ADRA New Zealand

News Release: NGO Disaster Relief Forum

“Nobody will forget the events that unfolded in Asia on 26th December 2004.

Following a massive offshore earthquake an immense tsunami surged across the Indian Ocean engulfing the coasts of Indonesia, India, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Malaysia, Thailand, Seychelles, the Maldives, Kenya, Somalia and Tanzania.

Now the full scale of the disaster is apparent and the statistics are overwhelming:

• 226, 415 dead
• 525, 000 injured
• 1.6 million people displaced
• 1 million people left homeless
• 2.4 million people affected

While Asia reeled, the region and the rest of world swung into action.
Kiwis, already known for their generosity in tough times, demonstrated
just how generous we can be by giving over $25 million to the many fund-raising appeals and initiatives that took place. An effort that is by far the largest response to any fund-raising call in New Zealand history.

The government gave generously also; within days of the tsunami a New Zealand funded helicopter was flying in Aceh, NZ Defence Force medical teams were on the ground, a C130 Hercules was ferrying people to safe-ground, and a NZ Police forensics team has arrived Phuket to help Thai authorities deal with the task of identifying the many dead.

A $68 million aid package to Asia, managed by NZAID, was announced within weeks of the Tsunami. Combined with the generous public donations this put New Zealand in the top ten donor nations based on proportional figures.

New Zealand should be proud of this response – but it is only the beginning.”

ADRA New Zealand director writes:

Your response to ADRA New Zealand’s appeal for funds raised NZ$177,000, including Government subsidies, and these funds have already contributed to the recovery process in Meulaboh, West Sumatra, Indonesia. While other ADRA offices sent funds to Sri Lanka, India and Thailand, the New Zealand donations were sent to assist the rebuilding of schools in the Meulaboh district where both Robert Patton and Alan Fletcher worked in the first few weeks after the tsunami. With strong links in this community the New Zealand team has been able to make a significant impact in the lives of thousands of children who are now attending school in new classrooms built to modern building standards.

In a recent visit both Robert and Alan commented on the huge clean-up that had taken place in the worst hit areas. Much of the rubble had been cleared and roads, shops, schools and homes were being rebuilt. However, there were still large refugee camps where hundreds of people were still living in tents, hostels and make-shift huts within the military control zones. These families were being denied the right to return to their homes as part of a crack-down on rebel groups who had been fighting the Indonesian Army prior to the tsunami. UN staff were monitoring these camps to ensure that fair treatment was being given despite the cramped living conditions.

ADRA staff working to rebuild schools were also monitoring the health of families in these camps as their children attended the new schools being completed in nearby towns. More than 53 complete schools have been rebuilt, some with up to 10 classrooms. Books, desks and teaching materials have been supplied and training given to the new teachers. All of this work has been done under the guidance of the Ministry of Education and the Indonesia Government officials have expressed high regard for the work done by the ADRA teams.

Your donations made a difference in the lives of these families and they send their thanks for your support and generosity. As you celebrate Christmas this year, please remember those who are still living in the tents, still missing their lost family members and still recovering from one of the largest natural disaster to hit the world in recent times.