Nepal’s leader labels devastating flood a ‘warning to the world’

The Singapore Red Cross (SRC) has pledged an additional $2 million in aid to assist victims of the recent Nepal floods. Funds from this latest donation will be utilized to supply food, hygiene products, and warm clothing to affected communities, according to the SRC's CEO Benjamin William. The floods, which occurred on August 26, claimed over 1,450 lives and left more than 5,700 people still unaccounted for, including nine Singaporeans.

The SRC's commitment is the third tranche of aid, following $50,000 pledged in the first tranche and $170,000 in the second. The initial funds provided essential necessities such as food and water. The third tranche, however, will focus on supporting the most vulnerable, including seniors, children, and pregnant women, during the approaching winter. This will entail providing warm clothing, blankets, bedsheets, shoes, hygiene products, and essential foods like rice, cooking oil, and biscuits.

SRC senior director Sahari Ani was part of a six-person team dispatched to Kathmandu on September 20, returning on September 24. He revealed that 70% of the missing individuals are male Nepalese workers who were at work in factories along the river when the floods struck, while women and children were away at school or home. The SRC urges the public to consider the long-term recovery efforts, emphasizing the importance of supporting children's education and psychological trauma recovery.

The SRC plans to dispatch another team to Nepal in November to further aid the affected communities.

In just one month, the SRC's public fundraising appeal has raised over $6.2 million, with the campaign scheduled to conclude on November 30. William expressed gratitude for the strong support from Singaporeans, stating that while the immediate emergency has passed, recovery efforts are only just beginning. The SRC remains committed to utilizing donations effectively to bring lasting support to the affected communities.

Donations can be made through credit cards (Giving.sg, DeeDa, Give.Asia), PayNow using the provided UEN (S86CC0370ERF1), cheques payable to Singapore Red Cross Society, or in person at Red Cross House, with donations being tax-deductible under the Overseas Humanitarian Assistance Tax Deduction Scheme.