Race to prevent public health crisis

06/10/2009

Members of the HUMANITARIAN COALITION, are racing to prevent a public health crisis as aid efforts in the region move from recovery to humanitarian relief.

Despite heavy rains that continue to fall in the Philippines and roads cut off by mudslides in Indonesia, emergency workers are making extraordinary efforts to deliver aid. Clean water, blankets and shelter are vital to preventing disease outbreaks.

In Indonesia, CARE Canada is distributing aid in hard-hit areas reachable only by motorbike or on foot. CARE emergency workers say remote areas were hardest-hit but have received little aid because of blocked roads. CARE is distributing emergency kits consisting of a hygiene kit, blankets, sarongs, jerry cans for storing water and water purification solution. CARE is helping 5,000 people in the initial days of the response, but plans to reach up to 40,000 people as more supplies and funding come in.

In the Philippines, Oxfam Canada and Oxfam-Quebec emergency teams are providing blankets, soaps, cleaning equipment, clothes and water containers to 100,000 of the worst-affected people. Oxfam is also providing small cash grants and shelter at evacuation sites as part of its initial response. In Samoa, aid workers are supporting local partners as they dig out debris from the tsunami and lay lost family members to rest.

In the Philippines, there is a persistent concern over the water, sanitation and hygiene conditions, especially in crowded evacuation centers in metro Manila. The lack of toilets in both evacuation centres and in affected communities must be urgently addressed. An increasing number of children in evacuation centres have developed coughs, colds, fever and diarrhea. Save the Children has distributed family hygiene kits and baby hygiene kits that are specifically designed to meet the urgent needs of infant care.

The HUMANITARIAN COALITION, comprised of CARE Canada, Oxfam Canada, Oxfam-Québec and Save the Children Canada, is raising funds for the hundreds of thousands of people affected by these events. Through the coordination of these top agencies, Canadian donations will be allocated where they will be most effective.

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To arrange interviews with Canadian personnel in the Philippines, please contact:

Elysia Nisan

416-218-1882
905-464-6648 (mobile)

To arrange Interviews with Canadian personnel in Indonesia, please contact

Kieran Green

613-799-7562 (mobile)

For more information, please contact:

Karen Palmer

613-240-3047 (mobile)