The Singapore Red Cross
(SRS) has raised S$4.1 million for the victims of the
Japan earthquake and tsunami, excluding the S$500,000 pledged by
the Singapore government.
With cash donations from other aid
agencies exceeding S$5 million, the people in Singapore are giving when it counts.
Pat Gauron, who has been a regular SRS volunteer for more than a
decade, said "The response has been overwhelming. They come in with
big fat cheques."
Yahoo! Singapore understands that
the aid agency sees several hundreds of
donors daily, with crowds coming in droves during lunch and after
working hours.
"I actually spent a year in Japan during my undergraduate days,
so I really feel for the victims and want to help them in whatever
way I can," said 35-year-old marketing manager Samantha Chew, who
made a donation during her lunch break.
A 42-year-old businessman who only wanted to be known as Ng,
added, "I don't donate regularly to such charities, but the Japan
disaster was just too heartbreaking. I knew I had to help."
SRS has sent 10,000 bottles of water, 1,200 blankets and 200
mattresses to Sendai, in
north Japan.
Once Japanese authorities give the word, the aid agency will
send its second batch of relief aid -- 10 tonnes of blankets and
collapsible water containers -- to the disaster zone.
Meanwhile, aid agency Mercy
Relief has collected S$722,000 so far, including a
S$200,000 cheque by faith group Singapore Soka
Association to help aid workers in Japan buy relief
supplies such as food, blankets and drinking
water.
Its five-member team is now in Japan distributing relief
supplies to victims near the Iwate
prefecture.
World Vision
Singapore has also collected more than S$400,000 as of
5pm on Monday.
