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Who
to call and how to offer help - 31st December 2004
Foreign Affairs help lines
The Department of Foreign Affairs has two toll-free
help lines. The first is for people concerned
about relatives or friends in tsunami-affected
areas: 1800 002 214. The second is for Australians
in disaster zones who need help from embassy staff:
+61 1300 555 135 or 61 2 6261 3305.
Centrelink
has set up a tsunami assistance hotline for affected
Australians seeking information about their entitlements,
counselling, medical or health information or
inquiring as to whether their medical skills can
be utilised: 1800 057 111.
The
Thai Welfare Association offers counselling and
assistance to Thai people living in Australia
and can be contacted on (02) 9264 3166 or at http://www.thaiwelfare.org
It is also accepting donations and advises that
the best source of official information about
missing relatives and friends is the hotline in
Thailand on 0011 66 2 643 5262.
Travel
advisories
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has
issued warnings about these areas:
Thailand:
The west coast and islands, including Phuket,
and southern region (Ranong province and all provinces
to the south). A temporary consulate has been
established at the Hilton Hotel to assist Australians
in the surrounding islands and can be contacted
on +66 76 370 672 or aus-phuket@inet.co.th
Phuket airport is operating and travellers are
encouraged to leave by commercial flights. A Department
of Immigration and Indigenous Affairs officer
will be at Phuket airport to provide travel documents
to Australians who have lost their passports.
There is an Australian official at the city hall
in Phuket Town, where Thai officials are processing
people being evacuated from nearby islands. There
is also an office at the Maritime Resort Spa in
Krabi.
India: Coastal areas of southern and eastern India
and, in particular, the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
Sri
Lanka: The east coast from Trincomalee in the
north-east to Galle in the south. Colombo Airport
is operational. Travellers are encouraged to leave
by commercial flights. Four-wheel-drive vehicles
are being used to transport Australians to Colombo
and the Sri Lankan Air Force will also help stranded
Australians. Australians in Sri Lanka seeking
consular assistance should contact the high commission
on +94 11269 8767.
Maldives:
Avoid all travel to the Maldives until further
notice. A British team has set up an emergency
consulate at the Iskander school in Male. An Australian
official will join these consuls for any Australians
in the Maldives who require assistance. Travellers
are encouraged to leave by commercial flights.
Indonesia:
The west coast of northern Sumatra, including
Aceh province and offshore islands.
Malaysia:
The department advises those heading there to
check with local authorities and hotels that it
is safe to travel there.
More
information and updated advice from the department
at http://www.smarttraveller.gov.au
Donations
PLAN
1800 038 100 or http://www.plan.org.au
CARE
Australia 1800 020 046 or http://www.careaustralia.org.au
Australian
Red Cross 1800 811 700, http://www.redcross.org.au
or post a cheque to GPO Box 9949 in capital cities.
Oxfam
1800 034 034 or http://www.oxfam.org.au
Medecins
Sans Frontieres 1800 788 100 or http://www.msf.org.au
UNICEF
1300 884 233, 1300 732 240 or http://www.unicef.org.au
World
Vision 13 32 40 or http://www.worldvision.com.au
Baptist
World Aid Australia 1300 789 991, Locked Bag 122,
Frenchs Forest NSW 2086, or http://www.shareanopportunity.org
Caritas
Australia 1800 024 413 or http://www.caritas.org.au
Australian
Foundation for Asia Pacific 1800 007 308, http://www.afap.org
NSW
Jewish Board of Deputies: (02) 9419 7011
Save
the Children 1800 760 011 or http://www.savethechildren.org.au
Many
banks are also allowing donations to be made to
various charities at their branches.
Articles
Tsunami's
ring of death - 27th December 2004
Media
Sydney
Morning Herald - World News
Profiles
Tsunami
Disasters
Charity
Media
Man Australia
Philanthropy
& Charity
Sponsorships,
Clients & Affiliates
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