Christchurch Earthquake Relief | The Jackal

4 Mar 2011

Christchurch Earthquake Relief

Audio Version.


Red Cross has over 130 trained staff and volunteers from all over New Zealand currently working in Christchurch to support the relief efforts. Teams from Australia have arrived to add further support.

Sixty Red Cross welfare volunteers are working with the Christchurch City Council, going door to door in teams of two, to check in on affected people in the Eastern suburbs of Christchurch.

An independent commission has been established to disburse emergency grants from the New Zealand Red Cross 2011 Earthquake Appeal to those affected by the Christchurch earthquake.

Oxfam now has emergency water provision personnel working with Civil Defence in Christchurch. They have offered emergency equipment and supplies if necessary, but as yet, the Government has not requested it.

The Salvation Army Canterbury Earthquake Appeal today hit the total of $6.2 million in cash and pledges, up from $4.3 million yesterday. Of this total, $1.6 million was raised through Westpac Bank’s $3 text initiative.

Psychosocial support personnel from around New Zealand and from Australia are part of ‘Suburban Squad’ teams touring the worst-affected eastern suburbs each day, assessing the needs of residents, property and infrastructure. The teams comprise EQC and Christchurch City Council staff and engineers, with 122 Salvation Army personnel providing emotional support to residents and identifying people who require additional support.

Salvation Army emergency services yesterday served 4710 meals to 1570 people at welfare centres. This number, included meals for 100 emergency workers hosted at The Salvation Army’s Community Ministries centre in Linwood. During the day, Linwood Community Ministries delivered 382 food parcels to residents who were without transport and provided 212 food parcels to people arriving at the centre for help.

SAFE is dispatching Animal Aid teams around the city to provide immediate supplies such as food and water to animals and to check on animals thought to be left behind or lost. If you know of animals in urgent need of help, please email safe@safe.org.nz.

These people deserve all the support you can give them.