Finland Grants EUR 300,000 for Earthquake Assistance in Indonesia

Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Paavo Väyrynen has according to isria.com decided to grant EUR 300,000 of humanitarian assistance through the Finnish Red Cross due to the earthquake in Sumatra.

An earthquake on 30 September near the town of Padang in Western Sumatra, Indonesia, killed at least 1,100 people and injured some 3,000 more. The dwellings of more than 400,000 people suffered serious damage. 22 international rescue groups have participated in the rescue and clearing work. The damage assessment will be made by the UN and there will also be experts from Sweden, Finland, Denmark and Estonia participating in the assessment process.

In addition to Indonesian authorities, the Indonesian Red Cross is also carrying out rescue activities. First aid has been administered and food and clean water supplied to those injured in the earthquake. People have also been guided to temporary shelters. The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, IFRC, has launched an international appeal for assistance amounting to EUR 4.5 million. In its own rescue work, the Red Cross will concentrate on water supply, sanitation, health, temporary shelters and emergency equipment.