« Kofi Annan's statement on Darfur, Sudan at the UN remembrance of the Holocaust | Main | South Asia Marks Tsunami One Month Anniversary - Remembering 447 Thousand »
General Public Gives Majority of Red CrossTsunami Donations
GENEVA (Reuters) - The Red Cross federation, the world's biggest humanitarian group, said on Wednesday it had raised a record $1.167 billion in just 30 days for victims of the Asian tsunami, enough to fund a 10-year recovery plan.
Some 85 percent came from donations by the general public, a testament to the "power of humanity," the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies said in a statement. The Geneva-based body's 181 national societies will now wind down fundraising.
This is remarkable on at least two levels. The shear magnitude of donations, funding relief and recovery of 10-years, is simply amazing. Second, the vast majority of the funds came from the general public and not governments. This second point is especially encouraging because the general response of the public to disasters is "the government should do something about it." Instead, individuals are "doing something" by reaching out and helping those in need.
Posted by tim at January 26, 2005 7:49 AM
- South Asia Marks Tsunami One Month Anniversary - Remembering 447 Thousand - Jan 26, 2005
- Tsunami toll rises above 165,000 - Jan 07, 2005
- Tsunami Death Toll Could Double Due to Hunger, Disease - Jan 05, 2005
- Tsunami Cost Estimated Over $15 Billion - Jan 05, 2005
- Tsunami Survivors at Risk of Disease and Malnutrituion - Jan 03, 2005
- Aiding Tsunami Victims - Jan 03, 2005
- Tsunami Updates - Donations Top $2 Billion - Jan 01, 2005
- Some Predict Tsunami Death Toll Over 400,000 - Dec 30, 2004
- Earthquake-Tsunami Catastrophe Toll at 114,000 - Dec 30, 2004
- Tsunami Toll Above 55,000, More Relief Needed - Dec 28, 2004
Site map