ADRA is providing immediate food and water relief for 1500-2000 people affected by the tsunami that devastated coastal areas of Samoa on Wednesday.
ADRA is providing packs of flour, sugar, tinned fish, dry food, bottled water and cooking oil to survivors of the disaster for an initial 30 days period, to help sustain them in the immediate aftermath of the disaster. In addition, ADRA will provide transistor radios and lanterns. These relief supplies are in response to a request by the Disaster Management Council of the Samoan Government.
In partnership with ADRA Australia, ADRA New Zealand has deployed its International Programmes Director, Dayan Eager, to Samoa to coordinate the response.
“There are a lot of families in shock right now that need immediate help,” said Mr. Eager. “This initial supply of goods will help them recover in the short-term, while we plan and implement our long-term recovery program to help them back on their feet.”
“The people are absolutely shattered and they face an enormous task in returning to any kind of normality,” he continued. “But the process of clearing up is well under way and this initial response is a part of that. We are here to help survivors recover from this terrible tragedy.”
ADRA will distribute its food and water supplies in partnership with the Samoan Seventh-day Adventist Mission, which already has an established network of volunteers in the country. The Seventh-day Adventist Mission will continue to provide long-term support to ADRA’s response.
ADRA will continue to work closely with the Disaster Management Council, other non-government organisations (NGOs) and local partners to provide a coordinated response to the disaster. ADRA is committed to the long-term needs of affected communities.
ADRA NZ is still in need of funding to help efforts of supplying much needed emergency supplies. To donate click here or donate via our call centre 0800 4 999 111