10 January 2005

Oxfam flies more water and sanitation equipment to Indonesia

An Oxfam aid flight carrying 27 tonnes of water and sanitation equipment left the UK for Indonesia this morning (GMT: Sunday 9 January). The plane load, worth NZ$390,000, will help provide clean water to families who have been affected by the disaster.

Barry Coates, Executive Director of Oxfam New Zealand said: "Conditions on the ground in Banda Aceh are absolutely desperate. This equipment will help Oxfam staff on the ground provide clean water and stop the spread of disease. This is just the start of a long programme to help the people of Aceh to rebuild their lives."

The supplies will be flown to Medan and then be taken on to Banda Aceh. The cargo includes communication and water equipment including pipes, pumps, and tanks. Oxfam is already building latrines and delivering water to 10,000 people in Banda Aceh and this flight will up its capacity to reach many more people.

This is the second plane full of supplies that Oxfam has sent to Indonesia and another flight with transport vehicles will leave next week. The first plane was sent out on December 29.

Two New Zealand engineers, Dave Neru and Les Collins, arrived in Banda Aceh late last week and are working with a team of Oxfam engineers establishing fresh water supplies and sanitation facilities for around 60,000 people living in makeshift camps in Indonesia. Across the region, Oxfam is already providing water and sanitation and other aid to 320,000 people and gearing up to help 600,000. Another Oxfam engineer, Kate Medlicott, flies out to Sri Lanka tonight.

To donate to Oxfam New Zealand’s TSUNAMI EMERGENCY APPEAL call 800 400 666 or donate online www.oxfam.org.nz

ENDS

© Scoop Media