One year on
One year since a destructive earthquake hit Christchurch and surrounding areas, New Zealand Red Cross is assisting thousands of people to recover, including providing personal support through home visits and supporting more vulnerable groups like refugees and older people.
Australian Red Cross is providing ongoing recovery expertise and support to New Zealand Red Cross people, who in turn are assisting many communities affected by the quake.
Evidence shows that it can take at least five years for many people to recover emotionally from disasters, though most people recover well. Recovery is a long term, often complex and tiring process.
22 February marks one year since the earthquake claimed 181 lives, injuring hundreds, and affecting tens of thousands of people.
New Zealand and international Red Cross agencies were on the ground with rescue workers and relief supplies, assisting thousands of people affected by the earthquake within hours.
Australian Red Cross assisted New Zealand Red Cross with vital drinking water equipment and provided aid workers with a variety of skills including management of appeals and psychological support in the context of a disaster.
Australian Red Cross also ran the NZ Earthquake Appeals of 2010 and 2011 raising more than A$8.8 million for those affected by the September 2010 earthquake and the February 2011 quake. Funds have been forwarded to New Zealand Red Cross.
Australian Red Cross would like to thank everybody from across the community, government and corporate Australia who contributed to the appeal.
The New Zealand Red Cross 2011 Earthquake Commission, which is administering funds raised in the appeals, has provided more than 66,000 grants.
The grants are supporting those who lost family members, people forced to leave their damaged homes as well as children and older people needing assistance through the harsh winter.
NZ Red Cross also assisted more than 24,000 people who inquired or registered to find their families and friends in this disaster.
Red Cross supports communities, particularly those most in need, to prepare for, respond to and recover from emergencies.
Making a donation to Red Cross Disaster Relief and Recovery supports the work that Red Cross Emergency Services do every day in Australia and wherever we are needed around the world.
Media enquiries: James Molan on 0448 571 484.
New Zealand Red Cross rescue workers sorting through rubble (New Zealand Red Cross/Antony Kitchener). Many people such as this family, were assisted by Red Cross after they were affected by the first earthquake in September 2010. Australian Red Cross provided water equipment to ensure thousands of people in Christchurch had water to drink and wash (New Zealand Red Cross).