PRESS
RELEASES
LATEST
PRESS RELEASE:
14/06/05 :
Tsunami : Humanitarian mission accomplished ?
The French general public showed extraordinary
generosity to assist the survivors of the Tsunami, the gigantic
tidal wave which washed over South-East Asia on December 26.
Local authorities, companies and water boards also joined the
high level of mobilisation. The Tsunami disaster received maximum
coverage by the media, who made appeals for donations, in some
cases in association with certain humanitarian organisations.
Many countries, including France, the European Union, the UN,
reacted immediately and are still active today.
Finally, certain organisations declared that more
donations had been received than were needed, which provoked
a heated debate and raised questions which are still to be answered.
6 months after the tsunami, can a first
situation report be made ?
At SOLIDARITES we would like to answer this question by making
three points.
1- First of all, we would like to thank those who donated
funds for their generosity. Secondly, we consider that
each humanitarian organisation is personally responsible for
what it says and does.
- At SOLIDARITES we decided to allocate 100% of the donations
received for Tsunami survivors, to keep separate books for these
funds, to keep our donors and partners regularly informed (website
: www.solidarites.org) and to use 100% of the funds
received in 2005, a total of 3.65 million €uros to date
(see detailed allocation tables below).
2- According to recent studies and surveys, we
have observed that 81% of the French population are still interested
in the Tsunami and that 78% of them consider themselves
badly informed concerning reconstruction activities.
We all have a duty to provide information in this regard.
- With 20 volunteers in Sri Lanka (Ampara) and Indonesia (Meulaboh,
Sumatra), SOLIDARITES is currently carrying out 3 post-emergency
and reconstruction programmes in each country : access
to drinking water and hygiene facilities, clearing and recycling
debris to allow homes and roads to be rebuilt, revival of fishing
activities (nets, boats, motors, clearing the sea bed), revival
of rice cultivation, rehabilitation and construction of schools.
Detailed information and photos are available upon request from
the SOLIDARITES communication department.
We invite journalists, the media and our partners to
come and see for themselves the aid programmes currently underway
as well as those which have already been completed.
3- Concerning the present and the future,
we would like to make the following observations :
- That our programmes are meeting the immediate needs of the
affected populations in coastal and rural areas.
- That we are simultaneously working both on post-emergency
and reconstruction programmes, and that it will take
time for the assisted populations to attain autonomy.
- That we can already envisage a third phase of programmes
to accompany populations and areas who have not received aid,
to meet thus far undetected needs in these two countries where
a high proportion of the population were already living below
the poverty line.
- That we need to closely cooperate with local authorities
and NGOs to prepare for the future whilst improving
the coordination between the intervening parties and
by systematically assessing our humanitarian action.
- That we must continue and improve the provision of
information to our donors and partners concerning
the way in which funds are used and the implementation of our
humanitarian programmes.
- That the Tsunami tragedy caused a remarkable mobilisation
among many organisations (NGOS, media, governments, local authorities,
companies, water boards, etc…) who must now meet their
commitments, and who might, in the future, be mobilised again
to assist other causes like the Darfur region in Sudan, or the
Ituri region in DR Congo.
- That we are available to provide information to journalists
concerning our humanitarian activities in Sri Lanka and Indonesia.
- Finally, that we must anticipate our departure and
think about what we will leave behind us.
Tables showing sources and uses of funds as of May
31, 2005
| Donations - Asia Emergency |
% |
Amount
(€) |
| Private donations |
13% |
482 000 |
| Companies and local authorities (including their employees) |
23% |
824 000 |
| Agence de l'Eau Seine et Normandie |
18% |
670 000 |
| Fondation de France |
7% |
250 000 |
| European Union |
15% |
535 000 |
| Gouvernement français |
24% |
890 000 |
| Total donations : Asia Emergency |
100% |
3 651 000 |
| Expenditure
- Asia Emergency |
% |
Amount
(€) |
Expenditure
as of 31/05/05 |
| Humanitarian aid - Sri Lanka |
35% |
1 270 000 |
598 000 |
47% |
| Humanitarian aid - Indonésie |
51% |
1 847 000 |
221 000 |
12% |
| Head office expenses |
8% |
291 000 |
121 000 |
42% |
| Communication and Fundraising expenses |
6% |
203 000 |
173 000 |
85% |
| Pending allocation |
1% |
40 000 |
0 |
0% |
| Total expenditure allocated to Asia |
100% |
3 651 000 |
1 113000 |
30% |
| NB - This budget represents 6 programmes which are
currently underway in Sri Lanka and Indonesia, the last
of which is due to be completed on November 30, 2005. Other
humanitarian activities will be launched beyond this date
to complement our action. |
Press contacts : Alain Boinet, O6.82.59.29.O7 , or O1.43.15.13.13
To support SOLIDARITES’ humanitarian
aid programmes
Send your donations to : SOLIDARITES - BP 100- 75020
Paris
or to
SOLIDARITES - Villa Souchet – 105 Avenue Gambetta - 75020
Paris
PREVIOUS PRESS RELEASES:
To
prevent water from killing twice in Asia, we need your support
today (17/01/05)
Solidarités
urgently needs donations to continue to supply aid in Asia
(04/01/05)
The
charity "Solidarités" brings aid to Sri Lanka
and Indonesia (03/01/05)
Solidarités
for devastated Asia (29/12/04)
