SOS MALTA FUND RAISING
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Special Scout WorldInfo
Since the announcement of the earthquake in Haiti, the international
Scout brotherhood has mobilized behind a major aid initiative.
Actions are being multiplied everywhere to assist the Haitian Scouts
and it is gradually becoming much easier to establish contact with
them now.
This special message is intended to provide you with all the
necessary information you may need to establish the collection and
submission of donations, as well as to inform you of the manner in
which the Movement has organized itself in the stricken country and
on the methods that have been put in place to facilitate delivery of
our international aid.
Contents
1. Coordination of International Scout Aid
2. Haitian Scouts in actions
3. World Scouting with the Red Cross and the United Nations
4. Supporting emergency needs
5. Supporting the post-emergency reconstruction
6. International call for donation
7. Supporting international humanitarian aid
8. Contacts at the World Scout Bureau
9. Information made available on a special blog
1. Coordination of International Scout Aid
As of today, International Scout Aid is coordinated on site by the
Scouts of Haiti, our national member organization, supported by the
Scouts et Guides de France and the World Scout Bureau.
Being their historical partners, the Scouts et Guides de France have
sent a reconnaissance mission which will arrive today in
Port-au-Prince (see point 3). The French association is covering the
expenses for this particular mission itself, in order not to affect
the integrity of the donations.
The Haitian Scouts can count on support from the island, including
the support of the Scouts from the Dominican Republic who have
accepted to provide their headquarters as a logistical base. During
the last 2 days, the Dominican Scout Association has been working on
the preparation of this mission, in direct relation with the Scouts
et Guides de France and the World Scout Bureau. Its high level
contacts with state officials and the United Nations system has
allowed the objectives of the mission to be assured.
The World Scout Bureau is coordinating the offers of support coming
from National Scout Organizations (see point 5) and handling the
international call for donations (see point 6), as well as
relationships with international humanitarian aid agencies (see
point 3).
2. Haitian Scouts in action
Having experienced the difficult consequences of many natural
disasters, the Haitian Scouts have acquired expertise that they once
again have put at the disposal of the people of Haiti. Hundreds of
Scouts have presented themselves to the association's president,
Gerard-Marie Tardieu, either to offer their assistance or to
undertake rescue missions. Below are a series of the efforts made so
far, as reported to us by our brothers and sisters of the Scouts of
Haiti.
The Scouts of Jacmel have helped local firemen to find and rescue
victims trapped under rubble. They have also helped in the
distribution of food and water to the victims.
The Scouts of Saint-Marc have put in place a makeshift clinic which
provides primary care to the injured victims coming from
Port-au-Prince.
The Scouts of the Saint-George group and Caleb have helped over 2000
survivors to reach the borders of the Dominican Republic in their
personal cars so that the wounded may be treated, despite the high
petrol prices (about 7-8 € per gallon or 6 litres). Through local
committees, the two groups have been able to provide many of the
survivors with food and shelter in their own homes.
The Scouts of the Gideon de Carrefour group have pulled out about
300 bodies from under the debris and saved about 725 victims. They
have hand-fabricated coffins for the dozen Scouts who died.
Additionally, they have undertaken the difficult but necessary task
of digging a communal trench to bury 150 of the deceased
individuals.
There is an ever present desire from Scouts around the country to
come to the aid of the population affected by the earthquake, which
almost destroyed Port-au-Prince, Petit-Goave, Leogane, Jacmel and
Grand-Goave. Despite their strong motivation, they are lacking most
of the necessary tools except for their own desire to help. During
the previous natural disaster caused by hurricanes in 2008, the
Haitian Scouts were able to act in the three sites that were
particularly hard hit (Gonaïves, Cabaret and Chansolme) with the
help of the French Embassy in Haiti, the World Food Programme,
UNICEF, the Franco-Haitian association platforms, Electricians
Without Borders, Campus Ministry and many more partners.
Scouts of Haiti in 2008, read their full story
here:
3. World Scouting, the Red Cross and the United Nations
The reconnaissance mission sent by the Scouts et Guides de France
left Santo Domingo at 6:00am local time this morning. It is composed
of a logistician, a former volunteer in Haiti, a
reporter-photographer and the External Relations officer from
Movimiento Scout Católico of Spain, heading a project of cooperation
in the Dominican Republic.
It is part of the International Federation of the Red Cross convoy.
The convoy met up with the representatives of MINUSTAH (UN) at the
border. Their arrival at the Port-au-Prince airport was expected at
around 5:00pm. The mission's transportation was assured by a vehicle
provided by the Youth Ministry of the Dominican Republic, which has
also sent a special envoy with them to serve as the link with the
Haitian Youth Ministry.
Upon arrival, the mission will link up with the representatives of
Haitian Scouting and establish partnerships with the UN agencies on
site. The MINUSTAH representative in Jacmel has stated that "Scouts
are the only efficient youth association that they can work with."
Their efficiency will be bolstered by the logistical equipment
brought by the French Scout mission, first result of the material
bought thanks to the donations collected since a week.
In Geneva, WOSM works to provide support through the natural
partners of the Movement that are the United Nations agencies (OCHA,
UNICEF,UNHCR) and the Red Cross, as well as continuing the
international call for donations.
4. Supporting emergency needs
A special account has been opened by the World Scout Bureau,
guaranteeing the use of these donations. Food aid, essential hygiene
supplies, medicines and first aid materials will be purchased by the
Haitian Scouts locally in order to minimise the cost of
transportation and storage. The action will thus be safer and
faster.
In the coming hours, the analysis of the immediate emergency needs
will be confirmed and circulated to the National Scout Organizations
which have expressed their wish to assist. You can announce your
interest by contacting the World Scout Bureau focal point <haiti-solidarity@scout.org>.
5. Supporting the post-emergency reconstruction
As always in situations of humanitarian crises, emergency action is
followed by a long period of rehabilitation and reconstruction.
Having a long experience in working with the United Nations systems
and other humanitarian agencies, the Scouts of Haïti will be a
principal actor with regard to the youth of their country. They will
need your help.
In the coming days, the Scout coordination will also perform a post
emergency analysis of the needs, so as to establish an action plan
for the reconstruction efforts. You can also declare your intention
to support the rehabilitation effort by informing the World Scout
Bureau focal point
<haiti-solidarity@scout.org>.
6. International call for donations
Be it for emergency aid or for the reconstruction period, you can
send your donation to:
World Scout Bureau - Haiti Solidarity
UBS - CP 2600 - 1211 Geneva 2 - Switzerland
IBAN : CH980024024039633710T
SWIFT : UBSWCHZH80A
Or you can make an online donation directly now at:
http://www.scout.org/solidarite-hait
A secure means for the transfer of funds is being put into place
with the re-establishment of the Haitian banking system.
7. Supporting international humanitarian aid
If you choose to support the action of humanitarian agencies, we
recommend that you approach those that have been long-standing
partners of the Scout Movement (Red Cross, UNICEF) that are
organized and which have the necessary infrastructure to coordinate
the support to Haiti from your country. It is unnecessary to give or
to attempt to send products or goods that are not of first
necessity. Please refer to the requests made by emergency teams in
your country.
8.Contacts at the World Scout Bureau
For all suggestions or further information, you can contact the
focal point of the World Scout Bureau at the following email address
<haiti-solidarity@scout.org>.
9. Information made available on a special blog
Accessible on the World Scouting website, a special blog has been
created which will enable you to follow the developments of the
relief efforts, the work of the Haitian Scouts and the work of the
reconnaissance mission throughout the coming days and weeks:
http://www.scout.org/blogs
Thank you for your support to
these efforts.
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