Asia Earthquake and Tsunamis Relief

At this time, the Canadian Red Cross forecasts that sufficient funds have been raised to address the immediate and long-term needs related to both of these tragedies. Thank you for your generosity.

• Stories from the Field
• Delegates' Diaries
• Questions and Answers
• Case Statement
• Media Advisories
• News Releases
• International Federation of Red Cross (IFRC) and Red Crescent Societies and International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC)
• Are you concerned about a missing relative?

^new Tsunami Fact Sheet

Donations in Action: What your donation to the Canadian Red Cross buys

Stories from the Field

• ^new Vancouver CEO develops environmentally-sensitive tsunami recovery plan for Red Cross

• Volunteers’ contribution crucial to tsunami relief and recovery operations

• The "new normal" in Banda Aceh by Linda Redwood-Campbell, Canadian Red Cross Medical delegate

• Canadian Red Cross trains health workers to provide psycho-social support to tsunami survivors

• Red Cross responds to 8.7 earthquake in Indonesia

• The Branches of Solidarity

• Canadian Red Cross joins efforts to rebuild hospitals destroyed by the tsunami in Sri Lanka

• Sri Lanka: Red Cross community health workers provide health care to tsunami survivors

• Sri Lanka: Canadian Red Cross provides vital aid to tsunami survivors

• Donations in Action: What your donation to the Canadian Red Cross buys

• Prime Minister joins Red Cross in thanking Canadians

• Asia Tsunamis: Information for Schools

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Delegates' Diaries

• ^new Devastation, trauma and resiliency in Sri Lanka by Judi Fairholm, Canadian Red Cross

• Journey to the North and North East of Sri Lanka: By Pamela Davie, Canadian Red Cross

• Personal tragedies : By Howard Arfin

• Aceh's silent children : By Howard Arfin

• Awesome task in Sumatra : By Howard Arfin

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Questions and Answers

• Are you concerned about a missing relative?
• Can I volunteer to go and help?
• Can the Red Cross help me adopt an orphan from the area?
• I haven’t received a receipt yet – what can I do?

• No one has responded to my question yet - why?

• Can I donate household items, clothing or equipment?
  
  Cash donations are gratefully accepted, and are what’s needed most. The Red Cross does not accept in-kind donations of food, clothing and other items.

• Cash donations reduce the burden on scarce resources such as transportation, warehouse space and labour. Local purchases of food, clothing and relief items are more culturally appropriate, reduce transportation costs and are the quickest and most effective means of getting aid to those in need. Purchasing locally can also help stimulate the economy in affected areas. Cash transfers to the affected region also provide the optimum flexibility to our Red Cross colleagues so they can meet the most urgent needs. While well intentioned, in-kind donations from individuals are not the best way to help those in need. There are tremendous processing and transportation costs involved in shipping these items to beneficiaries.
  
  
• DONATIONS AND RECEIPTS
  Canadian Red Cross received more than a million separate donations in just a few weeks – a volume we normally process in the course of a year. Despite steps to expedite processing – including the assistance of hundreds of dedicated volunteers and staff, it has take longer than normal to issue tax receipts. We are working as quickly as possible, and are committed to ensuring that all receipts are issued promptly. Your patience is appreciated!
  
  

  To download your receipt for an online donation, please complete this form.

  If you have any questions regarding your tax receipt, please call your local Red Cross Branch or email onlinedonations@redcross.ca.

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Photo Galleries: Asia Earthquake and Tsunamis Relief

• Photo Gallery 4: Sri Lanka: Canadian Red Cross provides vital aid to tsunami survivors (February 25, 2005)
• Photo Gallery 3 (January 8, 2005)
• Photo Gallery 2 (January 7, 2005)
• Photo Gallery 1 (December 28, 2004)

Case Statement

• Devastation in Asia: helping those impacted by tsunamis
  February, 2005 (PDF, 45 kb) 

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Media Advisory

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Press Release

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International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies

^new Tsunami leaves garbage problems for atoll nation

One month on, Nias has proof it is not alone

Emergency and long-term water solutions for Indonesia

Indonesia earthquake: Red Cross Red Crescent relief response

Latest news and operation updates

International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC)

Latest news and operation updates

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Are you concerned about a missing relative?

Restoring Family Links

Unfortunately, we are unable to commence assisting inquirers in the active search for missing family members, or send messages to family members from Canada to the region.  We will let you know when the situation changes.  

In the meantime, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has launched a website where concerned persons in the disaster areas may register themselves to inform their relatives that they are safe and well; their families can consult the list of names on the website.  In the disaster areas and elsewhere in the world concerned persons may register relatives about whom they are seeking information.

The information available on the Website may be displayed on lists in public places, or broadcasted by radio in order to be accessible to all persons with no access to the internet.

The website can be accessed in English at http://www.familylinks.icrc.org/. To cancel a name or to modify information on the list please contact op_prot_as.gva@icrc.org.

Canadians in Affected Areas

The RCMP has established a special task force to deal with Canadians missing in the tsunami-affected countries in Asia. Family or friends who wish to report a missing person are asked to contact the task force. Please call 1-888-543-4916, or e-mail canadiantsunamivictims@rcmp-grc.gc.ca. Services are available in both English and French. More information is available at
http://www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/news/n_0501_e.htm.

Other issues relating to Canadians traveling or living in the affected areas should be directed to the Department of Foreign Affairs inquiry line at 613-944-2471 or 1-800-606-5499

Non-Canadians in affected areas

The Canadian Red Cross is currently unable to accept tracing requests from people concerned about missing non-Canadian relatives in the affected countries. We are in close contact with the Federation and the International Committee of the Red Cross who are coordinating the massive effort to trace missing persons affected by the disaster. At this stage, the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies in the affected areas do not have the capacity to search for missing persons. Although immediate priority in the disaster areas is to provide life saving disaster relief, we recognise the urgent need for families to know the fate of their missing loved ones, and will make every effort to transmit news from the disaster area as soon as possible.

We will advise the Canadian public as soon as it is possible to accept tracing requests from Canada.

posted December 26, 2004 / updated May 6, 2005