Quake concern hinders HK aid effort
Efforts to raise cash in Hong Kong for aid in East Timor have been overshadowed by relief fund-raising after the Taiwan earthquake, Oxfam Hong Kong said.
'We are hoping to raise $10 million [for East Timor],' said Oxfam communications co-ordinator Judy Au Man-yee.
'But we have only received $270,000 from the public because of concern over the Taiwan earthquake.' The Hong Kong Red Cross had raised $4.13 million and TVB $40 million to help earthquake victims as of last Thursday.
Ms Au said: 'We sent a proposal to the Disaster Relief Fund (DRF) of the SAR Government last Wednesday requesting $7 million but we have not heard back from them yet.' A DRF spokesman confirmed the department had received Oxfam's application and was processing it. The DRF has already approved $8.62 million for relief to earthquake victims in Taiwan.
Ms Au said she was worried the earthquake concern would take attention away from the longer-term aid requirements in East Timor.
Oxfam International media officer Rachel Stabb said from East Timor's capital, Dili, that a major food distribution drive would take place today at six sites around the city ahead of the looming rainy season between two and six days away.
'One 50kg pack of rice will be given per family', enough to last them a month, she said.
The food would be distributed to an estimated 9,000 families, Ms Stabb said.
She said 5,000 plastic tarpaulins would be distributed ahead of the monsoon to provide shelter for people in their own damaged homes.
