Dear Friends and Supporters,

Haiti’s catastrophic earthquake on Tuesday 12^th January 2010, is a tragic human disaster that continues to unfold even as relief efforts make their way to the country’s capital.  The center of the earthquake was about ten miles from the capital city of Port-au-Prince.  As the death toll mounts, it’s increasingly feared that this could become one of the most devastating global natural disasters in recent history, potentially rivaling Southeast Asia’s tsunami in 2004, which killed more than 200,000 people.

We send our deepest sympathies to all Haitian people around the world, especially those directly affected by the disaster.  We would like for them to know that UNA Singapore, all global UNAs community and WFUNA share in both their grief, at the horrible destruction, and hope, that the future will bring a peaceful reconstruction.

Our thoughts are also with the many UN peacekeepers and staff that were in the UN Mission building in Haiti. The UN reports that about 100 UN employees are missing in the rubble of the UN building and some 40 more are unaccounted for in other damaged buildings.  UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon announced that the UN would provide an initial USD10 million for relief from its Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF).

Such a human calamity compels urgent action.

One of the most important actions is to provide for the basic needs of the millions of survivors – food, water, medical supplies, shelter and trauma care.  It is our responsibility as people who care to ensure that the humanitarian impact of this disaster does not escalate even higher. By assisting the UN agencies most involved on the ground, we can make a difference.

I know you’ve got a lot of choices – there are many worthy NGOs making appeals simultaneously, but we would like to urge you to give directly to the pre-eminent UN organizations:

The World Food Program

UNICEF

The World Health Organization/Pan American Health Organization

Central Emergency Response Fund

We are certain that many of you have already contributed to some of the charities working in Haiti.  Some of you may still want to launch campaigns or events, sending your support as soon as possible as well as in the coming weeks.

Alternatively, if you are interested in assisting or donating money for the victims of the earthquake in Haiti or participate in our humanitarian asistance programme please contact UNAS ( Email: info@unas.org.sg  /  Tel: (65)-7000-663-8627  ) .  

We are confident that the globally conscious community will help meet the needs of Haitians and generously respond to this crisis.  Our hope is that the international community, including WFUNA and UNAs, can take action to help support Haiti in the days after this catastrophe.  We are each Global Citizens, and as such share in this responsibility.

Many thanks, 

Lee Kwang Boon

Secretary-General

United Nations Association of Singapore