Finns open hearts and wallets to tidal wave victims

New Year's fireworks displays cancelled - money donated to disaster relief

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The emergency caused by the tidal wave in Asia has sparked considerable generosity around Finland. Money has been flowing to bank accounts of aid organisations, and volunteers collecting money on streets report considerable cash donations.
      As of Wednesday evening about EUR 1.3 million had been collected by various relief organisations.
      Hannu-Pekka Laiho, head of communications at the Finnish Red Cross, says that many volunteers are collecting money on city streets: hundreds have signed up in Helsinki alone.
      Some passers-by have put banknotes of 50 or 100 euros in the collection cans, which Laiho sees as very exceptional. Donations have also been coming in over the Internet.
      On Wednesday more than one million euros had been deposited on the bank accounts of the Finnish Red Cross.
      The sum does not include cash donations collected on city streets. Some individual donations have been quite large. For instance, the Central Organisation of Finnish Trade Unions (SAK) gave EUR 5,000.
     
Large donations have also been coming in from Finnish companies.
      "We are truly grateful for the support. Much money will be needed in the coming months."
      Finland's UNICEF organisation has also launched its drive. Yesterday 50,000 euros had been collected.
      "Many people want to send goods and teddy bears, but the most efficient way to give is by donating money", says UNICEF information officer Kirsti Dalman.
     
Save the Children is focusing on helping children in the affected areas and reuniting families. "We have had many calls. The suffering of children touches people. Even the smallest donation is valuable", says Merja Saarikoski, information officer of Save the Children Finland.
      Finnchurchaid, the foreign aid organisation of the Finnish Evangelical-Lutheran Church, has received more than EUR 205,000 in donations. The Church Council of the Finnish Lutheran Church has recommended that the money from collections at next Sunday's church services be sent to Finnchurchaid to help the victims of the disaster.
      The aid organisations agree that the fact that so many Finns are directly affected by the disaster has increased people's desire to help.
      "Nearly everyone knows someone who knows someone who has not been heard from", Saarikoski notes.
     
The Association of Finnish Local and Regional Authorities has recommended that municipal New Year's fireworks displays be cancelled, and that the money be donated to help the victims of the tidal waves in Asia. A similar recommendation was made by Deputy Parliamentary Speaker Ilkka Kanerva (Nat. Coalition).
      The cities of Raisio, Pori, Riihimäki, Mikkeli, Kerava, Oulu, and Turku have already announced the cancellation of their fireworks events.
      The City of Helsinki was not planning any fireworks. On Wednesday, Helsinki made a donation of EUR 50,000 to the Red Cross.
     
Donations to the relief effort can be made directly onto the bank accounts of aid organisations. Donations can also be made on the Internet, and over the telephone by calling special numbers. In addition to the local call charge, a donation of a specified sum is added to the caller's telephone bill.
      Donations to the Finnish Red Cross can be made to two bank accounts: Nordea - 221918-68000, and Osuuspankki 578007-10011649. Telephone donations (in Finland) can be made by calling 0600-12220 (EUR 19,95 + local call charge).
      Telephone donations to Finland's UNICEF organisation: 0600-14501 (EUR 15.11 + local call charge). Bank accounts: Nordea 152930-87, Sampo 8000-300001, OKOBANK 572132-1312, Aktia 405525-55724, and Ålandsbanken 660100-4050845. When paying to one of the bank accounts, donors can include the message "Aasian lapset" ("Children of Asia") in the space provided.
      The bank account of the emergency fund of Save the Children Finland is Nordea 101730-210727. Telephone donations can be made at 0700-0-4441 (EUR 12.05 + local call charge).
      Bank donations to Finnchurchaid can be made at Nordea: 157230-500504, and Sampo: 800018-223340 (include message "Aasia" in the space provided). Telephone donations: 0600-14747 (EUR 5.01 + local call charge), and 0600-11201 (EUR 10.10 + local call charge).


Links:
  Finnish UNICEF
  Finnish Red Cross
  Save the Children, Finland
  Finnchurchaid

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