ADRA Commits $10,000 to Earthquake response

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Since the earthquake struck, ADRA New Zealand has been engaging with Emergency Managers to identify and address the most pressing community needs. ADRA, in partnership with the Seventh-day Adventist church, are encouraging church members and volunteers to community-focused action.
ADRA staff attendance at high-level emergency coordination meetings has helped keep the network updated on how the disaster is being managed and to identify resources that ADRA can supply.

Presence at the daily group controllers’ Civil Defense coordination meeting at Environment Canterbury has helped ADRA to identify challenges and potential gaps that can be addressed as the city moves from a rapid response to recovery phase. The meetings, which provide a forum for members of the emergency and other key services to report on their respective situations, have identified welfare as the top priority. From this, two main areas in which ADRA can be of assistance have been deduced. Firstly, a shortage of mid and long-term accommodation for displaced families who cannot return to their homes. ‘Pascoe Park’, a church-owned property, can offer more than six rooms and over 40 powered caravan sites to homeless residents. Secondly, although the short-term needs appear to be well covered, ADRA’s standing agreement with the Sanitarium Health Food Company can provide longer-term welfare solutions, especially once the initial response has quietened down.

A Seventh Day Adventist Church coordinators’ meeting today called for a local response from church members to look to their own neighbourhoods and communities to help those in need. At the meeting it was urged to not only address the immediate impact of the quake, but to reiterate existing evacuation plans and work on strengthening partnerships and maintaining communication to enhance preparedness for the future.

ADRA has made a financial commitment of $10,000 towards the recovery effort and will continue to provide ongoing assistance.

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