Thursday October 1, 2009
OXFAM EMERGENCY STAFF RUSH TO SAMOA TODAY
meet the urgent needs of people affected by yesterday’s tsunami.
Oxfam will be working alongside our Samoan partner organisation, Women in Business
Development Inc. (WIBDI), in Apia, to prepare for an appropriate and co-ordinated response.
Director of WIBDI, Adimaimalaga Tafunai, based in Apia, said they have three teams out today
assessing the urgent needs and delivering water, food and clothing to those worst affected – and
welcoming the arrival of Oxfam staff with their humanitarian expertise.
“The devastation is frightening,” says Mrs Tafunai. “Every family has been affected. One of my
staff members has lost 13 members of her family.”
Oxfam and WIBDI are working closely with the Red Cross, UN agencies and Samoa’s National
Disaster Management Office.
Oxfam expects to help coordinate the supply of clean water and sanitation and has emergency
supplies on hand for up to 10,000 people once the specific needs are identified. These include:
buckets, tarpaulins, hygiene kits and mosquito nets.
Oxfam is appealing for donations from the New Zealand public for our Samoa Tsunami Appeal:
online at
/ends
EDITORS NOTES:
For more information, please contact Jason Garman,
Background:
range of community-based projects aimed at alleviating poverty, creating sustainable
village economies and revitalising the agricultural sector.