Tuesday, January 04, 2005

NEWARK : Members of a non- profit Newark group that provides cultural, educational and social programs for at-risk youth have begun raising money for survivors of the tsunami disasters that slammed into and devastated the eastern coastline of Africa.

"There has been a lack of information regarding the eastern coastline of the African continent," said Evans Montlouis, 15, chairman of the Striving Together Equals Progress (STEP) youth committee. "Our people are suffering there, too."

Asian, East Indian and Africans -- of all nationalities and races -- were affected by the disaster, said Ajamu Kenyatta, the overall director of STEP.

"We have decided to reach out to organizations, religious groups and the community for support to assure that the people of Africa's east coast are treated fairly and given the support they need to help put their lives back together," Kenyatta said.

STEP's eight-member youth group, with members ranging in age from 5 through 16, is soliciting cash, checks and money orders for the Africans victims of the deadly and highly destructive tidal waves, Kenyatta said.

At least 200 people were killed in Somalia, and several hundred are missing after the tsunami triggered by an earthquake in the Indian Ocean struck the Horn of Africa coastline, according to the Integrated Regional Information Networks (IRIN), part of the United Nation's Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.

The newly created Somali government and authorities in the self-declared, autonomous northeastern region of Puntland appealed for international relief assistance. Checks or money orders can be sent to: "STEP Africa Relief Fund," P.O. Box 22192, Newark, N.J. 07104.

Donations also can be dropped off at any one of these three locations. Top Shelf Plus, 577 Broad St., in Newark;

Irvington Health Food, 1081 Springfield Ave., in Irvington and

Life Sandwiches, 1005 Bergen St., in Newark.

For more information, call Mr. Kenyatta at (973) 483-8978.