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The Oxfam interview
From Tsunami in
Asia | Primary school assembly
ideas
The following script can be used:
- as a script to be performed by pupils, some taking
the part of representatives of Oxfam, others acting as the pupil
interviewers
- as a presentation to be given either by a teacher
or by pupils
Alternatively the pupils could devise their own script
of questions and answers, for presentation at the assembly, using
the following web links to research the relevant information.
> How
we work in emergencies
> How
we work in emergencies: Water and sanitation
> Emergency
fact file
> Emergency
fact file: Ready to go
> BBC
- In pictures: Coping with the aftermath
Interview script
Question:
How does Oxfam know what people need?
Oxfam's Answer:
Oxfam runs projects in more than 80 countries including many of
the countries hit by the tsunami. This means that we have local
staff with expert knowledge of the area who can quickly assess the
situation and say what is needed.
Question:
We’ve got lots of spare food and clothes at home – can
we send them?
Oxfam's Answer:
Transport costs make it expensive to send clothes and food. Wherever
possible we buy food and other supplies that people need from the
local region because it is much cheaper and saves on transport costs.
That way we support the local economy and the food and supplies
are better suited to local needs and tastes.
So really, it is better to give money if you can or take things
to be sold at Oxfam shops. That way the money raised can be used
to buy clothes and food from the local region.
Question:
It’s confusing. Lots of people are asking for money, does
it matter if I give it to Oxfam or someone else if you’re
all doing the same thing?
Oxfam's Answer:
Twelve of the charities are working together in Great Britain to
collect money. They do this through an organisation called Disasters
Emergency Committee (DEC). All the charities are experts in different
ways of helping in disaster situations. 20% of the money raised
is being given to Oxfam who specialise in providing shelter, food
and drinking water to the people affected by the disaster. By the
second week in January 2005, in one area of Sri Lanka, Oxfam had
already delivered 11 tonnes of sanitation and water equipment and
had begun to build large water tanks and toilets.
Question:
On the news there are big aeroplanes full of stuff flying from Britain
to Asia. Isn’t it very expensive?
Oxfam's Answer:
As we said, most of the stuff we buy in the region. There are some
special things that people need really quickly that we can’t
buy locally, like specially designed life- saving equipment such
as huge water tanks and buckets with lids and taps. We have to fly
that kind of stuff over from here. Much of this special equipment
is already stored in a big warehouse near Oxford so it is always
ready to be sent to disaster areas as soon as it is needed. Access
to some areas is very difficult and Oxfam teams have to think what
is best for the situation. In Sri Lanka, they have used ferries,
a tanker ship and helicopters to get aid to thousands of people
who are cut off.
Question:
I’ve given all my pocket money for this week, but it is only
a couple of pounds? How can this help?
Oxfam's Answer:
Every penny is valuable and makes a difference. For example, just
£2.34 could buy a bucket with a lid and tap that can protect
a family’s drinking water from getting contaminated with germs
that make people ill. The risk of people getting seriously sick
through dirty water is very high.
In the long term, one of the things that many families will need
is to replace the animals they have lost which provide food and
income for them. It costs just £1 to buy a chicken.
Question:
Do you give the money directly to individual people?
Oxfam's Answer:
It’s much better to give the money, not to individuals, but
to groups of local people working together to make a big difference.
Oxfam’s local staff and local organisations in the region
have the experience to help whole communities.
Question:
My dad is a builder – should he go to help?
Oxfam's Answer:
There are some specialist workers who are going to give immediate
help, however the local people in the affected places know best
what needs to be done and how to rebuild their communities. What
they need to help them are supplies such as building materials and
tools not just now but also in the months and years to come because
it will take a very long time to rebuild their communities and lives.
> Read
the other materials from this section.
From Tsunami in
Asia | Primary school assembly
ideas
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