SINGAPORE: Singaporeans are rallying support for the victims of recent regional disasters, and several charities which have started collection drives are hoping for a generous response from the public.
The Singapore Red Cross (SRC) has launched two month-long appeals - "Typhoon Ketsana Flood" and "Padang Earthquake" to collect donations for survivors in Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos and Indonesia's quake hit region of Padang.
The organisation is hoping to bring in S$350,000 for the Typhoon Ketsana Appeal and S$250,000 for the Padang Earthquake appeal.
The Philippines Tropical Storm appeal was launched four days earlier on October 1.
So far, the Singapore government has contributed S$70,540 to the Typhoon Ketsana Flood fund.
Another S$50,000 and medical supplies have been donated by the Singapore Red Cross to its Indonesia branch as part of the Padang Earthquake appeal.
The donations will be used to purchase medical supplies locally, as well as to meet basic needs of the survivors.
Said Jo-ann Huang, an executive from the SRC corporate communications: "Some of these basic needs include food ,water ,medical supplies, shelter blankets, and these items are currently assessed by our national sister societies. We're working very closely with them to see what they really need."
The SRC also said it is ready to send 100 stretchers and flexible splints, which are used to support fractures.
Mercy Relief said they have managed to collect about S$130,000 and S$30,000 for relief efforts in the Philippines and Indonesia respectively.
The Singapore Soka Association said they have managed to raise some S$24,700 in donations over the weekend, and will be contributing these funds towards Mercy Relief's efforts.
- CNA/yb
Source: Channel NewsAsia
Tue Oct 06, 2009 11:39 am