NZ Red Cross Steps Up Commitment To Sudan Crisis

1 July 2004

NZ Red Cross Steps Up Commitment To Sudan Crisis

A third New Zealand aid worker is heading to Sudan this weekend, as part of a growing New Zealand Red Cross response to what is being called the worst humanitarian crisis in the world today.

David Easson, from Taupo, will travel to Sudan's western region of Darfur, where more than one million homeless people require food aid. David will primarily manage food distributions in the affected area.

He will join fellow Kiwis Gerry Robertson, from the Kapiti Coast, and Marianne Whittington, from Auckland, who are already in Darfur, and four other New Zealand Red Cross staff working elsewhere in Sudan.

NZRC Director General, Flora Gilkison, says New Zealand Red Cross is looking to step up its commitment to Darfur even further over coming weeks.

"With the support of New Zealand's Agency for International Development, which last week pledged $500,000 to support the Red Cross in Sudan, we will be looking to send more skilled staff and to fund relief programmes as required."

"We are committed to doing whatever we can to help save lives and alleviate human suffering in this tragic situation," she said.

To assist the NZRC response in Darfur, New Zealanders can: * phone 0900 - 33 200 to make an automatic $20 donation * make a credit card donation on-line at www.redcross.org.nz

ENDS

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