FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                             January 4, 2005

WASHINGTON - Spurred by images of destruction in southeast Asia, Americans donated to aid agencies in record numbers to assist earthquake and tsunami victims, but many are now wondering what else they can do to help.

And they're not sitting around twiddling their thumbs - they're picking up the phone and searching online for ways to help. "We've received inquiries from members and communities we have never worked with about partnering with places struck by this horrific disaster," said Sherman Banks, president of the board of directors for Sister Cities International.

Although its sister city in Tanzania was not affected by the disaster, Susan Ballew, president of the Sister City Association in Kansas City, Missouri, said the organization is already assembling an aid initiative for tsunami victims by partnering with other international organizations. "We think it's important to support the effort," said Ballew. "We are all members of a global community. When one of us hurts, we all hurt."

It's a sentiment that is resonating. "I call on all communities - whether they are big or small, wealthy or struggling, rural or urban - to consider the call to sisterhood seriously," said Banks. "This is a human tragedy unparalleled in our lifetimes, and we have an obligation to help."

Banks said that leaders of Sister Cities International will meet by conference call next week to discuss relief plans, with the discussion focused on long-term recovery assistance. One proposal being considered is a program to fund international exchanges between emergency preparedness personnel, so communities are better able to face disasters.

"It's clear from the scope of the disaster that the tsunami-affected communities will need assistance for a long time. Recovery will be a process that takes years," said Tim Honey, executive director of Sister Cities International. "Communities can help by linking with a tsunami-affected community through our partners for humanitarian aid project or forming a sister city relationship."

Because formalized sister city ties can take several months to establish and the situation in the tsunami-struck region is chaotic, Sister Cities International has a "Partners for Humanitarian Assistance" designation that can be utilized to quickly start humanitarian assistance projects.

Honey cautioned that due to collapsed infrastructure, the destruction of communications systems and overwhelming human needs, it may take time to establish new partnerships. If your community is interested in forming a sister city relationship with a community affected by the tsunamis, contact Rick Ferrer at 202.347.8630 ext. 8251 or referrer@sister-cities.org.

Representing more than 2,600 communities in 128 countries, Sister Cities International (www.sister-cities.org) is a citizen diplomacy network creating and strengthening partnerships between the U.S. and communities abroad. Begun in 1956 after a White House summit where U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower called for people-to-people exchanges, sister city partnerships are tailored to local interests and increase global cooperation at the grassroots level. Sister Cities International promotes peace through mutual respect, understanding and cooperation by focusing on sustainable development, youth and education, arts and culture, humanitarian assistance and economic growth programs.