A FUNDRAISING appeal was launched yesterday to help victims of the tsunami which struck in the South Pacific last week.
The British Red Cross launched the appeal to help rebuild communities devastated when the tsunami hit Samoa, American Samoa and Tonga last Tuesday.
A total of 177 people were killed when waves hit the islands after an underwater earthquake struck with a magnitude of up to 8.3 at 6.48am.
“Thousands of people have lost their homes and livelihoods,” said Rosemarie North, of the International Federation of the Red Cross (IFRC).
“Nearly a week on from the disaster and there is still devastation everywhere. The Red Cross is rebuilding lives and getting communities back on their feet.
“I have met so many people who have lost members of their families and hundreds have fled to the hills.”
More than 30,000 people have been affected by the quake.
The Red Cross has been providing food, water, blankets, cooking pots and tarpaulins and is now looking to ensure a safe water supply and reconnect families who have been separated.”
In Samoa the death toll was put at 136 while 32 people were killed in American Samoa and nine in nearby Tonga.
Willie Poching, head coach of the Samoan national rugby league team and assistant coach of Super League finalists Leeds Rhinos, said: “I have spoken to my sister back home in Samoa and everyone is still in shock. There hasn’t been anything like this in living memory.
“Please give generously to the British Red Cross Samoa tsunami appeal and support their life-saving work.”
Anyone wishing to donate should visit www.redcross.org.uk/samoatsunami or call 0845 054 7200.
The search for survivors of last Wednesday’s 7.6-magnitude Indonesian earthquake has been called off in the city of Padang.
Instead, officials are now concentrating on bringing aid and medical help.
At least 1,000 people have died and at least 1,000 remain missing.
Some signs of normality are returning with children attending makeshift schools, and some businesses are reopening.
There have been no survivors rescued from the rubble since Friday,