Thursday 1st October, 2009
Three Australian aid workers head to disaster affected
Samoa and Vietnam
Save the Children launches Asia Pacific in Crisis Appeal
Three aid workers from Save the Children Australia are preparing to head out to disaster affected
Vietnam and Samoa as the leading child’s right agency appeals for funds to help thousands of vulnerable
children and their families across the Asia Pacific region.
Bianca Collier (VIC), and Dave Peedom (VIC) leave for disaster affected Samoa later today to provide
humanitarian assistance to thousands of people affected by the South Pacific Ocean tsunami that
devastated parts of the island nation on Wednesday. Mike Penrose (VIC) leaves for Typhoon Ketsana
devastated Vietnam on Friday to lead a major relief effort in the three worst affected provinces.
“Children and their families have been forced from their homes and into an extremely stressful and
dangerous environment,” said Mike Penrose, Director Emergency Programs for Save the Children
Australia. “The priority now is to provide food, clean water, shelter and medical assistance to children
and their families,” he added.
No stranger to disaster response, Mike Penrose has been involved in emergency relief operations for
most of the last fifteen years in countries including Afghanistan, Iraq , Bosnia, and Indonesia following the
Indian Ocean tsunami in 2004. Bianca Collier has previously worked in the conflict affected province of
Darfur in Sudan, and in Sri Lanka following the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami. Dave Peedam has worked in
aid and development all over the world including Central and South America as well as China and Spain.
The Asia Pacific region is in crisis following the devastating typhoon, earthquake and tsunami that have left
a trail of destruction over the past few days. Thousands of people have been killed and millions more are
homeless throughout the Philippines, Vietnam, Samoa and West Sumatra in Indonesia. Save the Children
is mobilising relief workers and supplies to provide humanitarian assistance in all four disaster affected
regions. During the emergency response phase of the relief effort Save the Children will:
Deliver essential relief packages such as non-food items (blankets, plastic sheeting, mosquito
repellent, soap, toothpaste and brushes) and shelter
Distribute food
Provide health and nutrition activities
Prioritise child protection work, including Child Friendly Spaces that provide a protective
environment for children
Emergency education
Livelihood support to help families regain income and provide basic needs.
To Donate to Save the Children’s Ketsana Appeal:
Call 1800 76 00 11
For more information, or to arrange an interview
call Ian Woolverton on 0437 355 096
NEWS 
