Singapore Red Cross Assists IFRC in channeling donations for relief in Haiti

Background:

On 12 January 2010, a catastrophic 7.3 earthquake hit west of Port-au-prince and Jacmel in Haiti, at 16.53 local time. According to sources, an estimated three million people have been affected and 70,000 bodies are trapped under the rubble, with up to 200, 000 dead.

Several aftershocks followed and major landmarks were damaged. Hospitals were destroyed as a result of the aftermath.

Latest Update on the IFRC Relief Operations

The International Federation of the Red Cross (IFRC) has deployed a Field Assessment and Coordination Team (FACT) to assess emergency and early recovery needs, including the restoration of livelihoods and permanent shelter. The team is composed of experts in logistics, emergency health, shelter, telecommunications, reporting and communication.

A total of  16 Emergency Response Units (ERU) have been activated and are exclusively specialised in relief coordination, water and sanitation, shelter, telecommunications and health are also expected in the next few days to provide much-needed support for the emergency operation – including the deployment of a field hospital with a capacity of attending to 50 patients at a time.

Red Cross volunteers who amount to a total of 400 staff from Central, Caribbean and Southern American societies are in Haiti currently assisting the injured and supporting hospitals, which do not have sufficient capacity to deal with this emergency.

Urgent Needs: Search and rescue, field hospitals, emergency healthcare, water purification, emergency shelter, logistics and telecommunications.

The IFRC has pre-positioned relief supplies for 3,000 families in Haiti. In Port-au-Prince there are enough pre-positioned supplies for 500 families. These emergency supplies consist of kitchen kits, personal hygiene kits, blankets and containers for storing drinking water.

The IFRC has launched a global emergency appeal fund to help survivors of the earthquake in Haiti.  The IFRC also seeks to raise at least 100 million Swiss Francs
(US$103 million/€73 million), part of which will be used provide initial aid to 300,000 families affected by disaster for at least three years. 

“The funds from this appeal will support vital relief operations and will focus on temporary shelter, restoring water and sanitation facilities and providing medical care as well as psychological support to the affected population”, said Mauricio Bustamante, IFRC Operations Coordinator in Panama

Singapore Red Cross’ assistance to Earthquake Haiti

As part of the global effort to raise funds for the survivors of the earthquake, the SRC will continue to assist IFRC to receive donations from the people of Singapore. 

Donors who wish to contribute towards the IFRC relief operations in Haiti, you may do so by making your donations through the Singapore Red Cross.

Donations can be made through the following:

1)      Cheque donations
Donations via cheque can be sent to the Singapore Red Cross @ 15 Penang Lane, Singapore 238486. Please make the cheque to “Singapore Red Cross Society” and include name, contact details and “Earthquake Haiti” at the back of the cheque

2)      Walk-in donations
Donors may make their cash/cheque donations at the Singapore Red Cross @ 15 Penang Lane (near Dhoby Gaut MRT Station) during its office hours, Mondays to Fridays from 9am to 6pm.