Irish Red Cross launches flood victims appeal
25/11/2009 - 16:03:06The Irish Red Cross launched an appeal today to raise money for flood victims.
The aid agency, which has been delivering meals-on-wheels, providing blankets and rescuing stranded householders, said the country had been hit by an appalling catastrophe.
Red Cross ambulance crews spent the last week supporting emergency crews in Cork, Galway, Tipperary and Waterford.
Tony Lawlor, Irish Red Cross vice-chairman, said people have approached the charity offering donations.
“This is an appalling catastrophe for the people whose homes, livelihoods and lives have been destroyed or damaged by these floods,” he said.
“Our volunteers are already working in the towns and areas most affected and we will gladly accept donations to help them in this work.
“Already we are receiving calls from people around Ireland who have seen our volunteers in action in the areas affected and who want to send donations to fund this work which is most generous of them.”
In Cork, volunteers worked with gardaí since last Thursday to deliver meals to people stranded in their homes on the north side of the city. Hospital staff have also been ferried to and from workplaces.
In Galway, two off-road ambulances and their crews have been helping people evacuate their homes in the Ardrahan village area of south Galway and in Connemara.
In Clare, most of the work involved distributing blankets to householders.
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