Aid agencies and bishops make appeal for donations

Irish appeal: The Irish Red Cross and the aid agencies Goal and Unicef Ireland have launched fund-raising appeals to provide relief for the disaster-hit areas of southern Asia.

The chairman of the Irish Red Cross, Mr David Andrews said the organisation had sent €100,000 in immediate aid in response to an appeal by the international Red Cross/Red Crescent for €5 million. The Irish Red Cross said medical supplies to prevent and treat water-borne diseases were vitally needed.

"Malaria, diarrhoea and respiratory tract infections are the major threats to health now as the search for the missing continues and the bodies of those killed by the impact of the waves or drowned are being recovered and speedily interred," the Irish Red Cross said in a statement.

Mr Andrews appealed for donations to be made by credit card on Callsave 1850 50 70 70, on its website www.redcross.ie or by lodgement at any bank.

Goal chief executive, Mr John O'Shea, said the agency had sent a team from Calcutta in India to offer assistance in the southern part of the country.

"We will concentrate our efforts in the Tamil Nadu region where it is reported that over 6,000 people have lost their lives", Mr O'Shea said.

Donations to Goal should be sent to PO Box 19, Dún Laoghaire, Co Dublin or by credit card at 01 - 2809779.

Unicef Ireland yesterday pledged €150,000 in humanitarian aid for the region.

The executive director of Unicef Ireland, Ms Maura Quinn, said hundreds of thousands of children in coastal areas in six countries were in serious jeopardy.

Unicef Ireland said the hardest hit were the fishing communities. "Most of these people were already living below the poverty line and it is expected that this disaster will increase their vulnerability as they live in make-shift huts. The children of these fishermen either work with their parents on the boats or play on the beaches and we already know that numerous boats and their occupants are missing", Unicef Ireland said in a statement.

Credit card donations can be made to Unicef Ireland on 1850 767 999 or online at unicef.ie

The Church of Ireland archbishops and bishops also issued an urgent appeal for aid.

Archbishop Robin Eames in Armagh and Archbishop John Neill in Dublin said: "This has been a truly catastrophic event and we are appealing to everyone to help save lives and bring some comfort to those who have been devastated by this disaster. Please give generously and be part of the relief work that is now underway."

They said donations could be sent to the Church of Ireland Bishops' Appeal for Indonesian Earthquake Relief at either Church of Ireland House, Church Avenue, Rathmines, Dublin 6 or Church of Ireland Bishops' Appeal, Church House, Donegall Street, Belfast 1.

Cheques should be made payable to "Church of Ireland Bishops' Appeal".