12th January, 2005

DAVID ADAMS

Australians have donated more than $200 million to relief agencies working in the tsunami-affected areas. Here we have a look at how some of Australia’s non-government agencies are responding to the disaster. These snapshots are not comprehensive as the situation is changing rapidly and they may include the efforts of international organisations, not just the Australian arms, but they provide a glimpse into the sorts of activities relief agencies are involved in.

The Red Cross emergency response unit members is constructing a water purification unit. Ensuring safe water and sanitation is essential for guaranteeing the health of the tsunami hit population of Pottuvil in Sri Lanka. PICTURE: Federation/Till Mayer.

RED CROSS:
Australians have donated than $68 million.

Indonesia: 13 Red Cross flights have arrived so far with 700 metric tonnes of food delivered to the area and a boatload of relief supplies delivered to Aceh Banda for 14,000 people. Red Cross is treating 300 patients daily - mostly for trauma - and a water and sanitation unit is producing clean water at a rate of 75,000 litres per day. Plans include the delivery of buckets, tarpaulins and clothing for up to 300,000 people and establishment of a 100-bed field hospital.

Sri Lanka: Assistance such as bed sheets, buckets and cooking sets delivered to 100,000 people with a further 50,000 to be reached this week. Forty thousand people are being housed in 66 Red Cross camps.

Thailand: Red Cross is the lead agency for food distribution - as many as 57 trucks carrying hundreds of tonnes of relief goods have now reached affected areas. Volunteers are packing food, water and hygiene items and mobile teams are treating people in 12 camps.

India: 300 volunteers are involved in relief distribution and directing people to hospitals as well as providing psychological support and aiding in burials. Ten thousand family packs have been sent into the region.

Myanmar: More than 300 family kits - including a 21 kg bag of rice, plastic sheeting for shelter and cash for the purchase of housing materials - have been distributed.

Maldives: Relief items including 500 blankets, 20,000 tins of beans and 10,000 tins of fish will arrive shortly.

WORLD VISION:
Australians have donated more than $65 million.

Indonesia: Alongside addressing immediate needs and co-ordinating efforts with other agencies, staff are working to ensure the protection of children to reduce the risk of disease, sexual and physical abuse and prolonged family separation. They are also starting to focus on longer term projects such as rebuilding.

Sri Lanka: World Vision is providing 10,000 temporary houses in Jaffna over the next five months, providing homes for up to 60,000 people. Elsewhere, initial camps set up in schools are being relocated to allow schools to resume. Funds in will be spent across Sri Lanka in the areas of emergency relief, agricultural recovery, medical supplies, schools and housing.

Thailand: World Vision is distributing rice, dry food, blankets, schools supplies and kitchen utensils and will help build temporary housing, reconstruct school buildings and assemble clean water tanks and toilets.

India: World Vision has distributed food, clothing and blankets as well as bleaching powder and cleaning liquid to help improve sanitation. It is also responding to requests by sourcing temporary shelter, soap and other hygiene-related products as well as storage trunks for displaced people.

Andaman and Nicobar Islands (India): The first agency to be invited by the Indian Government to begin relief operations in the Katchal and Teresa islands, relief was expected to have arrived early this week.

OXFAM/COMMUNITY AID ABROAD:
Australians have donated more than $15 million.

Indonesia: Oxfam is trucking water to 10,000 people in Banda Aceh daily, is providing food to people in camps and digging emergency latrines. They are also leading water and sanitation activities in the area. Oxfam are also preparing to distribute clothing, 10,000 straw mats and 40,000 bars of soap.

Sri Lanka: In eastern Sri Lanka, Oxfam have distributed more than 9,000 non-food related relief kits and constructed toilets and provided water tanks. Five thousand hygiene kits have been distributed in the south. They will also be assisting in setting up camps, supporting medical teams and distributing food.

India: Oxfam are constructing houses, providing hygiene kits, clothing and plastic sheeting for shelter. They have also provided water and sanitation facilities, including latrines, bathing facilities and water tanks.