- The Observer, Sunday November 27 2005
The appeal was already attracting generous donations for Concern, an international development charity, and a group of nine small charities operating in the UK and caring for the elderly. Then the tidal waves struck countries around the Indian Ocean on 26 December, killing an estimated 300,000 and leaving millions homeless.
Staff from Concern were quickly at the scene to help begin the massive project of reconstruction and readers responded magnificently to the new cause.
A total of £1,376,152 was raised for tsunami emergency relief and recovery programmes in western and southern Sri Lanka, including a donation of £250,000 by the Guardian Media Group, to help people rebuild their homes and their lives.
Concern helped to provide temporary shelter and food in the immediate aftermath of the disaster. Food packs containing rice, daal, flour, tinned fish, sugar, milk powder and tea were distributed to more than 11,000 families. Kits containing stoves, pots, plates, knives, spoons, buckets and towels were distributed to more than 5,000 families. Observer and Guardian readers' donations also helped to provide 5,400 transitional shelters. Concern built water and sanitation facilities, installing more than 400 water tanks and over 1,200 latrines.
'Everyone is still stunned by the extraordinary outpouring of generosity,' Arnold said. 'The only thing you could compare it with was the outpouring for Live Aid 20 years ago.'
The appeal also raised £338,576 for food, security and livelihood projects in southern Sudan, Somalia, Malawi and Ethiopia, and £235,974 for small British charities including Age Concern Swansea, Catholic Welfare Societies and Help the Aged. The grand total was a formidable £1,950,702.
In Aweil and Yirol counties in southern Sudan, for example, communities have been taught improved farming techniques and provided with new tools and equipment.
Seed banks have been established in villages, and farmers have received training in beekeeping.
