Baldaeus Theological College,
Disaster Relief Update, Jan 7, 2005
Dear Friends,
Being situated within the devastated area of Trincomalee, we find
ourselves surrounded by refugee camps and displaced people. With much
of the international relief work being focused and directed towards
greater needs in the south and the Batticaloa/Ampara region, we have
decided to concentrate our efforts on the region north of Batticaloa,
from Verugal northwards to Kuchchaveli and Mullaittavu. Thankfully,
even here, the unprecedented scale of national and international
incoming funds and relief work has enabled many of our local camps to
be amply provided with foodstuffs and the basic necessities to enable
the people to survive for the foreseeable future. However there are
also a number of camps further off the beaten track, in the more
inaccessible areas, which have yet to be supplied with many of the
basic necessities. As a college therefore, we have been working
alongside LEADS, a local NGO, visiting a number of these camps in the
Kinniyai, Mutur, Verugal and Kuchchaveli areas, to assess their needs
and endeavour to provide as we are able.
We have already bought a consignment of some items, toothpaste, soap,
underwear, etc. locally and will distribute them in Kuchchaveli and
Sampur this Saturday. Another consignment of sarongs, towels, water
cans, plates and cups, has been purchased in Colombo but due to the
high demand for lorries by other relief organisations, we could not
arrange a lorry until Sunday. We will then divide it up into family
packs and distribute them to camps in Kuchchaveli, Verugal, and the
Mutur/Sampur area.
However these efforts only alleviate the very short term and
immediate needs. The people need to be able to rebuild their lives,
hence we are also making longer term plans fulfill this greater need.
Many of the folk will probably move to new areas allocated by the
government since much of the land close to the sea was ruined.
Furthermore many are now afraid to live near the sea again, but maybe
they should be helped and encouraged to face that fear and return to
their fishing and related occupations which their families have
followed for generations. We could help them repair their boats, get
new nets and supply poles and catchans (woven palm branches) to
enable them to build new houses. If they do move to new areas further
away from the sea it may well necessitate a complete change in
occupation and life. Already this whole disaster has totally changed
many lives as people have lost homes, children, and parents. Let us
pray that many lives will also be changed for eternity as they
realise that there is a God who loves them, offers full forgiveness,
and guarantees a future hope.
The opportunities for us to offer substantial aid to these displaced
people is very great. We invite you to work with us and enable us to
expand the scope of our relief work.
Donations can be made to:
USA & Canada
Overseas Council Canada. 100% of relief funds will be forwarded to Baldaeus in Sri Lanka. To make a quick donation by VISA call (604) 270-6045 between 12:00 PM and 8:00 PM EST.
Make cheques out to "Overseas Council Canada" designated for "Baldaeus relief"
#200-5726 Minoru Blvd., Richmond, BC, V6X 2A9
Tel: (604) 270-6045 Fax: (604) 270-6046
Email: overseascouncil@telus.net Web: http://www.OverseasCouncil.org
United Kingdom
Mrs. Sarah Bunce,
30 Bodtegwell Terrace,
St George, Abergele,
Conwy, LL22 9BH
email: mattyb16@excite.com
The bank account details are as follows:
Lloyds TSB, 22 Mostyn Street, Llandudno, Conwy, LL30 2RU
Sort Code: 30-95-13
Account Name: Kinmel Bay Church Mission Fund.
If you are a UK tax payer and wish BTC to recover 28% of the tax paid, please inform us when you send your gift.
Let us all continue in much prayer,
Thank you,
Jaqui
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