First Aid workers reach Western Aceh

The death toll in Indonesia now stands at more than 80,000. In Banda Aceh, the capital of the province worst hit by the disaster, an operational base has been established by the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC).

Major needs identified so far include ambulances to evacuate bodies, first aid equipment, surgical masks, gloves and body bags as well as essential clothing. Over 600 volunteers from the Indonesian Red Cross, which has been charged by the government with collecting and evacuating dead bodies, had removed 9,336 corpses by the end of Saturday. Many of these volunteers are believed to be emotionally distressed and have been offered psychological support.

Although the Indonesian Red Cross Office in Banda Aceh was completely destroyed in the disaster, volunteers have distributed 1,000 tarpaulins and 1,800 family kits comprising basic cooking and hygiene materials to those most in need of food and shelter.

Two million Euro has already been sent to the disaster-zone by the Irish Red Cross, where it seems that almost everyone in Ireland is involved in some way in donating, fundraising and volunteering.

Now with funds exceeding Euro 3 million, the Irish Red Cross is keen to say that given the scale of this disaster and the discovery of more and more devastated areas more money is needed for immediate transfer to our Red Cross and Red Crescent colleagues working on the ground.

And among those supporting the appeal is Heléne Brierty (née Kuhl), who was brought to Ireland as part of Operation Shamrock from her native Germany, after the war. Together with her daughter, Karen, Ms Brierty has strongly supported the sponsored walk in Marley Park, Rathfarnham, Dublin, which raised over Euro 70,000.

The Civil Defence on-street collection in Dublin City raised over Euro 120,000 and will continue for the next few days, while tomorrow (Tuesday) it is expected there will be an indication of the New Year's Weekend collections organized in pubs and hotels in conjunction with an Garda Siochana.

Meanwhile, from Wednesday onwards, Dublin Corporation's 20 rent offices around the capital will take-in donations on behalf of the Irish Red Cross, upon the initiative of Lord Mayor, Michael Connaughton who kept his Mansion House home open throughout the holiday weekend for donations.

Cork is also expected to produce a large sum from the donations taken at the Munster-Leinster match in Musgrave Park on Saturday, while tomorrow Grace's Southern Fried Chicken on Cook Stree are donating all the proceeds from tomorrow (Tuesday) to the Irish Red Cross Asia Appeal.

Big-hearted staff at Grace's have volunteered their services to work for free for the day.

Anyone who wishes to donate to the Red Cross can do so by calling 1850 50 70 70 or by donating online at www.redcross.ie or by calling into the Head Office at 16 Merrion Square, Dublin 2.

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