The government of Sri Lanka Dec. 31 requested the immediate assistance of San Antonio-based Baptist Child & Family Services to help open five new emergency child care centers along the country's east coast to care for tens of thousands of children orphaned by last week's tsunami. Even more importantly for the long-term, BCFS will be helping organize a foster-care program and train Sri Lankan staff to operate it.
The emergency care centers will house an estimated 800 to 1,000 orphans each. The devastation has delayed and complicated relief efforts and there have been reports of infants dying of starvation even after arriving at relief centers. The 60-mile stretch where the shelters will be located has an estimated 30,000 people victimized by the tsunami.
"Such massive human suffering and physical devastation can numb those of us not directly affected and make us feel there is nothing we can do to make a real difference," pointed out Kevin Dinnin, president of BCFS. "It's true none of us can take on the whole effort — but as individuals we can help specific people, as small groups we can work with specific communities.
"The needs won't all be met just by supplying food, water and clothing for the short term. The implications of taking care of thousands of orphans will be an on-going process. That's what BCFS and our many support partners are doing — providing a future for boys and girls we'll know by name and helping the Sri Lankan people learn to care for the through foster care.
"The needs are vast but the requests delivered to me are very specific. (1.) Immediate assistance in setting up five emergency shelters appropriate for the care of refugee/homeless children; (2) Assistance in the development of foster homes to provide for the long term care of orphaned children; (3) Training of Gospel for Asia staff and volunteers in shelter management, and foster care services; (4) Humanitarian Aid."
A crisis response team consisting of veteran childcare administrators, including Dinnin, a medical doctor and a psychologist will leave Thursday.
"Obviously nobody budgeted for this but we have to respond to a need we are qualified to meet," Dinnin said. "We'll just have to rely on people who want to make an on-going difference for orphaned boy and girls to help cover our expenses."
BCFS was invited to Sri Lanka on the recommendation of Gospel For Asia which has numerous permanent staff in the country.
GFA is "not trained to handle a disaster like this so we need experts to come in, assess and advise. This will be a big blessing in helping them help themselves," Kim Beckett, of Boerne and a GFA worker in Sri Lanka told Dinnin, noting "the biggest help is to be mentored by you. They/we don't even know how much we don't know."
GFA had earlier worked with BCFS's overseas arm, Children's Emergency Relief, International and recognized what the San Antonio humanitarian agency could provide. BCFS/CERI currently operates programs in Moldova , Mexico and Russia . BCFS has been meeting the needs of San Antonio children and families since 1947 and has programs throughout Texas.
Those wishing to be a financial partner in the relief effort can send contributions to Baptist Child & Family Services 909 NE Loop 410, Ste. 800, San Antonio , Texas 78209. Please indicate that the donation is for use by Children's International Relief Services. On-line donations can be made at www.bcfs.net . For those wishing to wire funds, or if there are questions regarding possible assistance, please contact Craig Bird, BCFS Director of Communications or Dan Mclendon, BCFS Executive Vice President for Development at 1(800) 830-2246.