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The University has joined the international community in expressing its solidarity with and support for those affected by the devastating Boxing Day tsunami.
As far as the University is aware no staff or students were injured in the disaster, however several members of the ANU community have lost loved ones, colleagues and property. The University has about 450 students from the affected countries.
"We will do what we can for those affected and what we can for our staff and students who have lost loved ones."
Professor Ian Chubb
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Speaking at a recent multi-faith memorial gathering on campus, Vice-Chancellor Professor Ian Chubb pledged that the University would do “what it can” to help Asia rebuild.
“There are few things that could be said that are new by somebody like me after the millions of words that are being used around the world to describe this event,” he told the gathering.
“We all recognise our vulnerability in times like these — times when the violence of nature has us mere human beings at its mercy.
“We mourn the dead, we support the living, we applaud their strength and determination and we hope that the world will not forget them as time passes.
"We at ANU will not forget.
“We will do what we can for those affected and what we can for our staff and students who have lost loved ones.
“We will do what we can to help.”
The service included words and symbols of remembrance from the Buddhist, Baha’i, Christian, Hindu, Jewish and Muslim faiths.
In the immediate aftermath of the disaster the University began doing what it could to help those affected, contacting international students and making support, including financial assistance and counselling, available to them.
An appeal fund was also set up to collect money for the tragedy.
The University is widely recognised for its expertise in Asian studies and this knowledge is expected to be a valuable resource as the world responds to the crisis. Many of the University’s experts have contributed comment and analysis to media coverage of the unfolding disaster.
Donations can be made to the ANU Tsunami Appeal at any Credit Union of Canberra branch. Account name: ANU Tsunami Appeal, account number: 1182159, BSB: 801 009.
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