15 volunteers and staff were called out following a request from Southwark Council at 6.30am yesterday morning. The Red Cross sent out 8 emergency response vehicles and are helping both at the scene of the emergency, and at rest centres set up for around 300 people evacuated from their homes. The Red Cross has been providing emotional support, blankets, clean clothes and hygiene kits, as well as transport to temporary accommodation.

Jonathan Edmondson, Red Cross emergency response operations manager, said: “Red Cross volunteers are trained and ready to respond to incidents like this and we were at the scene, supporting the emergency services and Southwark Council, within 20 minutes.

“We know from past experience, that people evacuated from their homes will not only be feeling shocked and upset, but will need practical items like clean clothes, a toothbrush and warm blankets, so the Red Cross have these items ready and we’ll be there as long as we’re needed.”

With many people unable to return to their homes it’s likely the Red Cross and Southwark Council will continue provide emergency shelter for people for the rest of today and through the night as temporary accommodation is found for everyone affected.

One family helped by the Red Cross is Billie Eidowu and her six-month old daughter Awo. Billie, who lives in Shurland Gardens, has been at the Sumner Road rest centre since before 6am this morning.

She said: “The Red Cross have been amazing and really couldn’t have done more to help us. I was woken up in the middle of the night, about 4.30am and it was terrifying. My first though was to get the children out and we didn’t even have time to put on socks and shoes. I literally ran out the house in my pyjamas. The only thing I thought to take with me was my phone. I knew people would be worried about me and wanted to let them know I was OK. Outside, it was total mayhem and I really didn’t expect to be so well looked after by the Red Cross.”

Billie and her daughter were directed to the Sumner Road rest centre, where a team of Red Cross volunteers are helping the council to look after evacuated residents.

Billie added: “The Red Cross have been really helpful and supportive. They’ve given us blankets, hot food and hygiene packs, but the best thing is they’ve come to talk to us, listen to what happened and assure us. The Red Cross have also passed on information from the fire fighters about what’s happening back at the flats. I really couldn’t expect anything more from the Red Cross.”

As well as supporting people at the Sumner Road centre, the British Red Cross has helped to establish a mini GP surgery at the Bird in Bush Road rest centre. Two doctors and three nurses are running the surgery and Red Cross volunteers are providing support by collecting and delivering prescriptions to people evacuated without essential medicines.

In addition, the British Red Cross has mobilised a restoring family links team to help people get back in touch with loved ones they have been unable to contact since the fire. Three Red Cross volunteers are visiting each of the rest centres with mobile phones to allow people with no means of contacting relatives and friends.

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