Updated at 3:48 p.m., Friday, December 29, 2006
Two-year tsunami relief effort wraps up
Advertiser Staff
The East-West Center plans to wrap up a two-year $500,000 effort to help victims of the deadly earthquake and tsunami in Southeast Asia that killed more than 200,000 people and destroyed miles and miles of coastline villages.The fund to help tsunami victims started hours after the tsunami on Dec. 26, 2004. Donations came in from private citizens, businesses and schools.
The East-West Center funneled money to nonprofits on the ground in the hardest-hit spots and also gave scholarships to students whose educations were interrupted by the disaster. Contact was made with several educational institutions in the area, which led to the establishment of ongoing programs.
"Obviously, there are still many difficult challenges ahead in the tsunami-affected areas," said East-West Center President Charles Morrison. "But no observance of the tsunami should take place without remembering the ... incredible public generosity as the whole world shed tears and opened their hearts for the victims and their families."
Meanwhile, the Rotary Club of Windward O'ahu is also finished distributing more than $52,000 in aid collected after the tsunami.
The money bought vessels for fishermen in devastated areas, paid for tools so local carpenters could get back to work and bought 150 solar-powered lamps for Sri Lankan families whose children are in school.
