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At
least 650 million Swiss francs needed for longer-term Red Cross Red
Crescent assistance to tsunami victims 5 January 2005 Long-term Red Cross and Red Crescent assistance to Asian communities devastated by the tsunami on 26 December will amount to more than 650 million Swiss francs (€ 419 million or US$ 556 million), the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies announced today “Our initial appeal has already been covered but the needs are much greater, both in the short and longer term … Our longer term appeal will follow later in January. We anticipate total spending of more than 650 million Swiss francs over a time span of more than five years, Susan Johnson, the International Federation’s Director of Operations told a specially convened meeting of Geneva’s diplomatic corps. The meeting also heard from Walter Fuellemann, Deputy Director of Operations of the International Committee of the Red Cross, which is working with the International Federation and National Red Cross Societies in Indonesia and Sri Lanka and handling efforts to restore links between separated family members. Describing the catastrophe as “the most devastating natural disaster in modern times”, Johnson said current estimates were that 100 million Swiss francs would be required for the immediate relief effort, 150 million Swiss francs for longer term relief, 150 million for the recovery initiatives and 250 million for rehabilitation, disaster preparedness programmes and reconstruction. She emphasised that the Secretary-General of the International Federation, Markku Niskala, would be participating in the ASEAN meetings in Jakarta on 6 January, where he would issue a statement outlining the broad frame of these programming plans. “The scope of this disaster calls on the world’s humanitarian agencies to act quickly, effectively and with a long term perspective. The unique nature of the Red Cross and Red Crescent, with volunteers in local communities in 11 of the 12 affected countries, means that we were there in the first minutes and hours, and will be for months and years to come,” Johnson said, stressing that the Federation was coordinating the global response of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. “Today our focus is very much on moving more assistance to people in need, but we are also already planning for the longer term.” “With our well-established record of managing the response to major disasters, the Federation acts with speed, responsibility and flexibility to meet the needs of all those affected by the earthquake and tsunamis. We will also continue to address, and seek support for those other critical humanitarian challenges that continue to leave communities at risk around the world,” she added. Notes to editors: For more detailed on operations in other affected countries please see the latest operation update from the International Federation at www.ifrc.org For further information, or to set up interviews, please contact: Marie-Françoise Borel, Press Officer Tel: + 41 22 730 43 46 Roy Probert, Press Officer Tel: + 41 22 730 42 96 Eva Calvo, Press Officer Tel: + 41 22 730 43 57 Sian Bowen, Head of Media Tel: + 41 79 217 33 88 Duty phone Tel: + 41 79 416 38 81 The Geneva-based International Federation promotes the humanitarian activities of 181 National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies among vulnerable people. By coordinating international disaster relief and encouraging development support, it seeks to prevent and alleviate human suffering. The Federation, National Societies and the International Committee of the Red Cross together, constitute the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. © International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies |
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