Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Paavo Väyrynen has decided to grant 400.000 Euros in humanitarian aid to the victims of the Chile earthquake. The aid will be channelled through the Finnish Red Cross.
International Federation of Red Cross, IFRC, has launched a 4.7 million Euro emergency appeal to support the victims of the Chile earthquake. IFRC will implement the aid operation together with the Chilean Red Cross and other national organisations of the Red Cross. The aid will be targeted to cover health services, emergency accommodation and distribution of aid kits.
The Finnish Red Cross is responding to the IFRC appeal by sending field hospital equipment to Chile.
The earthquake which hit on 27 February 2010 on the region of Maule in the Chilean coastline has so far resulted in a death toll of over 700 people. The quake has caused vast destruction in the central region of Chile, where buildings and infrastructure, among others, have suffered serious damage. The lives of some 2 million people are affected by the earthquake.
Further information: Ulla-Maija Finskas, Head of the Unit for Humanitarian Assistance, tel. +358 9 1605 6225 or +358 400 431 921, and Päivi Nevala, Adviser to the Minister for Foreign Trade and Development, tel. +358 9 1605 6171 or +358 40 753 4375.
