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Tsunami relief team on its way to Sri Lanka
07/01/2005 10:46 - (SA)
THE second team of relief workers from the South African humanitarian organisation, Global Relief, is waiting on tenterhooks to hear when they will be able to depart from Cape Town International Airport. The team consists of members of the Helderberg Dutch Reformed Church in Somerset West, as well as trained trauma interveners from surrounding towns.
The first team, also under the auspices of Global Relief, was dispatched to the Indonesian city of Medan on the island of Sumatra last weekend. Team-members are currently working in Banda Aceh, close to the epicentre of the devastating earthquake that caused the greatest natural disaster in living history.
Global Relief is a humanitarian organisation dedicated to relief work in disaster areas of the world. They have a unique focus on supporting the survivors of a disaster in a culturally sensitive way. The organisation was founded after the 1999 earthquakes in Turkey, and has since provided essential services in Turkey, India, Algeria and more recently - December 2003 - in Iran, directly after the earthquake in Bam.
The Helderberg team of Global Relief volunteers held its first meeting this week and all members are on 24/7 stand-by. Rucksacks have been packed and camping equipment donated by several businessmen in the Stellenbosch/Helderberg area. Members of this team, under the leadership of Rev. Danie Möller of the Helderberg Dutch Reformed Church, are waiting to hear when they may board an aeroplane to Sri Lanka.
All the Global Relief teams consist of trained trauma interveners, medical, engineering and search and rescue personnel. They have the capability to provide psychological first aid and training to locals, they will render basic medical services and are able to perform underwater searches.
In response to the disaster a number of South African companies and several individuals have donated blankets, tents, clothing, food, medical supplies, camping equipment, a generator, mountain bicycles and finances.
The team will remain in regular contact via satellite phone with the Global Relief control centre in Kempton Park, as well as the Helderberg Dutch Reformed Church in order to report daily progress and indicate further needs as the situation unfolds. The public can follow the team's progress on-line at www.globalrelief.givengain.org.
According to Rev. Möller, the best way for the public to contribute at this stage is financially. Contributions can be made through the secure website www.globalrelief.givengain.org or paid directly into the following account: NG Helderberg, Absa Somerset West, Account number 2900590094.
- DistrictMail
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