Finnish Red Cross sends half a million euros for aid work after earthquake in Southeast Asia

The international aid work of the Red Cross includes both immediate emergency aid and long-term support to help people recover from the natural disaster in the coming years. 

Hundreds of trained volunteers of the Myanmar Red Cross Society have helped those affected by the earthquake. Teams of volunteers have searched for and rescued people lost in the rubble, given first aid to the injured and distributed water, food and essential supplies such as blankets, toiletries and tarpaulins to those in need.

‘Right now, the priority is to provide shelter, food, clean water and first aid to those who have lost their homes in the earthquake. However, the need for help will not cease in the first few days or weeks; recovery will continue for years to come. Homes need to be rebuilt and water and sanitation systems need to be restored. Support is also needed to provide people with the necessary healthcare,’ says Marko Korhonen, Head of International Emergency Operations Unit at the Finnish Red Cross.

The devastating earthquake that struck Southeast Asia on Friday 28 March and its aftershocks have impacted the lives of over 18 million people living in the area. The epicentre of the quake was located in central Myanmar. The aid operation seeks to meet the humanitarian needs of 100,000 people. The work will focus in particular on helping people in the regions of Bago, South Shan, Magway, Mandalay, Naypyidaw and Sagaing.

‘The work of the Myanmar Red Crescent Society in the field is invaluable. They have local knowledge and expertise. However, the scale of the damage is so extensive that outside help will be needed for a long time to come,’ Korhonen says.

Help – donate to the Disaster Relief Fund

You can help by donating to the Disaster Relief Fund:

• Donate online
• Use MobilePay to transfer the desired sum to the number 10900
• Donate €40 – Text the word SPR40 to the number 16499 
• Donate €20 – Text the word SPR20 to the number 16499

The donations allow Red Cross to help the victims of natural disasters and conflicts all around the world. In Finland, aid is offered to victims of sudden accidents, such as fires.