Friday October 2, 2009
Oxfam buckets on street corners
needs of people affected by this week’s tsunami in Samoa. After the devastation from the waves,
survivors are now faced with dehydration, lack of shelter and there is a risk of spreading disease.
Today, Oxfam volunteers will be on the street with collection buckets to support the Samoa
Tsunami Appeal. Initially, the effort will be in Auckland at three Westfield shopping centres –
Downtown, Newmarket and St Lukes – as well as on the streets of the city centre and North
Shore. Collections will expand across the country in the coming days.
Oxfam’s assessment team landed in Apia, Samoa, yesterday where they are working alongside
our Samoan partner organisation, Women in Business Development Inc. (WIBDI), on the
emergency response. Oxfam aid worker Janna Hamilton said the scene was chaotic and people
were reeling from the human loss.
“I was here two years ago working with our partners at WIBDI. It’s tragic to see such amazing
women, who have transformed their communities for the better, now grieving over the loss of
family members. Everyone in the country has similar stories,” said Hamilton. “What is crucial right
now is ensuring that their most urgent needs are met. Most likely, that means people need clean
drinking water and basic sanitation so that they don’t get dehydrated and sickness does not
spread,” she added.
After the short-term needs of the survivors have been assessed and met, Oxfam will focus on
rebuilding livelihoods and making communities more resilient to future disasters.
Donations can also be made to the Samoa Tsunami Appeal on
made at The Body Shop or Levis stores nationwide.
/ends
EDITORS NOTES:
For more information or to arrange interviews, please contact Jason Garman,