January 20th, 2010 The island of Aruba is helping to bring aid to Haiti, following the devastating earthquake which nearly destroyed the country’s capital city and surrounding areas and killed thousands in the impoverished nation. Red Cross Aruba is in the process of collecting funds from Aruban citizens and companies, and has been receiving an overwhelming number of calls from those looking to donate. Red Cross Aruba has opened bank accounts at all local banks for direct donations, and will send the collected funds to Red Cross International, which is coordinating relief efforts with emergency supplies, technical assistance and other support to those in urgent need in Haiti. Red Cross Aruba is also organizing a relief effort to send local doctors and surgeons to Haiti to provide medical assistance along with Red Cross volunteers from Aruba.
On January 16, 2010, the Red Cross Aruba joined forces with the Aruban Government, the Dutch Marines, the hospital of Aruba, members of the local business community and the Port Authority of Aruba to dispatch a Dutch Marine ship carrying water, food, flashlights, medical equipment and medication to Haiti on a humanitarian aid mission. Additionally, The Aruba Tourism Authority is working with the Red Cross to organize a local telethon, called Help Haiti Red Cross, to help raise money for those in need.
“The island of Aruba recognizes the high level of devastation caused by the earthquake in Haiti, and we are helping to contribute to relief efforts,” stated Gina Lopez-Gnecco, public relations director of the Aruba Tourism Authority. “Even though Aruba is located 450 miles south of Haiti, we do have a small community of Haitians, and both individuals and private companies in the country are coming forth to offer donations and support to help provide assistance to those in need.”
Setar Aruba, a telecommunications company, is donating money raised by every customer who texts the word “Haiti” to their call line, which will collect 5.00 AWG (approx. $2.77 USD) per text. Digicel Aruba, a telecommunications company, has donated $100,000 USD to a relief fund for Haiti, and is also donating 100 percent of proceeds from all customers who text the word “Help” to a call line that has been set up for the relief effort.
MetaCorp, an Aruba-based holding company, has donated 50,000 AWG (approx. $27,800) to Red Cross relief efforts, and Burger King in Aruba has donated 5,000 AWG (approx. $2,785 USD). Fundacion Cas pa nos Comunidad (FCCA), a local organization dedicated to solving the shortage of social housing in Aruba, is organizing a national collection day on January 23, 2010, during which the Aruban community will have the opportunity to donate funds, goods, clothing and food to aid relief efforts.
Additionally, De Schakel College, a private school on the island, is also organizing fund raising activities and collecting clothing and supplies.
For more information on Aruba, please visit online at www.ARUBA.com or call 1-800-TO-ARUBA.
