March 2010

Donate-a-Meal Fund for Peace Donates for Emergency Aid to Chile Earthquake Victims

The executive committee of Rissho Kosei-kai's Donate-a-Meal Fund for Peace announced on March 4 that it was donating three million Japanese yen for the emergency relief of victims of the 8.8 magnitude earthquake that struck Chile on February 27.

According to reports on March 3 by the Chilean government, some 800 people were killed and more than 1.5 million houses were destroyed or damaged by the earthquake. The total number of victims was expected to reach two million. In the most heavily damaged areas, in the south-central area of the country, roads blocked by collapsed buildings and power blackouts hampered access by relief organizations. Many victims were reported crushed under the debris of collapsed buildings. Residents were cut off from supplies of water and food.

The executive committee decided to donate the money to the Association of Medical Doctors of Asia (AMDA), a nongovernmental organization in Japan, to help fund emergency medical treatment for the earthquake victims. AMDA had already dispatched staff members from neighboring countries of Chile to survey medical needs.

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