Press statement Friday, 2nd of October 2009
For immediate release

Tsunami relief requires long-term commitments

Work to rebuild and support survivors of Wednesday’s tsunami will continue long after the disaster has disappeared from the headlines, says David Culverhouse executive director of NGO umbrella group, the Council for International Development (CID).

“Immediate humanitarian efforts are the current priority for New Zealand NGOs, but we will soon be planning long-term rebuilding of the affected countries’ infrastructure, economies and social structures. The impact of this tsunami will be felt for years to come.”

“Many New Zealand NGOs have been implementing disaster risk reduction programmes in the Pacific region which can save many lives. Considering the regularity of disasters in the Pacific, it is important that this work is made a priority in order that casualties are minimised when they strike.”

New Zealand NGOs have people on the ground coordinating with local NGOs in Samoa and Tonga, with the Samoan and Tongan governments and with Australian NGOs. CID is coordinating NGO activities with NZAID and other branches of the New Zealand government through NZAID’s Emergency Taskforce.

“We encourage people to support established NGOs with experience in humanitarian assistance. Raising money and giving it to an appeal is the best way to help as this means supplies can be bought locally whenever possible, which helps the local economy recover. Donated goods may not be appropriate and may be difficult and costly to deliver.”

“Most churches have affiliated aid and development organizations and local churches are encouraged to raise funds to support them,” says Mr Culverhouse.

NZ NGOs running appeals

Pacific Cooperation Foundation
Samoan Tsunami Relief Fund: 03-0539-0234978-01
For direct debit details, please email: info@pcf.org.nz

Oxfam NZ
Accepting donations at: 0800 400 666 – 24 hours
You can also make an instant $20 donation by phoning 0900 600 20

Adventist Development and Relief Agency NZ (ADRA)
Accepting donations at: 0800 4999 111

World Vision NZ

Phone 0900 44 673 to automatically donate $30 from your phone bill or donate to bank account 06 0101 0323407 009.

Caritas Aotearoa New Zealand
Accepting donations at: 0800 221 022 or post donations to Pacific Tsunami Appeal, Caritas Aotearoa New Zealand, PO Box 12193, Wellington 6144

Rotary New Zealand
Donations can be made through internet banking Westpac 03 1702 0192208 02 or cheques can be made payable to RNZWCS Limited and posted to PO Box 20309, Christchurch, New Zealand 8543

UNICEF
Accepting donations at: 0800 800 194

Salvation Army
Accepting donations at: 0800 530 000

Christian World Service
Donations to all appeals can be made at www.cws.org.nz , PO Box 22 652, Christchurch 8061 or Tel 0800 747 372.

ENDS

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