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More
than 500,000 tsunami survivors helped by Red Cross Red Crescent 26 January 2005 One month after the devastating earthquake and tsunami of 26 December, which claimed some 276,000 lives in Asia and Africa, Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies from around the world are bringing essential assistance to more than 500,000 people. More than 40 Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, mobilizing at least 9,000 volunteers and nearly 300 international staff, from donor nations as well as from affected countries, are delivering food, clean water, health care, psychological support, shelter materials as well as household and hygiene articles to the survivors of the worst natural catastrophe in living memory. Since 26 December, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies has sent 18 Emergency Response Units (ERU) and 77 relief flights into Asia, in coordination with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and the United Nations Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). The Federation’s emergency response includes providing more than 115,000 people with clean water on a daily basis, 1,000 people per day with basic medical care, 40,000 people with shelter, food and hot drinks, and 11,000 people with psychological counselling. Red Cross and Red Crescent National Societies in the countries hit by the tsunami reacted without hesitation to help those struggling to survive, despite the fact that many staff and volunteers had lost family, friends, colleagues and livelihoods. For example, the Indonesian Red Cross headquarters in Banda Aceh was washed away, but a temporary office was in place within hours and the injured were being helped. “Without the amazing support of our donors we would not be in the position to be able to say with confidence that we now have enough funding to plan our response and recovery programme for the next ten years,” said International Federation Secretary General, Markku Niskala. “We have all been overwhelmed by the support, and my dream is that a similar level of support continues in the months and years to come, as we have so many problems to deal with around the world. Communities are constantly battling against nature, yet they recover and fight back. The response to the tsunami gave us a glimpse of the power of humanity.” In just 30 days, Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies and the International Federation’s Secretariat have raised 1.4 billion Swiss francs for the tsunami emergency (US$ 1.167 billion /€ 903,500,000). “This response is phenomenal and the International Federation would like to thank the public, corporate partners and governments for their support. But particular gratitude goes to the general public who raised 85 per cent of the total,” Niskala said. The tsunami funds will help affected countries recover and rebuild their lives, with relief and recovery programmes, as well as disaster preparedness measures planned to run for at least the next decade. Assessment and planning teams are currently in the affected countries, assessing the damage and developing plans to be completed by mid-February. “Having the funds secured in advance allows us to plan strategically which means communities will be helped in a timely and appropriate way. Therefore around the world the Red Cross Red Crescent tsunami fundraising programmes will wind down,” Niskala explained. On its part, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) - who was already operating in the conflict areas in Aceh and Sri Lanka – was able to start providing assistance to tsunami victims hours after the catastrophe, together with the Indonesian and Sri Lankan Red Cross, with a wide range of emergency supplies and services. The ICRC also provides overall co-ordination for restoring family links with the Red Cross and Red Crescent in all countries affected by the disaster. Since 26 December 2004, the ICRC has received over 50 million Swiss Francs for its operations in Indonesia and Sri Lanka. The ICRC aims at providing the operational coordination for the international response of the components of the Movement in the North & East of Sri Lanka and Aceh province of Indonesia during the emergency and recovery phase. The International Federation, together with its network of more than 180 National Societies, hopes this generosity will continue into long-term support for the work of the Red Cross and Red Crescent, which last year alone responded to 28 large scale natural disasters around the world. The International Federation has thorough accounting and real time review processes. It is also transparent in both its fundraising and response plans, publishing all its programme plans, including budgets and appeal coverage on its web site. For up-to-date updates and articles, please visit our web site at www.ifrc.org For further information, or to set up interviews, please contact: Siân Bowen, Head of Media Service Tel: + 41 22 730 44 28 / + 41 79 217 33 88 Roy Probert, Media Officer Tel. + 41 22 730 42 96 / + 41 79 217 33 86 Media Service, duty phone (out of hours) Tel. + 41 79 416 38 81 Vincent Lusser, ICRC Tel: +41 22 730 2426 / +41 79 217 32 64 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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