Mississauga, ON - Shipments of World Vision relief supplies including water, tents, blankets and emergency packages are arriving on the earthquake-devastated island of Nias.

Families on Nias will receive.

• 28,512 bottles of drinking water
• 14,588 soap bars
• 2,477 blankets
• 500 family hygiene packs including: soap, toothpaste, toothbrushes
• 2,430 household kits including: water buckets, cooking utensils, tarpaulins, sarongs and flashlight batteries
• 1,000 tents
• 3,000 mosquito nets

World Vision is working with the UN Joint Logistics Center in Medan, the hub of the Nias humanitarian response, to appropriately prioritize the transport of much-needed relief items.

Rein Paulsen, World Vision Team leader explains, "The only vehicles able to get to Nias were two UN helicopters because the quake heavily damaged the airport runway. Under co-ordination of the UN, immediate transport priority was given to medical personnel and search and rescue teams. Now that those teams are in place, World Vision is providing emergency assistance such as tents, blankets and hygiene kits."

A World Vision team is currently assessing further needs of the islanders and arranging for the delivery of relief items. They report that the city is a picture of destruction, with most buildings demolished and roads badly fractured. Rescue teams are recovering bodies amid the wreckage and people are beginning to wear masks and handkerchiefs to avoid the stench. Aftershocks continue to rock the island and rain is hampering efforts.

Prior to this week's quake, World Vision was already providing emergency recovery assistance on Nias, including the reconstruction of schools and provision of educational support as part of the ongoing efforts to aid people already devastated by the December 26 tsunami.

World Vision is an international Christian humanitarian relief and development organization, working in more than 90 countries helping approximately 85 million people each year. Canadians sponsor more than 310,000 children through World Vision.