SINGAPORE, 18 April 2016 – MERCY Relief, Singapore’s home-grown humanitarian non-governmental-organisation (NGO), will be distributing critical aid essentials to the quake-hit communities to support immediate disaster relief efforts in the Kumamoto prefecture of Japan, where two powerful earthquakes of magnitudes 6.5 and 7.3 hit last week.

Relief items including food, water, sanitation packs, and other non-food necessities will be handed out to those affected by the earthquakes. With the help of ground partners, Mercy Relief will also be providing hot meals to quake survivors at community kitchens in Kumamoto, Japan.

Official sources from Japan reported that as of 5pm on 17th April 2016, the death toll has reached 41, and over 1,000 people are injured. Kumamoto, Oita and Miyazaki prefectures are still suffering frequent aftershocks that are slowing rescue efforts, and over 110,000 people have been displaced. Local authorities have established 720 temporary evacuation centres for displaced residents. Approximately 275,000 households in Kumamoto are still without water supply and 66,400 households in Kumamoto are without electricity. Kumamoto Airport also remains closed due to damaged infrastructure.

Mercy Relief’s Executive Director Zhang Tingjun said, “Japan has been a close friend to Singapore for many years. Mercy Relief has been working with its partners in Japan since 2011, when we raised over $2.8 million worth of humanitarian aid in the wake of the devastating 9-magnitude earthquake and resulting tsunami that caused major destruction and loss of lives. In light of our deep engagement with the Japanese community, we remain committed to ensuring we do our part when our friends in Japan are faced with another disaster.”

Mercy Relief will be launching a public fundraising appeal in Singapore from 19th April to 31st May 2016. The public can support Mercy Relief’s relief efforts via donations through the following channels:

1) Credit Card donation via Mercy Relief’s website: https://www.mercyrelief.org/donate/?page_id=236
2) Cross cheque to Mercy Relief Limited with “Japan Earthquake Relief 2016” written on the back of the cheque, and mailed to Blk 160, Lorong 1 Toa Payoh, #01-1568, Singapore 310160
3) Cash donations at Blk 160, Lorong 1 Toa Payoh, #01-1568, Singapore 310160
4) Funds transfer to Mercy Relief’s DBS Current Account 054-900741-2

For media inquiries, please contact:
Benjamin Tan
Black Dot
+65 9770 4718
benjamin@blackdot.sg
Jolyn Mo
Black Dot
+65 9048 3582
jolyn@blackdot.sg