Aid agencies meet with Blair to discuss tsunami

-07/01/05

Aid agency heads, including th


Aid agencies meet with Blair to discuss tsunami

-07/01/05

Aid agency heads, including those from Christian charities, have met with the Prime Minister to discuss the disaster unfolding in the Indian Ocean.

The aid agency chiefs raised concern about the situation in Indonesia, and worries over how the civil war in Aceh will affect long-term development plans.

They also stressed the need for a central role of the UN in coordinating the disaster response in Sri Lanka, India, and Indonesia.

Catholic aid agency CAFODís Chris Bain stressed the need to work through local communities in providing greater capacity in delivering long-term reconstruction and rehabilitation.

The Prime Minister promised that money pledged was extra to existing overseas aid budgets.

Tony Blair agreed with the aid agencies that the issues of trade, debt, and aid facing other developing countries must not be lost in 2005.

Chancellor Gordon Brown yesterday addressed fears that Asian tsunami disaster relief may divert attention from Africa, and said he wanted to harness worldwide horror over Asia’s tsunami victims to drive forward the agenda for helping the African continent.

Representative of other aid agencies, have also met the First Minister of Wales, Rhodri Morgan.

Along with the UK Chancellor, Gordon Brown, they took part in a three minute silence at Cardiff’s Civic Centre.

Cafod reports that the First Minister was very keen to hear about the progress that aid agencies were making in tackling the problems left by the tsunami ñ and pledged to investigate ways in which resources of the Welsh Assembly Government could be used to help rebuild the shattered communities.

Philip Dixon, Cafod’s national organiser for Wales said: “The First Minister has left us in no doubt about his concern for those affected by this disaster, and is very keen that Wales plays a role in reconstruction.

“He was also impressed by the generosity of the Catholic community in Wales shown in collections up and down the country.”


Aid agencies meet with Blair to discuss tsunami

-07/01/05

Aid agency heads, including those from Christian charities, have met with the Prime Minister to discuss the disaster unfolding in the Indian Ocean.

The aid agency chiefs raised concern about the situation in Indonesia, and worries over how the civil war in Aceh will affect long-term development plans.

They also stressed the need for a central role of the UN in coordinating the disaster response in Sri Lanka, India, and Indonesia.

Catholic aid agency CAFODís Chris Bain stressed the need to work through local communities in providing greater capacity in delivering long-term reconstruction and rehabilitation.

The Prime Minister promised that money pledged was extra to existing overseas aid budgets.

Tony Blair agreed with the aid agencies that the issues of trade, debt, and aid facing other developing countries must not be lost in 2005.

Chancellor Gordon Brown yesterday addressed fears that Asian tsunami disaster relief may divert attention from Africa, and said he wanted to harness worldwide horror over Asia’s tsunami victims to drive forward the agenda for helping the African continent.

Representative of other aid agencies, have also met the First Minister of Wales, Rhodri Morgan.

Along with the UK Chancellor, Gordon Brown, they took part in a three minute silence at Cardiff’s Civic Centre.

Cafod reports that the First Minister was very keen to hear about the progress that aid agencies were making in tackling the problems left by the tsunami ñ and pledged to investigate ways in which resources of the Welsh Assembly Government could be used to help rebuild the shattered communities.

Philip Dixon, Cafod’s national organiser for Wales said: “The First Minister has left us in no doubt about his concern for those affected by this disaster, and is very keen that Wales plays a role in reconstruction.

“He was also impressed by the generosity of the Catholic community in Wales shown in collections up and down the country.”