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Willie Poching: Leeds Rhinos assistant fronts fundraising appeal
Leeds Rhinos assistant coach Willie Poching is fronting a fundraising appeal today to help those left destitute by the devastating earthquakes and typhoons in south east Asia.
The British Red Cross has launched its own appeal to specifically help victims of the tsunami which struck Samoa, American Samoa and Tonga last Tuesday, killing 177 people.
Willie Poching, head coach of the Samoan national rugby league team and assistant coach of Super League finalists Leeds Rhinos, said: "I have spoken to my sister back home in Samoa and everyone is still in shock at the scale of the disaster. There hasn't been anything like this in living memory.
"Please give generously to the British Red Cross Samoa tsunami appeal and support their life-saving work."
Rosemarie North, of the International Federation of the Red Cross (IFRC) said: "Thousands of people have lost their homes and livelihoods.
"Nearly a week on from the disaster and there is still devastation everywhere.
"I have met so many people who have lost members of their families and hundreds have fled to the hills, scared to return and be near the ocean."
More than 30,000 people have been affected by the tsunami.
The Red Cross has been providing food, water, blankets, cooking pots and tarpaulins and is now looking to ensure a safe water supply and reconnect families who have been separated.
In Samoa the death toll has been put at 136 while 32 people were killed in American Samoa and nine in nearby Tonga.
* Anyone wishing to donate should visit www.redcross.org.uk/samoatsunami or call 0845 054 7200.
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Weather for Leeds
Friday 25 May 2012
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Temperature: 10 C to 23 C
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