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(April 8, 2009 - Ottawa) The Canadian Red Cross has established an agreement with the Italian Red Cross Society for relief and recovery and is now accepting donations to help support those whose lives were devastated by the recent earthquake in L’Aquila, Italy. Italian Red Cross rescue teams were on the scene of the disaster an hour after the earthquake struck and continue to be active in the emergency response phase, providing survivors with meals, blankets, emergency shelter, ambulances and field hospitals to assist the injured. 'Over the last few days we have received hundreds of calls from concerned Canadians seeking to help,' says Canadian Red Cross Secretary General Conrad Sauvé. 'Canadians always respond immediately with great generosity.' At 3:32 a.m. on Monday, April 6th, a 6.3 magnitude earthquake struck the city of L'Aquila in central Italy, 120 km northeast of Rome. According to Red Cross reports, at least 250 people have died, more than 1500 have been injured and roughly 28,000 have been left homeless. The number of dead may continue to grow. 'With this agreement to support relief and recovery, Canadians will be able to express their solidarity with those affected. We will gratefully accept their donations to support our sister Red Cross society.' Canadians wishing to make a financial donation may give online at www.redcross.ca, call 1-800-418-1111 or contact their local Canadian Red Cross office. The 24-hour toll free line accepts Visa, MasterCard and American Express. Cheques should be made payable to the Canadian Red Cross, earmarked 'Italian Earthquake' and mailed to the Canadian Red Cross National Office, 170 Metcalfe Street, Suite 300, Ottawa, Ontario, K2P 2P2. The Canadian Red Cross is a member of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, which includes the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, the International Committee of the Red Cross and 186 national Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. Our mission is to improve the lives of vulnerable people by mobilizing the power of humanity in Canada and around the world. For more information please contact: Canadian Red Cross Media Relations Line (613) 740-1994 www.redcross.ca |
