Difficult survival after the flood disaster
Thousands of people living in those regions of Thailand that have been destroyed by the tidal wave have lost everything and are partially awaiting an uncertain future in rescue camps.
It's true, emergency accommodations have been set up, but they partly prove to be far too small and not enough for the people who are supposed to live there. Roofs cannot be constructed because the builders are lacking the money needed. And sheltered living space is more necessary then ever since the beginning of the rainy season in April.
Although it is important that destroyed schools, hospitals, temples and whole villages are being rebuilt due to the governmental support from all over the world as well as from non-governmental organizations, the urgent neediness on the spot, however, additionally requires to help the individual affected persons directly and quickly.
Unbureaucratic emergency aid
Unbureaucratic emergency aid for those who have been hit by the catastrophe particularly hard, who no longer have the strength to relieve themselves from their urgent needs on their own, who have slipped through the emergency relief net spun by the authorities for most various reasons - this is what Tsunami Childcare is about.
Many families have lost their existence, houses and fishing boats have been destroyed. Mothers were left behind alone with their children, many children have lost both parents. Handicapped and old people who had been cared for by the their families up to the flood are having a particularly hard time. The traumatizing effect on people due to the force of the destruction and the loss of family members and friends are making it additionally difficult to go back to normal life again.
The direct and personal support of people is needed here, that orientates towards the individual necessities above all and thus allows for the creation of some security and normality.
Established on the basis of private initiative and empathy, the team of "Tsunami Childcare" aims to complement the big relief organizations by offering particularly this kind of direct emergency aid.
Direct donations for the people affected by the catastrophe
Tsunami Childcare's particular concern is that the donations reach the affected directly and, as far as possible, without deduction of any administrative expenses. Behind Tsunami Childcare is a network of voluntary private individuals and Thai helpers.
Donations should be used precisely where they are needed the most, where those suffering from the greatest poverty will personally benefit of them the most, where they save lives, make it possible to survive - and not only from one day to the next, but in the long term as well.
A large share of the donations is intended for this direct, need-oriented aid to individuals. Besides the concrete financial aid for people who are not longer able to earn their living, we also aim to sponsor projects that allow for the creation of a new basis of livelihood.
In the long term, we aim at starting god-parenthoods for children who have lost both parents, among other things. It is our particular aim at Tsunami Childcare to assist the children who are not able to provide for themselves not only in the short term, but in the long term as well. With this aim in view, we intend to start partnerships with schools.
Registration of the cases and coordination of the aid
Many of the affected are contacting Tsunami Childcare directly, describe the concrete need on the spot and are asking for coordination of the aid.
Owing to its good local knowledge and various contacts in the region, the small team gathered around the initiator of Tsunami Childcare, Gero Hilger, is able to enlarge the extensive relief actions in individual cases, giving precisely the support that cannot be achieved at such large scale and without knowing the people it's intended for.
It is the children the team is caring for most of all, however not exclusively: The reason behind it being that only if the existence of those who care for the children is secured, will the children also be provided for appropriately.
After the first relief action on Kho Pra Thong (a place Switzerland has committed itself to lately), the aid of Tsunami Childcare now focuses on the villages north of Kuraburi.
Besides the overall size of the available financial means, the implementation of these intentions not least depends on the development of the situation on the spot. Situations and responsibilities are constantly changing due to the extent of the catastrophe and concepts must thus be reviewed again and again and, if need be, quickly changed.
