Operation Usa » Southeast Asia

NEWS RELEASE: Operation USA Prepares Medical Aid in Response to Earthquakes in Indonesia

opusa — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 20:27:03 +0000

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

OPERATION USA TO SEND EMERGENCY MEDICAL AID TO INDONESIA FOLLOWING SERIES OF EARTHQUAKES

CATASTROPHE QUICKLY FOLLOWS DISASTERS IN SAMOA AND THE PHILIPPINES; NEED FOR DONATIONS AND CORPORATE SUPPORT INTENSIFIES

LOS ANGELES, CA (October 1, 2009)—Los Angeles-based International relief agency Operation USA announced today that it will send medical aid to Indonesia following a series of earthquakes that wreaked havoc across the island of Sumatra. A 7.6-magnitude earthquake struck Sumatra Wednesday, quickly followed by a strong second quake, killing scores of people and trapping thousands under rubble. It is reported that at least 500 buildings in Padang, the capital of West Sumatra, collapsed—including a number of hospitals.

Operation USA’s relief efforts will focus on medical aid and support for health clinics and hospitals. The relief group is appealing for donations of funds from the public and corporate donations in bulk of health care materials, water purification supplies and food supplements which it will ship to the region from its base in the Port of Los Angeles.

“A quick succession of large disasters presents a challenge for a relief agency. As securing resources becomes competitive with so many needs arising at once, it is more important than ever to meet specific needs with the appropriate aid. We urge those that can help to donate generously to help ensure critical aid reaches those who need it most,” states Richard Walden, President and CEO, Operation USA.

HOW TO HELP:

Donate online at www.opusa.org, by phone at 1.800.678.7255 or, by check made out to Operation USA, 3617 Hayden Ave, Suite A, Culver City, CA 90232.

About Operation USA

Operation USA is an international relief agency that helps communities at home and abroad overcome the effects of disasters, disease and endemic poverty by providing privately-funded relief, reconstruction and development aid. Since 1979, the Los Angeles-based Operation USA has worked in 99 countries, delivering over $350 million for relief and development projects.

Operation USA has a long history of work in Indonesia, and continues today to work on long-term projects as a result of the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami. Operation USA’s extensive experience in Asia resulted in quickly mobilizing partners on the ground. Projects were funded in Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Thailand and India. Operation USA remains an active and dedicated part of the long-term recovery process, and numerous projects continue in a large number of these communities.

###

Media Contact:

Alison Deknatel, Director of Communications, Operation USA

310.838.3455 or adeknatel@opusa.org

NEWS RELEASE: Operation USA to Send Emergency Medical Aid to Samoa Following Earthquake and Resulting Tsunami

opusa — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 22:06:01 +0000

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

OPERATION USA TO SEND EMERGENCY MEDICAL AID TO AMERICAN AND WESTERN SAMOA FOLLOWING EARTHQUAKE AND RESULTING TSUNAMI

WAVES AND QUAKE BRING DEVASTATION ACROSS THE ISLANDS; TOTAL LOSS OF LIFE STILL BEING ASSESSED

LOS ANGELES, CA (September 30, 2009)— Los Angeles-based International relief agency Operation USA announced today that it will send medical aid to both American and Western Samoa as part of the relief efforts following the tsunami that hit yesterday. President Obama has declared the situation a major disaster. At least 100 people are believed to have died and many more injured in the Pacific island nation after the powerful deep ocean earthquake and the tsunami waves that followed. Countless people are displaced from their homes with extensive damage to buildings throughout.

The relief group is appealing for donations of funds from the public and corporate donations in bulk of health care materials, water purification supplies and food supplements which it will ship to the region from its base in the Port of Los Angeles.

HOW TO HELP:

Donate online at www.opusa.org, by phone at 1.800.678.7255 or, by check made out to Operation USA, 3617 Hayden Ave, Suite A, Culver City, CA 90232.

About Operation USA

Operation USA continues today to work on long-term projects as a result of the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami. The agency received over $4 million in donations from private citizens, corporations and foundations. Over $12 million more in products and transportation was also donated. Operation USA’s extensive experience in Asia resulted in quickly mobilizing partners on the ground. Projects were funded in Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Thailand and India. Operation USA remains an active and dedicated part of the long-term recovery process, and numerous projects continue in a large number of these communities.

###

Media Contact:

Alison Deknatel, Director of Communications, Operation USA

310.838.3455 or adeknatel@opusa.org

Richard Walden, President and CEO, Operation USA

310.838.3455 or rwalden@opusa.org

NEWS RELEASE: Operation USA To Send Aid To The Philippines After Typhoon Ketsana Devastates Manila

opusa — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 20:30:38 +0000

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

OPERATION USA TO SEND EMERGENCY AID FOR TYPHOON VICTIMS IN THE PHILIPPINES

WORST FLOODING IN MANILA IN DECADES DESTROYS 80% OF LOCAL HEALTH CARE INFRASTRUCTURE

Hundreds of Thousands Directly Affected

LOS ANGELES, CA (September 28, 2009)—Los Angeles-based International relief agency Operation USA announced that it was preparing relief supplies to assist local health care agencies and NGOs in and around Manila as they try to assist nearly 450,000 people in immediate need of assistance as a direct result of flooding caused by torrential rains (totaling 18 inches—410 mm in just 24 hours) caused by Typhoon Ketsana, locally known as “Typhoon Ondoy”.

The relief group is appealing for donations of funds from the public and corporate donations in bulk of health care materials, water purification supplies and food supplements which it then ships to Manila from its base in the Port of Los Angeles.

