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Red Cross responds to New Zealand earthquake

By Victoria Watts
February 22, 2011 at 11:01 am

Update 23/02/11: We are now accepting donations for New Zealand. Please visit our New Zealand earthquake appeal page – all donations will go to the New Zealand Red Cross.

This morning, we have woken up to the devastating news that Christchurch in New Zealand was hit by a 6.3 magnitude earthquake last night, killing at least 65 people.

There is widespread damage to the city, including collapsed buildings in the centre and damage to roads and bridges. Electricity supplies have been cut to about half of the area and Christchurch airport is closed. The mayor of Christchurch, Bob Parker, has declared a state of emergency and aid is being co-ordinated by the National Crisis Management Centre.

The New Zealand Red Cross responded immediately, providing first aid assistance and distributing blankets to the displaced families. Response teams from the Christchurch and Timaru branches are on the ground working now, and teams from Nelson and Blenheim are on their way. Four more teams are due to arrive in the morning, along with 1800 blankets, 2000 water containers and 200 tents.

The Red Cross is working with the civil defence, New Zealand police, and local councils and agencies to assess the needs and determine how the Red Cross can best assist.  One evacuation centre has been opened for around 2,000 people and more temporary accommodation is likely to be needed.

The Red Cross has also started helping people reach their loved ones through the restoring family links service. A telecommunications team is being deployed to Christchurch and will be operational tomorrow morning.

The earthquake struck at 12:51pm in New Zealand (1:51am UK time) and it is now nighttime there so we will have to wait until their morning to know more. The New Zealand Red Cross will provide more information on whether an appeal will be launched and how donations will be accepted and the British Red Cross is prepared to support them with whatever help they ask for.

Read more about the earthquake on the BBC

Image credit:  Logan McMillan/AFP/Getty Images

Comments (6) »

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The Red Cross values comments both complimentary and critical. However, we will not tolerate the following: aggressive or personal criticism of the blogger, breach of copyright, obscene, defamatory, profane, sexually oriented, racially offensive or likewise objectionable comments.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, February 22nd, 2011 at 11:01 am and is filed under Emergencies, International, News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

  • Jazzplayeroe

    Still waiting for a donation scheme to be set up in the UK…we;re probably too busy funding the building of mosques!

  • Pingback: Red Cross responds to New Zealand earthquake « Red Cross Talks

  • Sezza

    How do those of us in UK oraganise collections to give aid. I am a kiwi living in london and am sure the change iin peoples pockets could makea difference. How do I go about this

  • http://twitter.com/richardcyates Richard Yates

    There doesn’t seem to be a UK charity collecting for New Zealand, which means no opportunity to make a gift aid donation. Please think about it.

    If you know better let me know!

  • Steffi

    It’s wonderful to see the support from everyone in the UK and the rest of the world, it means so very much. The death toll tonight stands at 147 and is expected to rise, possibly to over 200. It has been one of the most devastating events in our countries recent history, without organisations like the Red Cross we don’t know how we could struggle through. Aroha to you all.
    Cheers
    Steff – in Dunedin, NZ

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Sarah-Summerfield/100000027739149 Sarah Summerfield

    anyone wishing to make a donation and not sure how can pop into their local red cross charity shop and you can also obtain information from employees there what the red cross are doing there at the moment.

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Victoria Watts

Victoria used to write about all things fundraising for the British Red Cross, but now she's working overseas.

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