UK sends more aid to quake victims

12 April 2012

More emergency teams and further aid from Britain are being dispatched to earthquake hit Indonesia.

Charities and government agencies are racing to get workers to the devestated region where more than 1,000 have been killed and many more trapped under collapsed buildings following the massive tremors this week.

The United Nations have estimated that the death toll could rise to 1,100.

Oxfam sent water treatment units and plastic sheeting for shelters and extra staff from its warehouse in Bicester, Oxfordshire.

Oxfam aid worker Ian Bray, who is in Sumatra: "Our partners have been working day and night to get emergency aid to those who need it.

"The needs are great and we will be bolstering our aid response in the coming days to assist families caught up in this grave disaster. The support of the British public is vital to help us help the people of Sumatra."

A team from the British Red Cross will leave London's Heathrow in order to co-ordinate the charity's distribution of aid in the devestated region.

A 16-strong team from the search and rescue charity Rapid UK arrived in Padang with badly-needed specialist equipment such as thermal cameras and lifting gear.

They were the first official search crew from Britain to arrive in the crisis-hit country.

Another plane-load of search and rescue personnel, organised by the Department of International Development will arrive later today to join in the effort.

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