurfAid International Australia’s mission is to improve the health of people living in isolated regions connected to us through surfing. SurfAid works in the Mentawai and Nias Islands, 100km off the coast of West Sumatra, Indonesia. The Mentawai are not only home to perfect waves but to some of the worst childhood death rates in the world. In the worst affected Mentawai villages, according to a 2002 UNESCO study, up to 32% of children die – and this was before the earthquakes. The most common underlying causes of these deaths are malnutrition and anaemia in children and pregnant women, which work to weaken the immune system. SurfAid has been implementing seven programs for lasting change that include:
SurfAid International Australia has launched an urgent appeal to assist the 70,000 villagers of the Mentawai Island chain, many of whom are living under leaf and plastic huts on hills away from their villages, following two major earthquakes in early September 2007. The four-island chain was particularly hit hard in the south, close to the earthquake epicentres, and there have been reports of some deaths, one confirmed. The traumatised communities fear another earthquake and possible tsunami. About 60% of the south Mentawai region has been destroyed or damaged, according to early data compiled by SurfAid staff, who were working in the islands when the earthquakes struck. Flooding from a 1.5m tidal/tsunami surge followed in some villages and communities are now living in muddy, cramped conditions. Temporary leaf shelters on wooden platforms have been erected to try to keep people dry, but food is scarce and many have the flu, diarrhoea, fevers and possibly malaria. SurfAid assessments have shown serious damage to houses, schools, health clinics, churches and mosques throughout the island chain. Nearly all the villagers are living in camps on higher ground as aftershocks continue and there is fear of an epidemic. SurfAid’s first emergency supply boat has arrived with its cargo of 500 basic shelter and tool kits. Isolation, lack of radio or telephone communication, and a fuel crisis are hampering efforts to get to these vulnerable communities, most of which are only accessible by boat as there are less than 10km of roads in the Mentawai. SurfAid International Emergency Response Manager, Tom Plummer, said: “We have boats on standby in the main port of Padang, however we are pressed to fill them with the necessary items like food, fuel, tarpaulins and construction materials. We desperately need funds. They already have massive health problems in the Mentawai which has been exacerbated by this crisis.” Can donors/grant makers give directly for this project? Yes. All donations to “SurfAid International Humanitarian Fund” over $2 are tax deductible. Contact details for further information: Sigrid Langker Australian Operations Manager PO Box 630 North Sydney NSW 2059 Level 5, 53 Walker Street, North Sydney NSW 2060 Tel: (02) 9965 7325 Mobile: 0423 920 455 Fax: (02) 9955 5111 Email: sigrid@surfaidinternational.org Website: www.surfaidinternational.org Media Inquiries to: Kirk Willcox International Communications Director Office: +62 751 32 964 (in Padang, West Sumatra) Mobile: +62 812 663 4937 Email: kirk@surfaidinternational.org Website: www.surfaidinternational.org Previous Project Spotlights
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