Source: CNA
SINGAPORE: The government has given the Singapore Red Cross S$500,000 as seed money to kick-start relief efforts to the tsunami and earthquake stricken areas in Japan.
The money will be used to send items like blankets, mattresses and water bottles.
Speaking at a media conference a short while ago, Red Cross Chairman, Mr Tee Tua Ba says, he hopes to send the first batch of items within the next 48 hours.
The Red Cross has also received nearly S$70,000 in donations from Singaporeans.
Non-governmental organisation Mercy Relief also has a two-man team in Japan to coordinate efforts in affected areas.
Mercy Relief Chief Executive Hassan Ahmad says the organisation has prepared 20,000 packets of ready-to-eat porridge and and 20 units of paddle-powered water systems to send to the affected areas.
This will go on flight Wednesday.
"What we need to do now besides the operations on the ground is to raise funds so as to continue with this relief effort which is so massive," added Mr Hassan Ahmad.
Meanwhile, Singapore's former ambassador to Japan and currently ambassador-at-large, Mr Chew Tai Soo, says Singapore will not be embarking on an operation as massive as what was done in the aftermath of the Indonesian tsunami.
He said the Japanese are generally well-prepared to deal with disasters and earthquakes, and what is critical now is to meet their immediate necessities.
"As for Singaporeans in the affected areas, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs says it has been able to contact most of them in the Sendai and other affected areas. For those who have not been contacted, the Ministry urges them to follow instructions given by the Japanese government to its own people, closely," added Mr Chew.
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SINGAPORE: The government has given the Singapore Red Cross S$500,000 as seed money to kick-start relief efforts to the tsunami and earthquake stricken areas in Japan.
The money will be used to send items like blankets, mattresses and water bottles.
Speaking at a media conference a short while ago, Red Cross Chairman, Mr Tee Tua Ba says, he hopes to send the first batch of items within the next 48 hours.
The Red Cross has also received nearly S$70,000 in donations from Singaporeans.
Non-governmental organisation Mercy Relief also has a two-man team in Japan to coordinate efforts in affected areas.
Mercy Relief Chief Executive Hassan Ahmad says the organisation has prepared 20,000 packets of ready-to-eat porridge and and 20 units of paddle-powered water systems to send to the affected areas.
This will go on flight Wednesday.
"What we need to do now besides the operations on the ground is to raise funds so as to continue with this relief effort which is so massive," added Mr Hassan Ahmad.
Meanwhile, Singapore's former ambassador to Japan and currently ambassador-at-large, Mr Chew Tai Soo, says Singapore will not be embarking on an operation as massive as what was done in the aftermath of the Indonesian tsunami.
He said the Japanese are generally well-prepared to deal with disasters and earthquakes, and what is critical now is to meet their immediate necessities.
"As for Singaporeans in the affected areas, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs says it has been able to contact most of them in the Sendai and other affected areas. For those who have not been contacted, the Ministry urges them to follow instructions given by the Japanese government to its own people, closely," added Mr Chew.
