Foreign Ministry pledges an additional 7.5 million euros in aid for victims of the Asian catastrophe

A decision made today has increased the humanitarian aid granted by the Finnish Ministry for Foreign Affairs in assistance for victims of the Southeast Asian tsunami catastrophe by 7.5 million euros. In total the Foreign Ministry’s assistance for those who have suffered from the greatest natural disaster of our time now rises to 12 million euros. The international community has, in Southeast Asia, launched the largest relief operation in world history, the aim being to ensure the basic requirements of some 5 million people in immediate need.

The total sum of the joint appeal published today by the UN organisations is 850 million dollars. The updated appeal of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), amounts to 59.1 million dollars. Mentioned as the main targets of assistance are housing shelters, medicines, food and clean water. Owing to the high number of injured people and the risk of epidemics, the aid also includes a considerable amount of healthcare.

Paula Lehtomäki, Minister of Foreign Trade and Development, estimates that the phase of acute need for humanitarian aid will last about half a year. “The real challenge to the international community is the reconstruction phase, in which Finland will also participate. This calls for long-term efforts, because in the worst destroyed areas, such as in Indonesia and Sri Lanka, reconstruction may take even ten years,” Minister Lehtomäki pointed out.

The additional 7.5 million euros in aid granted by the Foreign Ministry will be channelled through programmes of the following organisations: the Finnish Red Cross/IFRC, 2 million euros; the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), 2 million euros; UNICEF, WHO and FinnChurchAid, 1 million euros each; Fida International, 300,000 euros; and Save the Children, 200,000 euros.

The bulk of the assistance will be targeted at the entire disaster area. FinnChurchAid’s assistance will focus on the drinking water situation on Sumatra, Indonesia, while Save the Children’s programme will assist child victims in India.

Additional information: Counsellor Leo Olasvirta, tel. + 358 9 160 56342 , and Eeva Dammert-Taube, Attaché, Administrative Affairs, Unit for Humanitarian Assistance, Finnish Ministry for Foreign Affairs, tel. +358 9 160 56345