OXFAM and Tsunami Relief

Here's an update I recently received from the OXFAM people concerning their efforts in the South Asia region:

What Oxfam is Doing

When the tsunami struck, Oxfam partners were on the ground and able to respond within hours. Today, we are focusing our relief efforts in three of the hardest-hit countries.


Indonesia—Oxfam is taking the lead on distributing drinking water in the Sumatran city of Banda Aceh. Despite transportation challenges, Oxfam expects to quickly supply water to more than 60,000 people in the city.

India—In cooperation with the government, Oxfam is providing both immediate and long-term assistance in four regions. Initial help includes food and temporary shelter, as well as a cash-for-work program to clean villages and beachfronts and rebuild water resources. Oxfam plans to help 300,000 people in the next 90 days.

Sri Lanka—When the tsunami hit, Oxfam field staff responded immediately, providing medical and rescue assistance, shelter materials, food, and water tanks. Since then, Oxfam has been appointed as a lead organization to provide water and sanitation facilities. Oxfam is now distributing hygiene kits, cleaning water pipes, and digging latrines. In the weeks ahead, the agency expects to help 250,000 people.

Please note the Indian strategy of providing a "cash-for-work" program. Some might find this somewhat heartless, i.e., why don't they just give them the cash? I assure you, cash-for-work is absolutely essential in the following respect:

Cash for work maintains income levels at an adequate level sufficient for food-purchasing power. The problem is as follows: people don't have incomes, the price of food drops, leaving those with food without incomes and the inability to buy the calories they need to sustain them (most food-sellers sell luxury foodstuffs like fish as opposed to the rice they must buy, cheaper calories to sustain them). If people have sufficient income, the price of food stablizes, leaving those with food to sell the power to sell them at an adequate level such that they can purchase cheaper food to sustain them.

Good for you, OXFAM. Please continue to donate to this organization. Links are to the right.