Singapore, 30 April 2015 – Singapore Red Cross’ (SRC) Advance Team is on the ground and working with the Movement partners to sort out the deployment of the four Medical Teams that are due to travel to Nepal. The assessment thus far, is that the most urgent needs in Kathmandu have been covered and it is likely that our teams will be deployed outside Kathmandu. The teams are looking to operate and establish mobile medical clinics with 2-3 doctors each, working in cooperation with the Nepal Red Cross and our other Red Cross Movement partners.

The first medical team will arrive midday tomorrow. The team is made up of three doctors, one nurse, one paramedic and one operations specialist. They are taking with them medication, medical equipment for simple dressing and minor surgical procedures, as well as emergency and resuscitative equipment.

A staff member of the SRC will also join the IFRC Regional Disaster Response Team (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene) tomorrow and be deployed to Nepal for the next few weeks. This will also provide us a better assessment of the critical water and sanitation needs on the ground and help us decide on how best we can assist in this area. This is an important area, given the fears of an outbreak of waterborne diseases.

As of 5pm today, the public has donated more than S$1.1 million from cash and cheques donations, and via online platforms like SG Gives. This does not include the contribution made by the Singapore Government.

For more information or to make a donation, please visit Nepal Earthquake FAQs

Photos available on request.

Singapore Red Cross efforts to date:

• Contribution of S$200,000 worth of relief items (including food and non-food items) and emergency supplies in response to the earthquake in Nepal.
• Launched a public appeal for the relief and recovery efforts in Nepal. The public can donate via walk-in cash donations, cheque, online or via ATMs. SRC is operating extended working hours to receive walk-in donations.
• Working with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) on the Restoring Family Links (RFL) services.
• An Advance team is in Nepal and the first medical team will arrive on Friday to set up a mobile medical clinic. Three other medical teams will arrive next week.

Notes:

• Donations to overseas relief are not entitled to tax deduction.
• The Singapore Red Cross reserves the right to deploy excess funds to underfunded disasters in the same region, so as to ensure humanitarian aid gets to those in need.