Contact: Claire Starkey, New Zealand Red Cross, Communications Assistant, 04 471 8257, claire.starkey@redcross.org.nz

MEDIA ADVISORY, Apr. 4 /Standard Newswire/ -- New Zealand Red Cross will deploy a further three New Zealand aid workers and a communications kit to the Solomon Islands.

Nelson based field assessment coordinator, Andrew Macalister will be assisting Solomon Island Red Cross with assessments and relief distribution as part of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent's disaster response.

Water and sanitation worker Victoria Fray will be assessing affected water supplies.

Information and media liaison officer Rosemarie North will be based in Honiara and assist Solomon Island Red Cross' media team. Rosemarie North's contact details in Honiara will be advised tomorrow.

The three aid workers will join New Zealand Red Cross employee Douglas Clark, a disaster management aid worker, who arrived in the Solomon Islands yesterday.

Operations Manager for New Zealand Red Cross, Glenn Rose, says that the three aid workers are all experienced and have been involved in previous missions.

"From the assessments we have received, we are sending aid workers who will be able to offer the most relevant assistance to the Solomon Islands," he says.

The communications kit New Zealand Red Cross will provide consists of six HF and VHF radio sets and ten satellite phones and will enable Solomon Islands Red Cross to maintain communications.

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent has released a public appeal, asking for NZD$1.25 million of funds to support the operation over a four month period. New Zealand Red Cross is accepting donations for this appeal by clicking here or phoning 0900 733 27.

New Zealand Red Cross acknowledges the continued financial support from NZAid towards its international aid worker programme.