Link-up boosts aid transport

THANKS to the quick thinking of a charity and a transport company, the first goods left Guernsey on Monday to help victims of the Asian tsunami. Condor Logistics and Aid Reaching Children were in contact on Boxing Day as soon as news of the disaster broke.

'I realised it was going to be massive,' said Condor Logistics commercial coordinator Pete Burtenshaw.

The company offered to transport donated goods to any UK destination.

The two parties met the following Tuesday and an appeal for tents and bedding was launched.

Since then, generous islanders have donated goods worth thousands of pounds.

'It's brilliant, absolutely brilliant,' said Arc president Linda Garnham. 'The public have been fantastic.'

Miss Garnham said locals and businesses had donated more than 350 tents, half of which were new.

'Aladdin's Cave gave us 18, worth '110 each,' she said.

The Scouts gave 10 tents, with members of the public buying others just to donate to the appeal.

'One man went out and bought six.'

Volunteers have been busy shrink-wrapping the items and putting them on pallets.

Miss Garnham was amazed at how quickly the charity collected the goods.

'I didn't expect it to happen so soon.'

As soon as there were enough tents and sleeping bags to make up a shipment, she called Mr Burtenshaw. Within a couple of hours, two lorry-loads left the Arc temporary storage facility under the former post office headquarters in Guelles Road. They were sent to Cornwall to link up with the Rotary Shelter Box Appeal and will be in Indonesia by tomorrow.

Arc is sponsoring out of general funds two paramedics to accompany the consignment to Banda Aceh.

'They will take pictures and Guernsey can see what's happening to them,' said Miss Garnham.

Money donated locally will go to the World Food Programme and Medecins sans Frontieres, the humanitarian medical aid agency, to buy food and medicine for victims.

Miss Garnham said the charity was still collecting tents and good quality bedding and had started an appeal for baby milk and nappies.

A volunteer has been touring schools explaining why these are needed and children from St Mary and St Michael donated two car loads and a van full. These will leave the island next week.

'We'll go on as long as we are needed. And we're still collecting money at the HSBC Bank.'

She hopes to start collecting toiletries for adults and children in the near future.

On Saturday, the charity is holding a sale in its storage area of more than '50,000-worth of household items and clothing donated by Healthy Direct. Deputy Jean Pritchard will open it.

Miss Garnham's long-term aim is to set up a permanent storage facility so that charities can respond quickly to disasters.

n'It was previously announced that islanders could help fund the building of an orphanage in the Aceh province of Indonesia ' one of the areas most devastated by the tsunami and near to the earthquake's epicentre.

Already, Arc has had plumbers and carpenters volunteering to help build it.

The Salvation Army, which is already in Asian regions, has also asked if it could help with the project.

Islanders can make payments via www.aidreachingchildren.org.gg

Alternatively, donations can be made to the Arc South-East Asia Appeal: the sort code is 40-22-25 and the account number is 32801000. Payment can be made at any local HSBC branch.