The three
members of the Irish Red Cross team being sent to help this latest disaster operation in Sumatra are currently working to help victims of the major tsunami that struck the northern coastline of the
same Indonesian island nearly five years ago. Two of them will work on providing reliable and up-to-date information to the people in the disaster zone, while the third will work on getting clean
water supplies and sanitation facilities up and running."Communities and people's lives have been destroyed by this disaster, and it is essential at this stage to ensure that disease
and sickness do not spread through these traumatised communities," said John Roycroft, Secretary General of the Irish Red Cross.The Irish Red Cross issued an immediate appeal for
donations from the Irish public, following the disaster last Wednesday. The response has shown people's generosity, even in these difficult economic times."People's immediate needs for
clean water, food, shelter and medical care remain a crucial component of the international response to this tragedy. The Irish Red Cross is therefore donating €30,000 for the immediate water and
sanitation needs of the affected communities," John Roycroft added.Noel Wardick, Head of the International Department of the Irish Red Cross is currently on mission in Indonesia and is
co-ordinating the Irish Red Cross response to the disaster.
Notes to Editor
The Irish Red Cross can provide three spokespeople on the Indonesian earthquake
Tim Cummings. Indonesia.
Noel Wardick. Ireland Indonesia.
John Roycroft. Ireland (Secretary General).
Please contact Aoife Mac Eoin on 087- 998
3788 to arrange an interview.
The Irish Red Cross works with its partners through the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement around the world and in Indonesia is working
with the Indonesian Red Cross.
The Irish Red Cross is also monitoring the ongoing crisis in the Samoan Islands which were struck by a tsunami on Tuesday.
The Indonesian earthquake
is just one of several disasters that struck in a near-simultaneous fashion across Asia with typhoons causing widespread devastation in the Philippines and Viet Nam, for which the International
Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies is appealing for more than €5 million.
How you can help
Donations are being accepted online or by calling 1850 50 70
70.
Cheque and postal orders should be marked for the relevant appeal and made payable to:
Irish Red Cross,
16 Merrion Square, Dublin 2.
[ Any views expressed in this article are those of the writer and not of Reuters. ]
Indonesian army soldiers carry a body through the earthquake-ravaged village of Tandikat, Indonesia's West Sumatra province October 5, 2009. REUTERS/Dylan Martinez (INDONESIA ENVIRONMENT DISASTER) ...
