38/02
Geneva, 06 June 2002 - The International
Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies today
launched an appeal
for 581,000 Swiss francs to support 8,000 people left homeless
by the collapse of the Zeyzoun Dam on 4 June.
The support will be channelled through the Syrian Arab Red Crescent which responded immediately to the disaster, 380 km north of Damascus near the town of Hamah on the Orontes River.
"One thousand food parcels, 200 tents, 500 blankets and 100 kitchen sets have been sent out from our headquarters in Damascus," said Abdoul Rahaman Al Attar, President of the Syrian Arab Red Crescent. Assessment and rescue teams were also deployed from the towns of Idlib and Hamah, 30 and 80 kilometres respectively from the site.
The International Federation has sent three relief experts to work with the Red Crescent on further assessments and 120,000 Swiss francs have been released from its Disaster Relief Emergency Fund to meet immediate needs.
Six villages have been affected in an area measuring 60 sq km and at least ten people have died.
For further information and/or to set up interviews (ISDN line available) please contact:
For the International Federation, in
Geneva:
Denis McClean, Head, Media Service, Tel: + 41 22
730 4428 / + 41 79 217 3357
The Federation, National Societies and the International Committee of the Red Cross together constitute the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. For further information on Federation activities, please see our web site: www.ifrc.org.