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CNN Live At Daybreak

British Charities Launch Campaign to Aid Goma Residents

Aired January 25, 2002 - 06:39   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Emergency food distribution is finally in full swing after last week's deadly volcanic eruption in the Congolese town of Goma. Tens of thousands of devastated people in the central African nation will need aid for some time to come. Some of Britain's biggest charities are launching a campaign to help.

We get details from ITN reporter Helen Wright.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

HELEN WRIGHT, ITN REPORTER: The dispossessed and destitute of Goma wait patiently to receive some of the first international aid to arrive here. Flour, cooking oil, and beans are given to each family at the start of a mammoth operation to feed the entire population of this devastated city for a month.

That will take huge sums of money and today "Cold Feet" star James Nesbitt recorded a TV appeal for cash to help victims of the volcano where they offered a coalition of 12 British charities.

JAMES NESBITT, ACTOR: The awesome power of a volcanic eruption engulfed a city the size of Edinburgh with a terrifying tide of molten rock.

WRIGHT: I met him after the recording to talk about how people can help.

JAMES NESBITT: I have a saying, don't leave it up to other people. You know make the sacrifice yourself. Don't have a curry tonight, that's 15 pounds, now that will provide cooking utensils for up to 10 families, you know, in order to cook.

WRIGHT: As well as a lack of food, the destruction wrought by the volcano has crushed 60,000 homes. Today the charity said they had plans drawn up to help, but need five million pounds of funding.

BRENDAN GORMLEY, APPEAL ORGANIZER: The immediate needs are the really basic ones -- food, clean water, some medical care for those that have been burned or injured, and then over time helping them to get back on their feet.

WRIGHT: The charity also faced the complex task of reuniting children like these with parents separated from them in the panic and chaos that followed the volcano's eruption. All this as earth tremors continue to rock the region.

Helen Wright, ITV News.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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