Oxfam Flies Vital Aid to the Island of Nias, Indonesia

The first relief flight carrying aid for the island of Nias will leave the UK today. A plane carrying almost £500,000 (approximately $950,000US) worth of water and emergency equipment from the international aid agency Oxfam will leave from Kent International Airport for Banda Aceh, Indonesia.

TThe 36 tonne load will be made up of specialist equipment including water pumps, water tanks and communications equipment. The aid will be spilt between Oxfam's continuing tsunami response programmes in Indonesia and emergency relief supplies for the island of Nias.

Jeremie Delarge, an Oxfam aid worker said, "The conditions are desperate. The rain is torrential, and thousands of people who have lost their homes are sleeping under plastic sheeting. Oxfam already has basic emergency supplies on the island, but this equipment will help us provide clean water for 20,000 people on Nias and stop the spread of disease."

The supplies will be flown to Banda Aceh and then be taken on to the island of Nias by helicopter and boat as soon as possible. The flight will leave Kent International Airport this evening and is due to arrive in Banda Aceh at midday on Saturday.