Government pledges €1m in disaster relief as Red Cross appeals for donations

THE Government has pledged up to €1 million in response to yesterday morning’s earthquake and tidal waves in southern Asia.

Appealing for public donations, the Irish Red Cross (IRC) announced it was sending €100,000 as an immediate step to help start emergency measures.

The umbrella body for all Red Cross organisations has already released €750,000. An IRC spokesperson said because communications facilities had been destroyed, it was difficult to get in touch with the affected areas of Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Thailand and India.

The Government aid will help provide immediate assistance in the form of shelter, food, water and sanitation.

“We will continue to monitor the crisis closely as new information emerges and the full needs become clearer,” said Junior Foreign Affairs Minister Conor Lenihan.

“Like most people watching the scenes of devastation all across south Asia on television, I was deeply shocked at the after effects of the freak tidal wave.”

Mr Lenihan said the tragedy was still unfolding and the number of those who had perished was likely to rise as more information became available. Many others had their homes and livelihoods destroyed.

“The needs of those who have survived will be enormous and our thoughts and prayers are with all those who have been affected by this terrible disaster,” he said.

“The priority is to ascertain exactly where help is needed most and get it there as quickly as we can,” said IRC chairman David Andrews.:

It is essential emergency specialists responded immediately to the devastation caused by the disaster.

“I’m deeply concerned that the magnitude of this disaster may mean that human suffering will be very widespread,” he said.

Trócaire has also donated €100,000 to victims in India and Sri Lanka.