Oxfam: Emergency aid continues to arrive on Nias, Indonesia

Oxfam has today delivered more emergency supplies to the island of Nias by helicopter and by boat. The additional supplies arrived on the island at noon today (Friday).

The helicopter flight contained 2,200 liters of diesel, which will enable Oxfam to keep the water pumps going and supply clean water to the tens of thousands of people living in camps in and around the main city of Gunungsitoli. Oxfam is already providing clean water for 10,000 people and aims to reach 20,000 people in the next few days.

Alex Renton, an Oxfam aid worker said: "The water system in the main city was ripped apart by the earthquake. There are tens of thousands of very frightened people on this island who have lost their homes and are living under plastic sheets. The fuel that we flew in today is a lifeline for these survivors, it will help keep the water pumps going until equipment from the UK arrives in the next few

days."

Aid also arrived on Nias today by boat. Eight Oxfam trucks from Medan made the 6-hour boat journey to the remote island of Nias arriving at lunchtime. The trucks contain 2,000 blankets, 5,000 portions of rice, 5,000 jerry cans, clothes and shoes for 5,000 people, as well as cooking kits, tools and medical supplies. More aid equipment including water pumps, water tanks and communications equipment worth nearly £500,000 (approximately $950,000US) will leave the UK this evening due to arrive in Banda Aceh, Indonesia, at midday on Sunday.

"Oxfam continues to evacuate people by helicopter who had been critically

injured in the quake. 70 per cent of the buildings in the city have collapsed and many people on the island need urgent assistance. Oxfam is already getting aid onto the ground and much more aid is on its way," added Renton.