CrossSphere Members Encouraged to Participate in Relief Efforts

January 3, 2005

CrossSphere Members Encouraged to Participate in Relief Efforts
January 3, 2005 – CrossSphere continues to monitor the damages caused by the Dec. 26 earthquake and tsunami disaster in Southeast Asia. As reported by CNN, the death toll from Malaysia to East Africa has climbed to nearly 155,000. Many relief organizations are sending donations and other forms of aid to disaster victims. Please visit these recommended sites if you or your company is interested in giving to the relief efforts.

 

Pacific Asia Travel Association:http://www.pata.org/; Through PATA’s unique partnerships with and between its members, it continues to enhance the growth, value and quality of travel and tourism to, from and within Asia Pacific. CrossSphere members are encouraged to visit this Web site to learn more about the PATA Foundation Tsunami Recovery Fund. Money pledged to the Fund will directly help rebuild the skills and livelihoods of tourism employees in the affected region.

Mercy Corps: http://www.mercycorps.org/
Red Cross: http://www.redcross.org/
United Nations International Children’s Fund: http://www.unicef.org/
America Cares: http://www.americaresfoundation.net/
Network For Good: http://www.networkforgood.org/
Oxfam: www.oxfamamerica.org
Relief Web: www.reliefweb.int/w/rwb.nsf
World Health Organization: www.who.int/en/
Food for the Hungry: http://www.fh.org/

 

These embassy Web sites include links for making donations to the specific countries:
India: www.indianembassy.org/index.htm
Indonesia: http://www.embassyofindonesia.org/
Sri Lanka: www.slembassyusa.org

 

Visit http://www.interaction.org./sasia/index.html for an additional list of help organizations.

 

Also, the Center of Disease Control recommends that those traveling to these regions should check the Travelers Health Web site (http://www.cdc.gov/travel/) and the U.S. Department of State Web site (http://www.travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/pa/pa_tsunami.html) for updates and speak with their travel medicine physicians prior to travel. A brief list, though not all-inclusive, of medical assistance companies include International SOS (www.internationalsos.com/members_home/Tsunami/), MedAire and MEDEX travel assistance.

 

Please see CDC’s Tsunami website for further information.