Bonn, Germany, 02.10.2009- Support members of the alliance partners of the relief organisation "Aktion Deutschland Hilft" are reporting tremendous damage in individual districts of Padang on Sumatra, which not long ago was shook by a violent earthquake. "The earthquake has also caused a tremendous amount of damage outside of Padang and claimed many victims: Schools and hospitals have collapsed. Up until now hardly any humanitarian measures have been initiated," says an employee of World Vision about the situation.
The city of Pariaman lies closer to the epicentre of the earthquake than Padang. The first images shown on Indonesian television showed a kilometre long row of houses which were destroyed. For this reason, alliance partners such as World Vision and Malteser International are organising, along with their local partner Yakkum Emergency Service, to help in the city which is to the north of Padang. Medical teams are being made available and families are being provided with "family kits" which contain cooking utensils, plastic sheeting, mats, clothes, blankets, nappies and baby care products. "In order to be able to cover the immense needs of the people, we are desperately in need of donations from the German public," Manuela Roßbach, manager of Aktion Deutschland Hilft appealing to the German public.
The alliance partners of Aktion Deutschland Hilft are in constant contact via telephone conferences, in order to coordinate the measures being taken with the needs of those on the ground. Due to this, the Worker Samaritan Association is preparing the deployment of a medical ambulance, arche noVa are planning the construction of drinking water treatment facilities whilst World Vision is erecting child care centres in order to treat traumatic cases. Four so-called health kits from action medeor are underway for the members of the organisations the Worker Samaritan Organisation, HELP and Johanniter, with which the alliance partners can guarantee the supply of medical supplies in Padang.
Further information can be found at http://www.aktion-deutschland-hilft.de
Appeal for funds
Keyword: Disasters South-East-Asia
Donation account 10 20 30, Bank für Sozialwirtschaft, Sort Code 370 205 00
IBAN: DE29370205000008322501
BIC: BFSWDE33XXX
Donation hotline: 0900 55 102030 or online https://ssl.aktion-deutschland-hilft.de/spenden/spenden.php
Short profile of Aktion Deutschland Hilft e.V.
Germany's Relief Coalition „Aktion Deutschland Hilft" was formed in 2001 by ten renowned German humanitarian aid organisations. The coalition's aim is to combine their members' individual knowledge, experience and resources to provide fast and more efficient relief after major disasters and emergencies.
The association appeals for joint action in cases of catastrophes under the joint donation account 102030 at the Bank für Sozialwirtschaft in Cologne.
Contact:
Press office
Aktion Deutschland Hilft e.V.
Tel. +49 (0) 228/ 242 92 - 222
Fax: +49 (0) 228/ 242 92 - 199
E-mail: presse@aktion-deutschland-hilft.de
[ Any views expressed in this article are those of the writer and not of Reuters. ]
A man prays in front of a collapsed building in the earthquake hit area of Padang, West Sumatra province October 2, 2009. Aid for thousands of survivors of an earthquake in ...
