Red Cross helps people caught in Australian bushfires
17 Feb 2009 13:34:00 GMT
17 February 2009As the death toll from the deadly Australian bushfires reaches 200, the British Red Cross is helping
people based in Britain trace relatives feared caught up in the disaster, and the Australian Red Cross continues to help those directly affected.Her Majesty The Queen has made a significant
contribution to the Victorian Bushfire Appeal, launched by the Australian Red Cross and the Australian government to help people who have lost nearly everything. With phone lines down in many
affected areas and the Australian Red Cross and authorities overloaded with enquiries, the British Red Cross international tracing and message service (ITMS) – more usually involved in helping
those separated by conflict – has stepped in to help people based in Britain trace loved ones they fear may have been affected by the fires. Worrying time in AustraliaSo
far ITMS has taken around 500 calls from those worried about friends and relatives in Australia. "Obviously it's a very worrying time for people in the UK who have friends and relatives either
living or travelling in Australia, especially if they have been unable to contact them since the fires broke out," said Kevin Studds, head of ITMS."Normal means of communication may not be
working and because of the sheer number of enquiries made to the Australian Red Cross by people trying to check their friends and relatives are OK, we have stepped in to take some of that strain. Desperate situation"Fortunately, so far we've been able to give out a lot of good news to reassure people that their loved ones are safe, but even for those who have escaped with
their lives the situation is still desperate – there are a lot of people who have lost absolutely everything." As well as offering support in tracing, the British Red Cross has also
launched an Australian Bushfires Appeal in response to the disaster which has devastated communities in Australia.More about Australian
Bushfires AppealFind out how to contact family in Australia
[ Any views expressed in this article are those of the writer and not of Reuters. ]
