Aceh quake: Singapore Red Cross pledges S$50,000 towards disaster relief efforts

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A day on from the earthquake that killed almost 100 people, rescue teams are racing against time in the search for life beneath the rubble. Meanwhile, hospitals are overwhelmed and there aren't enough medical staff to deal with the wounded.
Indonesian search and rescue team continue looking for survivors after a 6.5 Magnitude earthquake in Pidie Jaya, Aceh province on Dec 8, 2016. PHOTO: AFP

SINGAPORE - The Singapore Red Cross (SRC) has pledged to donate $50,000 worth of relief items to Indonesia, after a 6.5-magnitude earthquake struck its Aceh province on Wednesday (Dec 7) morning.

The funds go towards the search, rescue and retrieval efforts by the Indonesian Red Cross, Palang Merah Indonesia (PMI), SRC said in a statement on Thursday.

PMI is working with Indonesian government agencies to provide aid to those affected.

The quake in the Pidie Jaya district left at least 102 dead, with more than 3,200 abandoning their homes for fear houses may collapse from aftershocks.

SRC secretary-general and chief executive Benjamin William said the SRC is "deeply saddened to see the devastation caused by the disaster".

He added that the SRC's priority is "to support our Indonesian colleagues in having sufficient funds and resources to rescue, evacuate and care for as many people as possible".

SRC and PMI have collaborated in disaster response and recovery efforts since the Indian Ocean tsunami in 2004.

SRC is not currently launching a public fundraising appeal, but donations can be made during office hours at the Red Cross House at 15 Penang Lane.

Separately, a two-man disaster response team from a home-grown humanitarian non-governmental organisation (NGO) has been deployed to Aceh.

The team, from Mercy Relief, is on its way to the Pidie Jaya district to "ascertain pressing needs and coordinate disaster relief efforts", Mercy Relief said in a statement on Thursday.

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