SINGAPORE, 8 December 2016 – MERCY Relief, Singapore’s home-grown humanitarian non-governmental-organisation (NGO), will be deploying a two-man disaster response team to Aceh, Indonesia, where a deadly 6.5-magnitude earthquake rocked the province yesterday. The team is on the way to the district of Pidie Jaya in Aceh to ascertain pressing needs and coordinate disaster relief efforts.
Mercy Relief’s response team will hit the ground running and conduct a comprehensive assessment of the affected communities’ needs to determine how we can help with their urgent recovery effectively. Mercy Relief is working very closely with our Indonesian ground partners to expedite preparations for relief distribution operations to start as early as tomorrow.
Mercy Relief’s Executive Director Zhang Tingjun said, “It is important for all relief efforts to be effectively coordinated to avoid duplication of aid. We understand from our local partners that many are afraid to return home, because fear from the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami remains.”
Immediate needs of affected communities include food and water, medical and health services and equipment, water sanitation and hygiene, and emergency shelter.
According to reports from the National Disaster Management Authority of Indonesia (BNPB), 102 deaths have been recorded, with over 600 wounded. More than 8,000 people remain displaced in Pidie Jaya. As assessment of damage is still ongoing, the number is expected to rise.
For media inquiries, please contact:
Jolyn Mo
Black Dot
+65 9048 3582
jolyn@blackdot.sg
Nigel Low
Black Dot
+65 9837 4256
nigel@blackdot.sg
