Oxfam America launches Asia Pacific Emergency Appeal

BOSTON, MA — As storms and earthquakes pummeled the Asia-Pacific region this week, Oxfam America launched a fundraising appeal to carry out emergency responses in Indonesia, Southeast Asia, and the South Pacific.

“These disasters have left millions of people in need of assistance from groups like Oxfam,” said Michael Delaney, director of humanitarian response.

“This week’s emergencies come at time when we are already responding to many ongoing disasters around the world—including a crippling drought in East Africa, floods in West Africa, and drought in Central America,” Delaney added.

Oxfam America is launching an appeal to support its response to the earthquake in Sumatra, Typhoon Ketsana and for the South Pacific tsunami. With extreme weather in the forecast, Oxfam expects to respond to more destruction in the coming days.

Sumatra Earthquake

Oxfam is sending an emergency response team to Padang, Indonesia, following the devastating earthquake on the island of Sumatra yesterday. They will join staff from local partner organizations who are distributing Oxfam’s pre-positioned emergency stocks, including 5,000 tarps for shelter.

Typhoon Ketsana

The Sumatra earthquake came in the wake of Typhoon Ketsana, which swept through the Philippines, Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos earlier in the week, causing severe flooding. An estimated two million homes were inundated with floodwater in Manila, and more than 400,000 people are now homeless.

“According to current forecasts, a super-typhoon is set to strike the Philippines again within the next two days, so for us it’s all hands on deck,” said Delaney.

Right now, Oxfam is helping 25,000 of the worst-affected families in the Philippines by providing clean water and emergency materials like blankets, soaps, cleaning equipment, clothes, and water containers.

South Pacific Tsunami

Oxfam is also responding to the South Pacific tsunami, which hit the islands of Samoa and Tonga on Tuesday. Waves flattened villages and swept people and cars out to sea. Oxfam has emergency supplies on hand for up to 10,000 people and expects to help coordinate the supply of clean water and sanitation for those affected by the disaster.

“This is a time of great need around the world, and particularly in the Asia-Pacific region,” said Delaney. “Americans have always shown incredible generosity when disasters strike.”

To support Oxfam’s Asia Pacific Emergency Response please donate online or call 1 800 77-OXFAM.