In an effort to help those who are less fortunate, La Cabana All Suite Beach Resort & Casino, Aruba, will support the tsunami relief efforts in Southeast Asia by donating US$5 for each new booking made through the resort’s toll-free reservations hotline (1-800-835-7193) (USA only), now through Jan. 31, 2005.ÊDonations will be split evenly between the American Red Cross as well as WALHI, a grassroots Indonesian activist group conducting major relief efforts.“We would like to extend out support to the nations and people in Southeast Asia that were devastated by the recent tsunami by donating money to the relief effort,” said Lou Roelofsen, general manager of La Cabana.

“Our heart truly goes out to those who have suffered and those who continue to suffer,” added Roelofsen.

In addition to the American Red Cross, La Cabana will be supporting WALHI - whose efforts are concentrated on improving the situation in the Southeast Asia, feeding those who are without food and providing shelter for those who have lost their homes.

Represented in 25 provinces with over 438 member organisations, WALHI is the largest forum of non-government and community-based organisations in Indonesia. WALHI stands for social transformation, peoples sovereignty, and sustainability of life and livelihoods and works across Indonesia on a variety of issues including: disaster management, forests, mining, fresh water management, pollution, foreign debt, coasts and oceans, national policy and law reform, and good governance.

“In addition to assisting the American Red Cross, we felt it was important to support a less-funded group that already has an existing infrastructure in Indonesia, and we believe WAHLI has the ability to reach areas where other groups may not,” said Roelofsen.

“It is encouraging to see the way humanity comes together in the face of such a terrible tragedy, and we at La Cabana are happy to do our part to help those who need it most,” he noted.
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