Singapore Red Cross commits additional S$170,000 in aid, raises over S$3 million through Nepal floods appeal

SINGAPORE: The Singapore Red Cross (SRC) has committed an additional S$170,000 (US$134,000) in humanitarian aid for communities affected by the floods in Nepal, bringing its total contribution to S$220,000.

The latest funding will support the provision of emergency food supplies and equipment to ensure access to safe drinking water, SRC said on Thursday (Sep 3).

About S$80,000 will go towards emergency food supplies, including staples such as rice and lentils, for 2,500 households. The supplies will be distributed through SRC's partners on the ground.

The other S$90,000 will be used for water filtration supplies. A shipment of 183 water filters is scheduled to be deployed this weekend.

Each filter can produce more than 200 litres of clean water per hour and is designed to support communities of up to 200 people.

The latest commitment comes on top of SRC's initial S$50,000 contribution to the response and relief efforts in Nepal.

More than S$3 million has been raised through SRC's public fundraising appeal since it was launched.

“We are grateful for and encouraged by the strong support for our Nepal floods response," said SRC secretary-general and chief executive officer Benjamin William.

"Many donors have made their way to the Red Cross House these past days to personally hand over their donations. This show of solidarity and support will translate into much-needed assistance for communities affected by the floods, helping them through the immediate relief efforts and towards recovery," he added.

"We will honour the public trust by ensuring the contributions are managed transparently and efficiently, ensuring maximum impact." 

SRC told CNA that the more than S$3 million in donations will support immediate relief efforts and long-term recovery projects. "We are continuing to work with our partners on the ground to assess and commit to ongoing needs," it added.

SRC said that as of Wednesday, the Nepal Red Cross had dispatched 1,520 blankets, 715 mattresses, 1,418 tarpaulins, 392 hygiene kits, 760 dignity kits, 490 buckets, 365 mosquito nets, 80 emergency toilets, 55 first aid boxes, 25 stretchers and 14 tents across affected areas.

It has also distributed bottled water, ready-to-eat food and other essential relief items, while providing meals for 750 displaced people in Nepal's Nuwakot district.

Help desks offering assistance to reconnect separated family members and psychological first aid have also been set up.

"Needs continue to be assessed to ensure assistance responds to priorities identified on the ground," SRC said.

"Funds raised through SRC’s appeal will be channelled through the Red Cross Red Crescent Movement and other humanitarian partners on the ground to support relief and recovery efforts, guided by assessed needs."

AID FROM SINGAPORE

The Singapore government has contributed US$100,000 as seed money to support the SRC's public fundraising appeal for communities affected by the disaster.

SRC's public fundraising appeal is currently active. It will be open until Nov 30.

Singapore has also sent a team of police and forensic officers to Nepal to support disaster relief efforts. 

The initial contingent, comprising 17 Singapore Police Force (SPF) officers and two officers from the Health Sciences Authority’s Forensic Medicine Division, left Singapore on Sep 1 and 2.

They will be joined by another 14 officers in the coming days, bringing the contingent to 33, the police said on Thursday.

The catastrophic floods have killed at least 1,252 people in Nepal, with the overall death toll at over 1,270. In China, state media say there are 541 people missing, taking the overall number to 4,757.

Nearly 600 foreigners from over 30 nationalities are also missing, with nine Singaporeans among them.