Chile earthquake: World Vision prepares to respond

Published: 01 March 2010

Sunday 28 February, 2010

World Vision is preparing to respond to the massive 8.8 magnitude earthquake that hit central Chile early Saturday, killing over 100 people, and triggering tsunami warnings across the Pacific, including Australia. With staff on the ground assessing the impact, regional offices preparing to transport emergency relief supplies and additional international staff preparing to support a relief response.

World Vision’s first relief flight is tentatively planned to depart for Chile later today - with relief supplies like tarps, blankets, plastic sheeting, and collapsible water containers for survivors. Airport closures in Chile are forcing delays in the plane's departure.

World Vision has worked in Chile for 30 years and has more than 100 staff in the country, many living and working in areas close to the quake epicentre. The aid group has worked extensively in the south of Concepcion, the city that has been hardest hit by the earthquake, as well as in the capital of Santiago.

"This quake won’t be the same as the January 12 earthquake in Haiti," said Madeline Wilson, Emergency Communications Specialist for World Vision, who is currently in the Dominican Republic after spending a month responding the earthquake in Haiti.

"Haiti was concentrated and that led to the challenge of tons of aid and hundreds of aid workers being sent into a small zone. This quake off the Chilean coast has potential to reach remote areas. It will take some time to assess the number of deaths and amount of damage.”

“World Vision has the experience to know what survivors will need in the opening moments of a disaster like this. Blankets, tarps, plastic sheeting and clean water will be the priorities."

World Vision is also concerned about the possible tsunami that is reportedly heading for the Pacific region and as far as Australia and New Zealand as a result of Chile's quakes. The agency's disaster response teams are contacting offices across the region to alert them for the possibility of a major tsunami.

Chile is prone to large earthquakes. After the 7.7 quake in northern Chile in November 2007, World Vision was one of the first responders in the area and set up a Child-Friendly Space— a safe and secure place for children to recover —to serve the needs of the quake's youngest survivors.

Since 1980, World Vision Chile has been implementing development projects reaching about 100,000 children and adults within the country's poorest, most marginalised communities, including a focus on education and microfinance opportunities for poor entrepreneurs.

World Vision Australia

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Chile earthquake: World Vision prepares to respond

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