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Red
Cross Red Crescent launches appeal for 67 million Swiss francs for
unprecedented crisis in Asia 29 December 2004 The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies has launched an appeal for 67 million Swiss francs (US$59 million and €53 million) to help victims of the devastating tidal waves that hit south and east Asia on December 26 - its largest emergency operation in decades. The disaster left at least 69,000 people dead, hundreds of thousands injured and more than one million displaced. This appeal will fund emergency relief for up to 2 million people over a period of six to eight months. “The scale of this disaster is growing by the hour. The devastation is unimaginable,” said Markku Niskala, secretary general of the International Federation. Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies around the world are demonstrating their solidarity by putting funds, human resources and relief goods at our disposal to help those most in need. Our comparative advantage is that we already have a network of trained volunteers on the ground working in their communities. They are dealing with the consequences of this catastrophe now, and will be there long after international attention has waned. Our international efforts support the local response and this is where our strength lies”. Five flights carrying emergency response teams and relief items (including tents, medicines, food) from Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies have arrived in Sri Lanka and more flights are scheduled. One plane load of family tents is leaving Dubai today and is due to arrive in Colombo later tonight. A second plane carrying a British Red Cross logistics emergency response team will leave Britain for Sri Lanka tomorrow, arriving on December 31st. Medical supplies and medicines for some 120,000 people have been sent to Sri Lanka, to provide basic medical care and treat possible cases of diarrhoeal disease and a Federation field assessment and coordination team is on the ground in Sri Lanka. Seven emergency response units specialized in water and sanitation, health care, aid distribution, telecommunications and logistics have arrived. In Sri Lanka more than 40,000 people are being temporarily housed in 66 Red Cross camps and shelters and 14,000 are staying with relatives and friends. In India, some 5,000 family kits have been distributed in the Chennai (Madras) region. These kits include blankets, cooking utensils, mosquito nets, clothes and other emergency items. With more than 32,000 dead in Indonesia the Federation response will be considerable. An assessment team has arrived and five emergency response units are on their way to Indonesia to assist with water and sanitation, logistics and basic health. A field assessment and coordination team will also arrive in the Maldives today. The International Federation is working closely with the ICRC which is setting up a system enabling family members separated by the disaster to re-establish contact with each other. A special tracing service has been set up on www.familylinks.icrc.org to assist relatives to locate missing family members. Donations to the International Federation’s appeal can be made online at www.ifrc.org or via Red Cross Red Crescent National Societies. For further information, or to set up interviews, please contact: Sian Bowen, Head of Media Tel: + 41 22 730 4428 Marie-Françoise Borel, Press Officer Tel: + 41 22 730 43 46 Roy Probert, Press Officer Tel: + 41 22 730 42 96 Eva M. Calvo, Press Officer Tel: + 41 79 79 217 33 72 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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