MEDIA RELEASE
October 2, 2009.
Caritas launches Communities in Crisis – Asia Pacific Appeal
with $250K – pleas for more support.
Today Caritas Australia pledged AUD$250,000 for its initial response to communities in crisis
throughout the tsunami ravaged islands of Samoa, American Samoa and Tonga, the typhoon
stricken countries of the Philippines, Cambodia and Vietnam and the earthquake damaged
island of Sumatra.
‘People across our region are in desperate need and they need your help” said Mr de Groot
This initial commitment will enable our partners to continue delivering immediate life saving
assistance
but we need public funds so we can really make a big difference. The needs are
tremendous and further contributions to the appeal will
enable us to reach more victims, and
help communities through these terrible first weeks to
rebuild and
recover”, said Caritas CEO
Jack De Groot.
“We are working with our local partners in the affected countries to channel assistance in the
next phases of the recovery effort and into the longer term”.
Samoa
In Samoa Caritas Australia is the lead agency for the global aid network Caritas
Internationalis, directing
an initial $125,000 from Caritas members in Germany, the US and
Australia for its first stage efforts of food distribution, water, clothes and the building of housing
for 50 of the most severely affected families in Samoa.
Philippines/Cambodia/Vietnam
Caritas is working with some of the worst affected
communities in the Philippines with the appalling devastation in Manila
and throughout central
Vietnam and Cambodia due to Typhoon Ketsana. This response is particularly urgent in the
Philippines where another typhoon is forecast to hit the island of Luzon this Saturday.
Indonesia In Sumatra the rising death toll and aftershocks means that a massive recovery and
rehabilitation program will be required to assist the population of 900,000 in Pandang affected
by Wednesday night’s
earthquake. Caritas is supporting assessment teams specialising in
Disaster Response working in Sumatra.
“Caritas Australia is accepting donations to the Communities in Crisis – Asia Pacific Appeal and
once immediate needs are met will focus on the long term rehabilitation of the affected
populations to build back stronger and better” said Mr De Groot
You can support the Caritas Australia Communities in Crisis –
Asia Pacific
<ENDS>
More information Tim O’Connor 02) 8306 3444 or 0417 284 831
The Catholic Agency for International Aid and Development
28-32 O’Riordan St, Alexandria, NSW, Australia, 2015 Toll Free 1800 024 413 Facsimile 1800 887 895
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