WHF Needs Help To Bring  Safe Water To India Quake Victims

Volunteer engineers from the World Help Foundation of Newtown are preparing their water purification units for shipment to India in an effort to provide safe water to the survivors of last week’s devastating earthquate.

The quake was the worst to hit India in more than a half century, with a death toll that could exceed 100,000. Most of the deaths and injuries are in Bhuj, a city of 150,000. After the quake, the city and survivors were left without electricity and water.

“Though organizations are bringing food, clothing, and medicine, the lack of water is a huge problem,” said Joanne Cooley, director of communications for WHF.

Volunteers from the Newtown-based charity have just returned from El Salvador, where the WHF water purifiers brought safe water to four “tent-city” sites housing approximately 35,000 evacuated men, women, and children.

The WHF systems make it possible to purify water from contaminated supplies. World Help’s mission is to bring safe water to developing countries and disaster sites worldwide.

“Our efforts are ongoing,” said Ms Cooley. “Millions of people die each year from waterborne diseases.”

World Help seeks to educate people and governments about the need for pure water supplies. “No one deserves to die for the lack of safe water,” said Harvey Sellner, a retired engineer who founded World Help in Newtown several years ago.

As a nonprofit organization, World Help Foundation operates solely on donations. “We are turning to US communities to help us help these victims,” Ms Cooley said.

Contributions may be sent to the World Help Foundation, PO Box 500, Newtown, CT 06470. For additional information, call 800/814-2500.