After the unprecedented humanitarian catastrophe that has severely affected south Asia, Médecins du Monde has mobilised its international network of delegations to bring emergency medical aid to the victims of the tsunami.

At present, 34 doctors, nurses, psychologists and logisticians are deployed in Sri Lanka and Banda Aceh (Indonesia) to bring help to victims, reactivate the healthcare systems in the disaster-stricken areas and to face the growing risks of epidemics.

In Sri Lanka we have personnel from Médecins du Monde France, Greece, Cyprus, Spain and Portugal intervening in Colombo, Galle, Batticaloa and Trincomalee. Our programmes are thus bringing necessary emergency aid to the Tamil areas, as well as governmental areas of Sri Lanka.

In Indonesia, our French team is concentrating on Banda Aceh which has been particularly affected by the tsunami because of its proximity to the earthquake's epicentre. This region on the north of the island of Sumatra is still very difficult to access, and numerous zones are still not able to receive help. Médecins du Monde fears a worsening of the horrifying assessment announced so far, of more than 100,000 deaths, 500,000 people homeless, 900,000 children in danger, 100,000 homes destroyed and only one single hospital that has not been damaged.

As well as providing primary care, each one of our teams will make a precise evaluation of the medical and sanitation priorities that are not yet covered. They will adapt the best medical response, as well as reacting with urgency to the deteriorating situation of potential epidemics and the worsening medical conditions of survivors.

Distribution of chlorine kits and food, creation of shelters for families, medical care, vaccinations … all this is being done to avoid new losses of human life. The consequences of this tragedy will take a long time to clear. We will continue to mobilise.

Médecins du Monde UK is looking for British medics and logisticians to join in the international effort from all Médecins du Monde's delegations. If you are interested in volunteering to help with the crisis for a minimum of one month, please contact Médecins du Monde UK on 020 7516 9103.

To make a donation to Médecins du Monde UK's work, please send a cheque made payable to: Médecins du Monde to: 29th Floor, One Canada Square, London E14 5AA.

Or go online to www.medecinsdumonde.co.uk/donation/index.htm. Or phone 020 7516 9103.

Contact for press:
Michelle Hawkins
michelle.hawkins@medecinsdumonde.co.uk

Contact for recruitment:
Dorothy Muthuri
dorothy.muthuri@medecinsdumonde.co.uk