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SINGAPORE : More organisations in Singapore are rallying together to help the cyclone victims in Myanmar.
Two organisations - The Salvation Army and the Red Cross - received a combined amount of about S$50,000 from the public, even before appeals for funds were made.
Staff at The Salvation Army, headquartered in Bishan, is busy with preparations for the public to donate funds to the victims of Cyclone Nargis. The organisation aims to raise S$250,000 (US$181,000).
But before it made any appeal, The Salvation Army had already received more than S$3,000 as of May 8 afternoon. Most donations were made via its website.
The Salvation Army has till June 11 to solicit donations from the public. It plans to have street collections on May 15 at selected shopping centres islandwide.
Donation boxes will also be placed in all Starbucks cafes. The public can also send cheques made payable to "The Salvation Army", and indicate on the back "Myanmar Cyclone Disaster Relief".
The cheques should be mailed to:
The Salvation Army
Myanmar Cyclone Disaster Relief
Ang Mo Kio PO Box 640
Singapore 915605
The Salvation Army is also putting together an assessment team to go to Myanmar to help its local counterpart with relief efforts. It is also making sure that donations get to the intended victims.
David Bringans, Commissioner and Territorial Commander, The Salvation Army, said: "One of the benefits the Salvation Army has is that we are an international organisation and we have our own people on the ground.
"The Salvation Army has been in Myanmar since 1915 so we are very well established there and all the donations that are given here will go to Myanmar. (The donations) will be dispensed or spent by The Salvation Army in Myanmar."
Commissioner Bringans added that immediate relief needed would be food, water and shelter. But it also has long-term plans, which have also been implemented previously in other disaster-hit areas such as in Indonesia after the tsunami, and Pakistan, after the 2005 earthquake.
He said: "I think shelter is the main thing because many of the people in Myanmar who have been affected have lost their housing. Most of the housing in the rural districts in Myanmar is very flimsy.
"So it's not surprising that their houses are gone and they need shelter, especially since this the beginning of the rainy season in Myanmar. The rain will make life even more miserable for the people so the quicker their housing needs can be (met), the better."
Another relief organisation that is also hoping to help make things better for the Myanmar victims is Mercy Relief.
It has already formed a team of two doctors, four nurses and two officials who are ready to go, once their visas are approved.
Mercy Relief said it will be procuring and packing the relief supplies at the Singapore Soka Youth Centre. The supplies are part of the first batch of relief supplies to be sent to Myanmar, comprising tents, water purification tablets, medical and relief supplies.
The shipment also includes household kits such as utensils and solid fuel for survivors to cook and feed themselves. The relief supplies are due to be shipped over this weekend.
Its licence to collect donations will run until May 31 and Mercy Relief hopes to raise S$300,000 (US$217,705) through the fundraising drive.
The public may donate and support the disaster relief efforts through the following means: Tele-Mercy at 1900-112-1010 for a S$10 donation or 1900-112-1050 for a S$50 donation, or ATM Transfer/Internet Banking to Mercy Relief's DBS account 054-900493-6.
The public can also send their cheques to:
Mercy Relief Limited
172 Pasir Panjang Road
Singapore 118558
Other organisations that have received donations from the public include the Singapore Red Cross.
As at Thursday evening, the Red Cross said it has received about S$48,000 (US$35,000).
Corporations, schools and religious organisations have also chipped in. DHL and Pacific International Lines, for example, have offered to work with Mercy Relief and the Singapore Red Cross to send relief supplies free of charge to Myanmar.
Among the schools, Ahmad Ibrahim Secondary School said its students have expressed interest in helping relief organisations with the packing of supplies if the need arises.
Staff and students of the Singapore Polytechnic will also be mobilised to raise funds. This came after Myanmar students in the polytechnic approached the school's management for permission to do so. All funds will be channelled to the Red Cross.
The Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (MUIS) will organise a special fundraising effort during Friday prayers. Donation boxes will be placed at all 69 mosques.
The contributions will be handed over to Mercy Relief. Contributors can also forward their cheques to MUIS. They can make their cheques payable to "MUIS", with the words "Humanitarian Relief Effort in Myanmar" written on the back. - CNA /ls
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