Union Aid Abroad tsunami assistance

Date: 11 January 2005

In a message to Australian Union Members, Sharan Burrow, president of the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions and of the Australian Council of Trade Unions said: "I urge union members to donate generously to a special tsunami donation program being put in place by Union Aid Abroad."

Union Aid Abroad - APHEDA (Australian People for Health, Education and Development Abroad inc), since 1984 the humanitarian aid agency of the Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU), is appealing for donations for the victims of the tsunami in northern and southern Sri Lanka and in Acheh.

With hundreds of thousands of people dead or missing, the human suffering is extreme, and rebuilding of the region is one of the toughest challenges ever to face the global community.

Union Aid Abroad links Australian workers to the world. It has, for the last 20 years, partnered accountable local non-governmental organisations and trade unions in South East Asia.

It is trusted by the local communities it serves, and by the representatives of those communities in Australia.

At present APHEDA is cooperating with those representatives to coordinate action in Sri Lanka and Acheh.

The Australian union community, through Union Aid Abroad, is appealing to all working men and women in Australia who want to engage in the long-term, locally-driven process of rebuilding to donate generously.

Many can donate to Union Aid Abroad through workplace giving, and can enquire about this with their employers.

Financial assistance to partner agencies in Sri Lanka and the worst-hit Indonesian province of Acheh will initially provide locally organized food, water, medicines and shelter to survivors, and later the enormous task of assistance in rebuilding homes and livelihoods in these devastated communities.

Union Aid Abroad partners local, accountable, legitimate, independent NGOs and union bodies who have local knowledge, skills and expertise. No money is sent without signed agreements with local organisations, and support is offered in the processes that will make it possible to rebuild the devastated coastal regions.

Assistance must be provided on the basis of need without regard to religious, ethnic, language, union or political affiliations.

By working through local community organisations and trade unions, APHEDA will ensure that money for the Tsunami Appeal will go directly to where it is needed most.

In the past a number of locally based organisations Union Aid Abroad has worked with have become self-sufficient.

There are numerous organisations offering services in the ravaged region, and many choices for the public to donate to.

Union Aid Abroad is working with Norwegian Peoples Aid in Northern Sri Lanka as both are affiliates of SOLIDAR, the international alliance of trade union-based aid agencies.

At present five large international organisations are receiving 95% of the Australian donations (according to AID WATCH).

Union Aid Abroad is one of the many other less-advertised organisations now needing assistance to support local organisations to undertake the long-term challenges that are emerging daily.

Union Aid Abroad is constantly receiving updates and the partnership strategy is being updated accordingly. News is posted on the Union Aid Abroad - APHEDA website as it is verified.

Union Aid Abroad-APHEDA is fully accredited with AusAID and is a signatory to the Australian Council for International Development's code of conduct.

We cannot accept offers of goods, or of people going overseas as volunteers at this stage.

Those wanting to assist overseas can visit Australian Volunteers International at www.australianvolunteers.com/home/tsunami/help.

Donations to Union Aid Abroad - APHEDA can be made at 1800 888 674 or online at www.apheda.org.au.

The public is welcome to call the toll free number for more information.

Media Enquiries:

Please contact Peter Jennings, Executive Officer on his mobile 0409 047 353

For further information

Contact:	Peter Jennings
Union:	Union Aid Aborad -APHEDA
Phone:	02 9264 9343
Contact Mobile:	0409 047 353
Fax:	02 9261 1118
Email:	apheda@labor.net.au
WWW:	http://www.apheda.org.au/

LaborNET is proudly created, designed and programmed
by Social Change Online for the Labor Council of NSW
[Credits] [Site Matters]