Global Reaction

Singapore donates $395,000 to quake-hit Japan

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2011-03-15 19:55

SINGAPORE -- The Singapore government announced on Tuesday that it is donating 500,000 Singapore dollars (US$395,257) to Japan as seed money in aid following the latest massive earthquake and tsunami.

Singapore's Ambassador-at-Large Chew Tai Soo, who has been appointed by Minister of Foreign Affairs George Yeo as coordinator for Singapore's efforts to support the Japanese people, said those who wish to contribute to the relief efforts can send their donations to the Singapore Red Cross Society.

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"Most of them left their homes in a hurry and they are sleeping on concrete floors ... (Some of the needed) items would be bottled waters, water and also plastic water containers so that they can receive water from water trucks when they are coming," Chew told a press conference.

Minister of Foreign Affairs George Yeo conveyed his deepest sympathies to Japanese Ambassador to Singapore Yoichi Suzuki, who called on Yeo to express his appreciation for Singapore's support in the post-disaster relief operations, the ministry said in a statement.

Suzuki said blankets, mattresses, bottled water and water containers were in short supply in the affected areas.

Yeo pledged to do what Singapore could to help with the relief efforts.

Singapore Red Cross Society said it has set up a hotline to help Japanese in Singapore get in touch with their families and friends in Japan, and local charity organization Mercy Relief said it is coordinating relief efforts with non-governmental organizations in Japan to see what can be done.

Meanwhile, the Singapore rescue team is now in quake-hit city of Soma, Fukushima awaiting deployment as transportation in the affected area has been disrupted following the earthquake, Chew said.