MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency
Falklands' rapid response to Asian tsunami disaster.
By close of business at the Standard Chartered Bank in Stanley yesterday (Tuesday) a recently opened Tsunami Disaster fund account had already reached £6,500, which is in addition to £2,000 sent immediately to the British Red Cross from their local branch in the Falkland Islands, when the news of the disaster in Asia broke.
This sum can be expected to increase as individuals and groups organise fund-raising activities. The 2,300 Falkland Islanders regard themselves as charitable people and their response to disasters of all kinds, be they local or international, is usually swift and generous in relation to their small numbers.
Fund trustee, former Standard Chartered Bank manager, Keith Biles, told Mercopress that the money raised would be sent to the Disaster Emergency Committee's Tsunami Earthquake Appeal. The Disaster Emergency Committee (DEC), he explained, is an organisation which comes into action during major disasters to co-ordinate and centralize fund raising, freeing the major charitable organisations such as the International Red Cross, Oxfam, Save the Children etc. to concentrate their efforts on providing support for victims.
Government spokesman for January, Cllr. John Birmingham, told the Falkland Islands Broadcasting Service that he hopes the Government will be able to match the population's contributions pound for pound. "This will be the best way to help, given that the problem is so extensive and involves so many people," he said.
Speaking later to Mercopress, Cllr. Birmingham confirmed that he had been expressing a personal opinion and that such a decision by the Falkland Islands Government would not be possible until councillors had had an opportunity to discuss the matter formally. The funds allocated to disaster relief in the Government's budget for the current year had already been exhausted, the last donation going to Grenada following the hurricane there. He was certain, however, that the Falklands Government would be making a contribution to the Disaster Emergency Fund once the allocation of further funding had been agreed and approved.
The Falkland Islands Scouts will also be doing their part to support fellow scouts in the areas of Asia affected by the Tsunami. Tim Miller, President of the Falkland Islands Scout Association told Mercopress that there were 14 million scouts in these areas, amounting to approximately half of the world scout population. Scouts in those areas, who had survived or not been affected by the Tsunami were already helping in the relief effort, he said, by helping with the handling and distribution of aid.
Mr. Miller told Mercopress that the scout groups in the Falklands, including the cub Scout pack at the Mount Pleasant military base, have already started doing odd jobs for people in return for donations to a special fund set up by the World Scout Association. This fund, which is separate from the Disaster Emergency Fund is designed to give Scouts world-wide a chance to contribute directly to scout groups affected by the disaster. It is, said Mr. Miller, designed to be "a scout to scout exercise"
It is envisaged that the money raised by the efforts of members of the World Scout Association will be used for what Mr. Miller described as "Phase Two or Three of the relief effort", when the emphasis will change from immediate first aid to the rebuilding of the shattered communities. The funds will be sent directly to scout associations and groups in the affected regions and it will be up to them to decide how the money should be spent, according to their own particular needs and priorities.
As in Britain, flags on government buildings and elsewhere in the Falklands flew at half mast today, Wednesday, 05 January 2005, as a mark of respect for the victims of the Tsunami-Earthquake, who are reported to include approximately 200 Britons.
John Fowler (MP) Stanley
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