New Zealand Red Cross Aid Workers On Standby For Cook Islands

Two New Zealand Red Cross humanitarian aid workers are on standby to fly to the Cook Islands to assist the Cook Islands Red Cross Society in the wake of Tropical Cyclone Pat, a category three cyclone that hit early Thursday morning.

Up to 90 per cent of houses on Aitutaki are reported to be severely damaged, with disruption to phones, roads, electricity and air transport. Cyclone Pat is expected to hit Rarotonga later on Thursday. Further storms are forecast over the following days.

New Zealand Red Cross has already sent relief items including tarpaulins, water containers, candles, first aid kits and raincoats. Five satellite phones will also be sent to aid communications in the Cook Islands, where phones were disrupted by the disaster.

A state of disaster has been declared by the Prime Minister of the Cook Islands for the island of Aitutaki and Rarotonga.

New Zealand Red Cross operations manager Andrew McKie said the two aid workers on standby specialised in information technology and telecommunications, and disaster coordination and assessment. Extra New Zealand Red Cross aid workers are on standby to travel to the Cook Islands if requested by the Cook Islands Red Cross Society.

New Zealand Red Cross is raising funds for the Cook Islands disaster and recovery operation. Donations can be made by:

Making a secure online donation at donate

Sending cheques to the Cook Islands Tropical Cyclone response fund, Red Cross House, P O Box 12140, Thorndon, Wellington, 6144.

Making a donation at any New Zealand Red Cross office throughout the country

Kind hearted people have been contacting New Zealand Red Cross with many different offers of assistance for those affected by the cyclone. New Zealand Red Cross is only able to accept financial donations. Offers of clothing (new or used), goods of any kind or offers of voluntary assistance are not immediately helpful in this disaster situation.

New Zealand Red Cross has been working closely with the New Zealand government in the coordination of the disaster response for the Cook Islands, and is also in close contact other Pacific Red Cross National Societies and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.

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