Note: The following appeal is now closed. You can support our ongoing work by donating to the Canadian Red Cross
Every year, typhoon season wreaks havoc on millions on people. Continuous monsoon rains, cyclones and landslides devastated over 235 million people across Asia last summer. This year is already proving to be another active typhoon season with six storms hitting Asia since the beginning of June 2008.
Thousands of people in Nepal are also in desperate need of support due to flooding that has left them without shelter, food, and the basic necessities of life. High water levels on the Saptakoshi River has resulted in flooding in the densely populated region of Sunsari. Approximately 70,000 people have been displaced from their homes.
Red Cross staff and volunteers are providing relief supplies to those most in need. Trained volunteers are also providing first aid services to those who have been injured. Your support is needed so that Red Cross can continue to provide help to the thousands of people in need in Nepal.
When a disaster strikes trained local Red Cross staff and volunteers are ready to respond at a moment’s notice - but we cannot do it alone. Your support will help ensure that we can continue to provide support to communities already affected by the 2008 typhoon season and also to ensure that volunteers are ready to respond quickly when the next typhoon strikes Asia.
Canadians wishing to help support typhoon response activities are encouraged to contribute by donating online, calling 1-800-418-1111 or contacting their local Red Cross office. Cheques should be made payable to the Canadian Red Cross, earmarked “Asia Typhoons 2008” and mailed to the Canadian Red Cross National Office, 400 Cooper Street, Suite 8000, Ottawa, Ontario K2P 2H8.
In-kind donations of food, clothing and other items, while well intentioned, are not the best way to help those in need. There are tremendous processing and transportation costs involved in shipping these items to beneficiaries. Local purchases of food and clothing are more culturally appropriate and effective. Red Cross supplies can be purchased in the immediate area, thereby reducing transportation costs. Cash transfers to the affected region provide the optimum flexibility to our Red Cross colleagues so they can meet the most urgent needs.