Tuesday 11 October 2005

Salvation Army delivers $60,000 immediate relief and supplies to Pakistan

THE SALVATION ARMY has provided an initial $60,000 to it’s command centre in Lahore, Pakistan, responding quickly to the weekend’s devastating earthquake by providing truckloads of supplies and immediate relief to survivors and rescue workers.

Two truckloads of initial relief and supplies are being transported to the worst-hit regions of Pakistani-controlled Kashmir for delivery as soon as roads are cleared of rubble. In addition food, clothing and tents were purchased in Lahore – where supplies are more readily available with plans to transport these to Abbotabad.

The Salvation Army’s aid response follows a direct plea for help from the British High Commissioner to Lieut-Colonel Cedric Sharp, Chief Secretary of The Salvation Army’s Pakistan Territory who is now mobilising Salvation Army officers to accompany trucks and supervise distribution within a 50-kilometre radius of the town, amidst fresh reports of looting.

The disaster is the worst in Pakistan’s history.

Well-placed to provide vital assistance to relief efforts, The Salvation Army has 50,000 soldiers, more than 130 churches, numerous social services, children’s homes, schools, health resource centres and rehabilitation centres for the disabled, on hand, and on the ground in Pakistan.

These resources will be mobilised and made available for immediate use in assessment of local needs, provision of emergency response and relief teams, communications assistance, practical mass feeding, and provision of temporary housing for survivors. Salvation Army sites may also be made available for administering medical and emotional support.

New Zealand couple, Majors Peter and Jeanette Scadden are Officers of The Salvation Army’s New Zealand, Fiji and Tonga Territory. Previously stationed in Wellington, they were deployed to a new posting in Lahore Pakistan, not far from the now devastated area of Kashmir just two weeks ago.
Official contact has now been confirmed with Peter Scadden and though the Kiwi couple were only 200 km from the epicentre of the earthquake when it hit, both are safe and on the ground now helping out with the relief effort.

PR Secretary for The Salvation Army in New Zealand, Major David Bennett, said: “With less than two weeks in a new job and no time to get used to the culture shock of a new country, the Scaddens together now face a duel-shock and an unexpectedly grim task”.

He has appealed for cash donations to a new Salvation Army appeal launched yesterday in New Zealand to support its comrades in Pakistan and its ongoing response to the relief effort.

“Access to affected disaster areas is often a problem and cash donations rather than donations in kind allow us to supervise and purchase the most immediate and appropriate practical relief and equipment needed,” he said.

“Our hearts go out to survivors, emergency workers and families of the victims of the earthquake and the weekend’s tragic mudslide in Guatemala, and our thoughts and prayers are also with the Indian, Pakistan and Afghanistan people of New Zealand who at this time are still anxiously waiting for news of relatives and friends back home.”

Major Bennett said 100% of all monies donated by New Zealanders to The Salvation Army Pakistan Earthquake Disaster Fund will go direct to The Salvation Army’s relief teams stationed in Pakistan and India. There is no administration fee to be deducted from donations.

“Like Hurricanes Rita and Katrina, a $100 donation will buy needed tents, body bags and other supplies required to make a difference but all donations will be gratefully accepted”, he said.

To donate to The Salvation Army Pakistan Earthquake Disaster Fund:

Visit www.salvationarmy.org.nz to make an online donation or make cash donations at any branch of Bank of New Zealand nationally. Call 0800 53 00 00 to donate via credit card, or post credit card or cash donations to:

The Salvation Army Pakistan Earthquake Disaster Fund
PO Box 27001
Wellington New Zealand

We thank you for supporting the work of The Salvation Army.

The Salvation Army, NZ, Fiji and Tonga Territory is a member of The Salvation Army international working to provide disaster, emergency support and humanitarian aid and is at work in 111 countries around the world. For background on our work in NZ, Fiji and Tonga Territory, visit www.salvationarmy.org.nz

ENDS

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