HOW TO HELP:

Donate online at www.opusa.org, by phone at 1.800.678.7255 or, by check made out to Operation USA, 3617 Hayden Ave, Suite A, Culver City, CA 90232.

About Operation USA

Operation USA began working in The Philippines in 1985 providing disaster relief after a wide variety of natural disasters struck various parts of The Philippines.

###

Media Contact:

Alison Deknatel, Director of Communications, Operation USA

310.838.3455 or adeknatel@opusa.org

Richard Walden, President and CEO, Operation USA

310.838.3455 or rwalden@opusa.org

VIETNAM & CAMBODIA: Community Development and Microcredit Program

admin — Sat, 18 Jul 2009 06:54:42 +0000

Mekong Plus was founded in 1994 to assist those who live in poor, rural areas of Cambodia and Southern Vietnam—with a priority to work with the poorest of the poor (income of around 100 dollars/year).

Creating low cost, long-term solutions to poverty alleviation with a focus on sustainable development, these projects have great potential to achieve powerful social change in the communities they serve. Mekong Plus’ programs include microcredit, agriculture extension, training of village technicians, education and health, and generation of employment. Overall, the programs impact more than 150,000 people every year.

CAMBODIA: Cyclo Center Project

admin — Sat, 18 Jul 2009 06:52:35 +0000

Cyclo drivers are some of the most vulnerable people in Phnom Penh, often living/sleeping on the streets while supporting their families in the provinces. With the financial downturn worldwide, we may well see a rise in cyclo numbers over the coming years. The Cyclo Center provides a variety of services to these individuals, including health consultations, washing facilities, HIV/AIDS/STD awareness, social activities and workshops, as well as information dissemination on various issues of relevance and concern.

The Cyclo Center also operates a business and tourist booking service to help cyclo drivers generate income.

CAMBODIA: Counseling Center for Women and Children

admin — Sat, 18 Jul 2009 06:49:46 +0000

The Nyemo Counseling Center for Vulnerable Women and Their Children living with HIV/AIDS is a safety net for female-headed households who are HIV+, who are often separated from their extended families and who have been or are at risk of being excluded from the communities in which they now live, because of their HIV status.

Nyemo helps to strengthen networks between local stakeholders and Nyemo partners in order to coordinate and optimize the effectiveness of various activities (such as skill training, HIV prevention, education, literacy, gender rights, nutrition support and health care) and to create a social safety net for women and children affected by HIV/AIDS ensuring that their basic need to live in human dignity is met.

Cyclone Nargis: Disaster Response in Myanmar

admin — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 06:56:24 +0000

In May of 2008 Cyclone Nargis, a category 4 cyclone, hit the Irrawaddy delta region of Myanmar (formerly known as Burma). The devastating cyclone impacted over 2 million people and took the lives of an estimated 85,000, with an additional 54,000 still reported missing.

In response, Operation USA provided a grant to Emergency Assistance Team Burma to procure medical supplies for those populations either not being reached by other humanitarian aid or where the aid offered was not enough for these essentials. Additionally, monies were used to meet the needs of affected communities to help rebuild their livelihoods.

The severe restrictions placed on all “outside” aid agencies by the Myanmar government brought into sharp focus the benefits of maintaining local partnerships with in-country aid agencies. Operation USA maintains a strong relationship with several local Thai and Burmese NGO agencies that allowed us to circumvent the restrictions and gain direct access to restricted areas, which helped facilitate the delivery of necessary aid.

NEWS RELEASE: Operation USA Appeals For Funds To Aid In Burmese Cyclone Disaster

admin — Thu, 08 May 2008 07:27:30 +0000

LOS ANGELES (May 8, 2008)–Los Angeles based Operation USA has deployed staff already stationed in Asia to assess the needs of what is now an estimated 7 million people affected by the recent cyclone which destroyed or devastated wide swaths of Burma (aka Myanmar), especially in or near Yangon (formerly the capital Rangoon) and throughout its vast rice growing delta. The cyclone generated winds of over 120 miles per hour and struck communities living largely in housing made of bamboo and unable to withstand winds of such magnitude.

Temporary shelter, water purification chemicals, food, tools and medical supplies are among the most urgently needed items. Funds collected will be spent on these and other priority supplies.

Richard Walden, President of Operation USA, expressed a widely held concern among relief groups that the current military government of Burma has not readily facilitated foreign relief agencies’ access to impact zones, especially those from the U.S. “We expected that this unusually tragic event would have softened the Burmese Government’s attitude towards international relief and that they would have allowed relief agencies full access to victims of this tragedy. So far, hundreds of seasoned relief workers are stranded in neighboring countries awaiting visas to enter Myanmar and begin saving lives”

Operation USA has worked with Burmese refugees for over 15 years along the Burma-Thailand border through local partners.

The Lincy Foundation of Los Angeles provided initial disaster funds to Operation USA for just such contingencies requiring an immediate response. The Audrey & Sydney Irmas Charitable Foundation also contributed substantial funding for this effort. A Myanmar cyclone fund raising t-shirt was created by Von Dutch (www.vondutch.com) to raise funds as well.

HOW TO HELP: To assist Operation USA in delivering aid to Myanmar, donate online at www.opusa.org, by phone at 800.678.7255 or, by check to Operation USA, 3617 Hayden Ave., Suite A, Culver City, CA 90232. Ninety-eight cents of every dollar is spent directly on relief programs.

Corporate contributions of essential products in bulk and with at least one year’s remaining shelf life can be arranged by calling Neil Frame, Operation USA, 310.838.3455.