Where to Donate, from HRW Staffer

From Nisha, works at Human Rights Watch New York office:

The following is a list of recommended local NGOs in SE and South Asia. It is not a comprehensive list, but provides contact information for some of the main local aid coalitions. My colleagues and I have worked with many of these organizations or otherwise know their work well. In addition to major international relief organizations, these local and national NGOs are mobilizing their grassroots networks to distribute aid and to begin the long process of reconstruction. These organizations often have longstanding networks and relationships with the affected communities, and excellent familiarity and experience in the region.

I urge people to give generously. If you usually give $20 to such efforts, think about a $100 donation. If you usually donate $100, think about $500. The need is great and the recovery process complicated and long. Some of these organizations accept credit card donations online, others need to have the money wired to them. I will be wiring funds to groups in Indonesia and Sri Lanka—so anyone interested can feel free to contact me at:

Nisha Varia
nisha DOT varia AT gmail DOT com


INDONESIA

A group of NGOs have created the Civil Society Coalition for Tsunami Victims. They are accepting money, food, medicine, and clothing. The members include Kontras, SHMI, Imparsial, Aceh Kita, JMP-KWI, Walhi, LBH Apik, Amos, Yappika, Kalyanamitra, TRuK, AWG, Ciliwung, SEGERA, and LPPI.

For logistical ease, funds can be sent to Kontras. They can also be sent by credit card through Greengrants.org which is matching up to $25,000 in donations (be sure to mark "Sumatra" or "Indonesia" in the online form if you want the funds going specifically to Indonesia). If anyone wants contact info for any of the other groups, let me know.

KONTRAS

Kontras Secretariat
JL. Borobudur No. 14
Menteng, Central Jakarta
Indonesia
62-21-3926983/62-21-3928564
Contact : Mus: 0815-9649542; Arie: 0815-6867741 Money can be wired to their bank account in Jakarta:
Bank Name: Bank BII Proklamasi Branch
Bank Address: Jalan Proklamasi, Jakarta, Indonesia Bank Account: Rupiah Account 2-072-267-196 Swift No: IBB KIDJAA

A second grassroots group organizing relief efforts is Solidaritas Perempuan.
They focus on poor women. Funds can be wired to the following account:
Solidaritas Perempuan
Account Number : 000.02.14.42.096 (USD)
Perserikatan Solidaritas Perempuan
Swift Code: ABN - AIDJA
Bank Name: ABN AMRO BANK N.V. Jakarta Main Branch Jl. Ir. H. Juanda 23 - 24 Jakarta 10029 Indonesia PO.BOX 2950 Phone : 62 - 21 - 2312777
Fax: 62 - 21 - 2313222


SRI LANKA

The Foundation for Co-Existence (FCE), Sewa Lanka Foundation (SLF) and the National Anti-War Front (NAWF) have jointly formed the Civil Society Initiative for Relief and Reconstruction to organize emergency relief and humanitarian aid. Each organization has a strong presence in these regions through their branch offices, Island wide networks of over 1000 civil society organizations in peace building and development activities, and a combined staff capacity of over 500.

Total accountability and transparency and non discriminatory services are ensured in this relief and reconstruction effort. All contributions will be acknowledged with a receipt.

The bank account details are as follows:

Bank: HSBC
Address: Colpetty Branch, 51A Dharmapala Mawatha, Colombo 3, Sri Lanka
SWIFT CODE: HSBCLKLX
Account Name: Foundation for Co-Existence – Disaster Fund
Account Number: 003-078219-003

Please feel free to e-mail us for further information or clarification: FCE - tsunamiaid AT fcoex DOT com or foundation AT fcoex DOT com, NAWF -nawf AT eureka DOT lk, Sewa Lanka – sewahq AT sri DOT lanka DOT net.

Further details about the partner organizations are available via their individual websites:

FCE – http://www.fcoex.com, Sewa Lanka – http://www.sewalanka.org, NAWF – http://www.nawf.lk


Sarvodaya is a Sri Lankan organization with the largest community network in the country. To donate to Sarvodaya online by credit card you may donate directly through the Sarvodaya donation page:

http://www.sarvodaya.org/donate.html

or through the Nonviolent Peaceforce (100% of the money collected at this site will go to Sarvodaya):

AID,
P.O. Box F
College Park, MD-20741, USA.
(Please indicate "Relief and Rehabilitation Fund" in the check memo)

For additional information call: 1-888-TALK-2-AID or (301) 422-4441 or email: info AT aidindia DOT org

Web: http://survivors.aidindia.org, Email: info AT aidindia DOT org, Phone: 1-888- TALK-2-AID