Contact: Singapore Red Cross, 6 336 0269

SINGAPORE, Jan. 3 /Standard Newswire/ -- In response to a request by sister national society, Palang Merah Indonesia (PMI), the Singapore Red Cross (SRC) will be contributing 5,000 food packs for victims of the Indonesia flood situation in Aceh and North Sumatra.

The 5,000 food packs, costing approximately S$30,000 comprise milk biscuits for baby, cream crackers and bottled water. The food packs will be packed in Medan before being sent to Aceh and North Sumatra for the flood victims. PMI will be coordinating the distribution of the food packs through their volunteers in various chapters of Aceh and North Sumatra.

In the latest wave of floods and landslides that hit Indonesia, the areas affected are Central Java, North Sulawesi, Sumbawa, Aceh North and West Sumatra. According to reports by the Manado Chapter of the PMI, Manado district in North Sulawesi is the worst hit area. Close to 8,000 families (about 33,200 people) have been affected, mostly the poorer people living in the low land facing the river.

Actions by the Red Cross Red Crescent Societies

North Sulawesi

• As an initial response, the PMI headquarters with the support of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) delegation in Jakarta, have distributed 500 family kits to flood victims in North Sulawesi.

• Medicines for respiratory diseases, diarrhoea and skin diseases were also dispatched by the PMI to Manado and Sumbawa.

• Manado Chapter together with local university Red Cross volunteer corps also helped to clean up the affected homes and provide victims with temporary shelter.

• A water pump was also made available to provide clean water to the community.

• 5,000 litres of kerosene have been procured for cooking for about 500 families in two villages

Java

• The Yogyakarta Chapter of the PMI mobilised volunteers and an ambulance to partake in evacuation activities.

• In Central Java, staff and volunteers of the PMI have also distributed tarpaulins (used as temporary shelters) and family kits. However, there is still an urgent need for clean drinking water.

West Sumatra

• 1,000 family kits and tarpaulins distributed to affected families.

Aceh

• The PMI, supported by the International Committee of Red Cross (ICRC), distributed hygiene items to a 8,000 families in North Acheh and Bireuen and 2,000 families in Banda Aceh.

The Singapore Red Cross will continue to monitor the situation with PMI and is on 24-hour standby to provide medical or relief assistance, if required.