Mercy Relief’s (MR) preliminary 2-man team to Japan has established the logistics supply network in the northern part of quake and tsunami-affected areas near Iwate.  Operating amidst sub-zero temperatures, the team is now able to procure much-needed relief supplies from several unaffected neighbouring prefectures and transporting them to the various shelter centres holding the survivors who have been evacuated from the disaster affected areas.

MR’s initial tranche of relief supplies comprising blankets, water and food, amounts to USD50,000.  A second relief team has been deployed today to bolster its aid efforts there.

Working with the local governmental and non-governmental agencies and the business community there, MR’s operational objective remains focused towards supporting the stabilization of the ongoing crisis i.e. addressing the essential needs of the affected communities and reducing the risk of exposure to natural elements such as the falling snow and dipping temperatures.

MR is currently serving the affected areas which are a safe distance outside the radiation-hazard zone (officially 30km radius of the nuclear reactors’ location).  In order to facilitate and ensure the team’s safety and quick evacuation, if necessary, a dedicated unit at the MR Headquarters in Singapore is monitoring the radiation alerts and advice from the Japanese Government and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

Mercy Relief staff loading relief supplies in sub-zero temperatures near Iwate.

Fundraising Efforts in Singapore –Day 5  

MR has received its largest donation of SGD 200,000 from a group of 4 Chinese donors, bringing its total amount raised to SGD 394,219. Whilst donation has mostly come from private individual donors, outpours from its first fundraising event, Gambatte Japan!, held last night at the Blujaz Cafe (organized by the Wakyo Association, Aya School and Vivid Creations) brought in SGD 76,013.  Commenting on the encouraging support that Mercy Relief has received from the public, institutions, corporate and the Japanese expatriate community to help with its fundraising efforts, its Chief Executive, Mr Hassan Ahmad said that, “while MR does not have a fundraising target, we will do as much as the financial resource that we have. It is also important to note that it is not merely about the amount of money that MR is raising, but about people coming onboard the humanitarian platform and having compassion for others who are in distress.”

With more than 20 companies, institutions and public coming forward to raise funds or offer in-kind services to support MR’s logistical operations, MR has stepped up its fundraising and donor management efforts by issuing authorization letters to their various fundraising partners. Apart from contributing monetary donations, companies have also offered to help MR publicize its aid efforts via social, digital telecoms mediums and physical and online retail channels.

Some of MR’s fundraising partners include:

Maybank –- donation cans at 22 branches and donations via credit card facilities

Mr Bean – –donation cans at 54 outlets across Singapore and sales proceeds

Apostrophe Digital – –updates on MR’s aid efforts and donation modes on iphone & ipad app

Focus Media Singapore –donation appeal campaign via Focus Media’s digital Out-of-Home media network deployed at over 280 premium office & commercial buildings in the prime business districts of Singapore, at Watsons personal care chain-stores and at all HDB shopping centers island-wide.

Jumbo Group of Restaurants – –donation cans at restaurants and sales proceeds

Donations from the public will be used to address the most pressing basic needs including food, water and blankets which will be procured on the ground and dispatched from MR’s ready stockpile.

About Mercy Relief

Mercy Relief is a Singaporean humanitarian organisation which engages in both disaster relief and sustainable development programmes. It was established in 2003 as an independent non-governmental humanitarian charity responding to the human tragedies in Asia. Mercy Relief’s aid programme focuses on providing timely and effective assistance to disaster-stricken communities and has maintained the delivery of emergency aid within 72 hours from the point of appeal for assistance.  

In the past 12 years, Mercy Relief has disbursed over S$32 million in aid across 40 disaster relief and 53 sustainable development initiatives. Mercy Relief has impacted an aggregate of 2 million lives in 24 countries and areas, namely Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, DPR Korea, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Japan, Laos, Lebanon, Malaysia, the Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal,  Pakistan, Palestine, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam and Yemen.

For more information, you may call us at 6514 6322 or email corporateaffairs@mercyrelief.org

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