Boat People SOS helps Vietnamese victims of Hurricane Katrina

Today's Washington Post features an article and photo essay on the Vietnamese victims of Hurricane Katrina, who, along with their neighbors, are struggling to rebuild in the wake of that natural disaster.

According to the piece, reported by Jacqueline Salmon:

"Boat People SOS's task is one of the more challenging: to work with insular, often isolated, Vietnamese communities. An estimated 50,000 Vietnamese live along the Gulf Coast, including 'boat people' who settled in the area after fleeing Southeast Asia in the 1970s and '80s."

Some of these storm victims have sought shelter at a local Buddhist temple, while others continue to live in trailers, tents, and even cars while they work to salvage what, if anything, is left of their homes and fishing boats. Because for many of these victims, English is a second language, they may need extra assistance to process insurance claims and to access other resources they need.

The Leadership Council applauds the efforts of Boat People SOS to address the needs of the Vietnamese Gulf Coast community. To learn more about the misison of Boat People SOS, visit their website.