Solidarity in South Asia fund

On 26 December 2004, a devastating tsunami hit South Asia, resulting in untold damage to numerous countries. In response, Rotarians around the world contributed nearly US$6 million to the Solidarity in South Asia fund.

Committees were established in the four countries most affected by the tsunami: India , Indonesia , Sri Lanka , and Thailand .

These committees have worked diligently to distribute funds and assist in the affected areas’ recovery efforts.

Read the Solidarity in South Asia 2005 year in review 

India

Committee
Chair — Past RI Director Kalyan Bannerjee (District 3060)
Rotary Club of Vapi, Gujarat, India

Committee member — Past District 2980 Governor R. Ketharnathan
Rotary Club of Chidambaram, Tamil Nadu, India

Committee member — Past District 3210 Governor R. Reghunath
Rotary Club of Trivandrum South, Kerala, India

Committee member — Past District 3230 Governor Benjamin Cherian
Rotary Club of Madras, Tamil Nadu, India

Committee member — M.H. Jadwet (District 3290)
Rotary Club of Port Blair, Andaman Islands, India

Special adviser — Past RI Director P.C. Thomas (District 3200)
Rotary Club of Nilgiris West, Tamil Nadu, India

Indonesia

Committee
Cochair — Past District 3400 Governor Ritje Rihatinah
Rotary Club of Bali Sanur, Bali, Indonesia

Cochair — Past District 3400 Governor Natalia Soebagjo
Rotary Club of Jakarta-Gambir, Jakarta, Indonesia

Committee member — Past District 3400 Governor Mark Wong
Rotary Club of Jakarta-Gambir, Jakarta, Indonesia

Project descriptions
See District 3400’s disaster relief Web site  for project information.

Sri Lanka

Committee
Chair — Rotary Foundation Trustee K.R. Ravindran (District 3220)
Rotary Club of Colombo , Western Province, Sri Lanka

Committee member — District 3220 Governor Nihal Bogahalanda
Rotary Club of Colombo West, Western Province, Sri Lanka

Committee member — Past District 3220 Governor Lucky Pieris
Rotary Club of Colombo Mid-City, Western Province, Sri Lanka

Project descriptions
See the Rotary Sri Lanka  Web site for project information.

Thailand

Committee
Chair — Past District 3330 Governor Voravut Pongvitayapanu
Rotary Club of Kanchanaburi, Kanchanaburi, Thailand

Committee member — Past District 3350 Governor Saowalak Rattanavich
Rotary Club of Bangrak, Thailand

Committee member — Past District 3340 Governor Surat Buawan
Rotary Club of Nakhonphanom, Thailand

Committee member — Past District 3360 Governor Chaisinn Maninan
Rotary Club of Lampang, Thailand

Project descriptions
See the Operation Rotary Cares Web site for project information.

Hurricanes Stan and Wilma (Guatemala and Mexico)

Committee
Chair — Past RI President Frank Devlyn (District 4170)
Rotary Club of Anáhuac (Mexico City), Distrito Federal, Mexico

Committee member — Past District 4250 Governor Jorge Aufranc
Rotary Club of Guatemala Sur, Guatemala

Committee member — Past District 4190 Governor Luis Rojí Uribe
Rotary Club of Orizaba, Veracruz, Mexico

Committee member — Past District 4200 Governor Emilio Bolio
Rotary Club of Mérida-Montejo, Yucatán, Mexico

Committee member — Luis Valenzuela (District 4250)
Rotary Club of Guatemala Sur, Guatemala

Committee member — Past District 4170 Governor Jesse Devlyn
Rotary Club of San Rafael, Distrito Federal, Mexico

Special adviser — Past RI Director Francisco Creo (District 4100)
Rotary Club of Ensenada Calafia, Baja California, Mexico

Hurricane Wilma (USA)

Committee
Chair — Past District 6990 Governor Robert Shelley
Rotary Club of Miami, Florida, USA

Committee Member— Past District 6960 Governor John Smarge
Rotary Club of Naples, Florida, USA

Committee member — Past District 6990 Governor Elliot Lowenstein
Rotary Club of Miami Airport, Florida, USA

Committee member — Past District 6930 Governor Bill Bean
Rotary Club of Jupiter-Tequesta, Florida, USA

Earthquake in India and Pakistan

Committee
Chair — Past District 3270 Governor Abu Mohsin
Rotary Club of Karachi Metropolitan, Sind, Pakistan

Committee member — Past District 3270 Governor-elect Shakil Ansari
Rotary Club of Islamabad Cosmopolitan, Pakistan

Committee member — Past District 3070 Governor Seth Surendra
Rotary Club of Jalandhar Central, Punjab, India

Committee member — Past District 3270 Governor Suhail Ahmad
Rotary Club of Lahore Shaheen, Punjab, Pakistan

Committee member — Past District 3070 Governor Arun Jain
Rotary Club of Hoshiarpur, Punjab, India

Committee member — Past District 3270 Governor Mohammed Faiz Kidwai
Rotary Club of Karchi Karsaz, Pakistan

Committee member — Past District 3270 Governor Nasir Ud Din Tanwir
Rotary Club of Karachi Universal, Sind, Pakistan

Special adviser — Past RI Director Kalyan Bannerjee (District 3060)
Rotary Club of Vapi, Gujarat, India