While some Yukoners are digging into their wallets to help victims of hurricane Katrina, there are people living in crisis across the territory who need that kind of help daily, say workers at the Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Society Yukon (FASSY).

People suffering from Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) within the territory need that kind of support to survive daily, says co-ordinator Lilliam Sequeira.

'What is sad right now for us to see is that here are millions in support being poured into these people in Louisiana with the hurricane and those people, they need medicine, they need food, they need a place to live, they need everything,' she said in an interview Wednesday.

'Well, you know what? Our clients need the same stuff. And they are here in Whitehorse. It's only that they're not swimming.'

In industrialized countries, it's estimated that one to three of every thousand children born is affected by FASD, according to federal government statistics.

In Canada, it is estimated that at least one child is born with the disorder each day, the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) website says.

FASD refers to a group of disorders that can arise in children when alcohol is consumed during pregnancy. These can include learning disabilities, hyperactivity, difficulty managing anger and growth deficiencies, according to PHAC.

It is 'is one of the major known preventable birth defects among Canadian children,' the website says.

As a result, people living with FASD need support in every aspect of life, Sequeira said.

For example, they need someone to go grocery shopping with them, to help them find and keep and apartment, to look for a job and to maintain employment.

'(People with FASD) deserve a better life,' she said. 'It is a basic human right to have a shelter, to have basic nutrition, to have something to wear and to have an education.'

However, many people with the disorder end up homeless and living in Third World conditions, according to Sequeira.

It is not a personal issue either, says Judy Pakozdy, executive director of FASSY.

'This is a Yukon issue. It's a Canadian issue,' Pakozdy said.

'I'm so sick of people telling me the government should do something about it. We are the government. We elect the government officials. If we tell them we want this commitment, they will do it.'

The centre is serving 33 adults with FASD. There is a waiting list of 20.

According to numbers from the centre, approximately six babies are born with FASD for every 100 in the Yukon. This against the one to three per thousand, for most industrialized nations.

'If you want to talk about a disaster, the Yukon is a living disaster,' Pakozdy said.

Tomorrow will mark the seventh international FASD Awareness Day. A moment of reflection for the effects of alcohol during pregnancy is held at 9:09 a.m. on the ninth day, of the ninth month of the year, in honour of the nine months of pregnancy.

FASSY will hold a barbecue from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday to mark the day.

Yukoners can help in a number of ways, Pakozdy said. The centre is looking for donations of cash, personal hygiene products, food, new clothing and gift certificates for stores like grocery stores, drugs stores and the movie theatres in town.

The current conditions under which many people with FASD live are unacceptable, according to Pakozdy, who says it's up to the community to take responsibility for those who need care.

'This is outright discrimination against people with disabilities,' she said.

Another obstacle looming in the future of the centre is that federal funding for two pilot projects will expire in March 2006.

The projects, which dealt with homelessness and victimization of women, had funding over the last three to four years.

'The federal government has provided the funding for the last four years . . . and they expect someone else to take up the cost. Around here, the only someone else' is YTG,' Pakozdy said.

'They don't have buckets of money but they are going to build a (Dawson City) bridge, so maybe we could have that money,' she said, laughing.

Funding for the women's victimization program, With a Little Help From My Friends, came through Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Canada, by way of a research grant, said Linda Casson Hare, senior program officer for the department.

The fund was set up to test models and learn more about the issues that face an individual group, she said in an interview today.

'The intent of this particular fund was the research piece of it,' Casson Hare said.

'What comes through so strongly though is the incredible needs these women have and how little we know about how to work with them.'

The project has provided a great amount of knowledge on how to deal with issues facing women who live with FASD, she said, and the question is where to go next.

'Mental health and disabilities are territorial or provincial jurisdiction and that gets really problematic,' she said in terms of continued federal funding.

Because the delivery of health-related services falls to the territory, the federal government cannot fund them directly.

'I think that the provinces and territories would get very excited if the federal government moved into providing health services,' Casson Hare said.

Cash for direct services is hard to find, although the organization is currently seeking out funders, said Pakozdy.

'The reality is we can't piece it together with little bits of money,' she said. 'Somebody has to come up to the plate here.'