Jakarta, Indonesia-Relief -- The
World Economic Forum's Disaster Relief Network (DRN) announced that it
has completed shipment of 500 of Lifeline radio receiver to Aceh. The solar
cell AM/FM/SW radio donated by Freeplay Foundation, with contribution from
Duran Duran, and will be distributed by Mercy Corps and Radio 68H.
DRN support the shipment as requested
by Freeplay Foundation, South African NGO specializing in promoting the
importance of radio as a vital communication medium in the developing world.
DRN asked China Ocean Shipping Commpany (COSCO) to bring the radio from
Johannesburg to Banda Aceh.
According to GlobalGiving, Freeplay planned to provide 1,000 radios for Aceh to help Radio 68H, Jakarta based NGO specializing in radio broadcasting, in providing communication media for tsunami survivors. In March, Duran Duran donates $4000 through GlobalGiving to help Freeplay raised its tsunami fund target of $50,000.
Lifeline radios, DRN said, are easy to use, receive excellent AM/FM/SW reception and play for many hours on wind-up energy or solar power. Mercy Corps will distribute the radios to staff and survivors in remote locations providing them access to broadcast updates about public health concerns, reconstruction activities and aid programmes operating in the area.© dil