On Dec. 26, more than 280,000 lives were taken and countless more endangered by a giant tsunami in the Indian Ocean. Generated by a 9.0 earthquake off the island of Sumatra, the aftershock waves ravaged the shores of 11 countries and rendered hundreds of thousands of survivors homeless. In the aftermath of the tsunami, many health officials fear the risk of widespread water-borne diseases and a potential malaria epidemic in the coming months.

In the wake of this disaster, the Flinn Family contacted its members living in or tied to the region with offers of concern and assistance.

In response, we received this email from Flinn alumna Marla Smith-Nilson ('87), co-founder and programmatic director of WaterPartners International, a Seattle-based non-profit that seeks sustainable solutions for safe drinking water in developing nations.

We commend WaterPartners and the many others who are working to alleviate suffering in the region, as well as provide long-term solutions to worldwide challenges. We are honored to call her a member of the Flinn Family.

We at the Flinn Foundation share her sympathy and condolences for all affected by this tragedy.

Hi everyone.

Along with you, WaterPartners staff and board mourn the enormous loss of life from the tsunami in Asia. We are grateful, however, that the communities in India where WaterPartners is working have not been affected by this disaster. We are currently examining how we might offer our support to the victims of this tragedy. Our core expertise is in providing long-term, sustainable solutions to water and sanitation needs, and if we are able to respond to the tsunami, it will be in supporting the long-term projects that we know best.

I am traveling to India next week and will be in Tamil Nadu, a region of India that was most affected by the tsunami. This was a previously scheduled trip to visit our current local partner in Tamil Nadu. Our local partner is working to respond to the needs of the tsunami victims.

They have been passing out food and bottled water. Many of you have asked if I know of any organizations that you can volunteer with in SE Asia. I posed this question to our local partner, and their response was that they feel they have all they need to meet the current emergency needs. They are concerned about the long-term rebuilding of homes, and especially water and sanitation systems. We will be discussing with them how WaterPartners can support these rebuilding efforts. There may be other organizations in need of volunteers, but I am not aware of them and cannot help you with this request.

The long-term effects caused by polluted drinking water may be as devastating as the tsunami itself. In fact, while I do not want to make light of this tragedy, I would like to say that I feel that we deal with a crisis of unsafe water every day. Every day 14,000 people around the world die from water-related illnesses. This amounts to a disaster the size of the SE Asia tsunami every 10 days, or 3 times each month. The graphic images of death and destruction have affected me deeply and emotionally and I cannot imagine the grief of the survivors. Knowing that death occurs at these unimaginable levels daily around the world from unsafe water has only inspired me to work harder in my job.

If you would like to help now, please do so through your thoughts, prayers, or donations to relief organizations that are currently positioned to respond to this crisis. If you do wish to donate now, the only advice I can offer is to donate to an organization that will be able to respond to the short-term as well as the long-term needs of the victims. Often times, funds are available for the relief efforts, and not nearly enough is available for the long-term.

I return from India Jan. 31. By then, I will be able to let you know the results of our trip and what plans we have to support the construction or rehabilitation of water systems in India and elsewhere.

Thank you for your concern for people in need.

Marla Smith-Nilson
Director of International Programs
WaterPartners International

 

For more information on Marla and WaterPartners International, visit:

Meet a Flinn Scholar: Marla Smith-Nilson, 09/02/2003

WaterPartners International