(AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino/Current Newstories)
Wow, everyone’s donations to the International Red Cross Appeal for L’Aquila means they are almost halfway to the amount they have said is needed to provide full support to those people whose lives were tragically altered on the 6th April 2009 in the province of L’Aquila.
2.9 million Euros Needed to Fund Support, Dignity & Respect
So far through everyone’s generosity they have raised 2.9 million euros of the 4.9 million required to help support the tiered plan of:
Emergency > Rehabilitation > Reconstruction
for the city and hill villages most affected in L’Aquila. The organisation currently has a total of 900 volunteers supporting 22,000 people in immediate needs such as shelter, food, medical care & psychosocial support.
6 Months Essential Care
It is hoped that after 6 months this figure will go down to 7,000 once people’s homes have been repaired. They currently have 6 camps set up, 2 in Assergi, 1 in San Gregorio, 1 in Collemagio and another in Centiceolella, with a capacity of 4,500 beds. The sixth is used to accommodate Red Cross staff.
22,000 Meals Per Day
The mobile kitchens that are run by the Italian Red Cross are currently providing a total of 22,000 meals per day. Obviously the leading role in reconstruction remains with the Italian government and local authorities, but in the meantime the Red Cross will be supporting the local population to ensure that wherever possible each individual can live their altered life with dignity and respect.
Weather & Aftershocks Don’t Make Easy Living
It’s been difficult – the weather has been atrocious, causing landslides and creating further problems including halting gas supply… we need to keep up our support.
Bank Holiday weekend’s are the perfect time to fundraise, so how about holding a simple barbecue or picnic this May Labour Day? You can invite your friends to donate to your Red Cross Pot for each sausage & large glass of red wine they enjoy.. every little counts and most importantly will help to make sure that the next 6 months in L’Aquila isn’t quite so grim as the last 3 weeks.
Further Reading
Read The Red Cross Report, it’s interesting as it will help answer any worries anyone had about wandering funds too.