Oxfam: First aid arrives in Nias, more on the way
Oxfam has yesterday flown in basic emergency supplies to the island of Nias following Tuesday’s assessment. The supplies
arrived on the island at noon yesterday (Wednesday).
Alessandra Vilas Boas.
The first helicopter flight contained tents for 300 people, 5,000 portions of noodles, 10,000 portions of rice, 3,000
bottles of water, 200 body bags and hundreds of litres of fuel. Also on the flight were basic medical supplies such as
drugs and bandages.
More aid has been ordered and is currently being collected from Oxfam's Indonesian warehouses. Once gathered it will be
sent by boat to the island as soon as possible. Specialist aid equipment including water pumps, water tanks and
communications equipment worth nearly £500,000 will also be flown from the UK to the region on Friday.
Alessandra Vilas Boas, a member of the Oxfam assessment team said yesterday, "This morning we managed to evacuate people
by helicopter who had been critically injured in the quake. There are many others injured on the island who need urgent
assistance. Oxfam has already started getting aid onto the ground and by the end of today three water tankers will be
supplying up to ten thousand people with clean water. We've also flown in tents, food and medical supplies and have lots
more assistance on the way."
Oxfam has begun distributing bottles of water, biscuits, tents and basic clothing to hundreds of families who have lost
everything.
"The conditions are grim. I spent last night in a camp with people who have lost their homes. It started raining in the
night and we tried to gather under a few pieces of plastic sheeting to keep dry. While I flew out today the thousands of
local people who have lost their homes will have another hard night ahead," added Ms Vilas Boas
Tomorrow Oxfam plans to set up a public kitchen to start providing food to the victims of the earthquake and more staff
will be arriving by helicopter to bolster the aid effort.
ENDS
Oxfam works with others to find lasting solutions to poverty and injustice. www.oxfam.org.nz