Salvation Army asks HK to set aside tensions, help Yolanda victims

The Salvation Army on Wedensday called on the people of Hong Kong to put aside tensions from the 2010 Manila hostage tragedy and donate to help Yolanda victims.

According to Radio Television Hong Kong, Salvation Army Hong Kong Community Relations Director Simon Wong said that about 2,000 local officers from Salvation Army were doing relief work on the ground.

Wong added that the relief work could last for at least two weeks before long-term recovery work can begin.

Meanwhile, Hong Kong's Filipino community launched a month-long relief drive for Yolanda victims last Monday.

The Philippine Consulate General set up a help desk that will entertain inquiries regarding the drive, including details on cash and in-kind donations. The desk is manned by Leonida Longcanaya at telephone number 2823.8506 from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

The help desk will also assist Hong Kong-based Filipinos who want to trace the whereabouts of their relatives.

People may also call the consulate-general's hotline 9155.4023 from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 a.m.

A list of survivors in Tacloban, Leyte, from Rep. Ferdinand Martin Romualdez was also posted at the Consulate's Lobby as well as it’s Facebook page (Philippine Consulate General in Hong Kong).

Meanwhile, the Consulate opened condolence books at lobby.

Grateful

Philippine Ambassador to the UAE Grace Princesa on Tuesday thanked UAE President Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan for the $10 million (Dh36.7 million) in aid the Emirates sent Yolanda victims.

“[The assistance is] a manifestation of the humanitarian spirit of the founding fathers of the UAE, especially Shaikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan, which is being continued by Shaikh Khalifa and other UAE rulers,” Princesa said, accordint to a Gulf News report.

She also thanked the Filipino community, as well as the community's friends, though adding that victims were in need of still more help.

Umbrella Filipino group Bayanihan Council had sent Dh10,000 from its disaster fund last weekend, and is raising more money to send home.

Other fund-raising activities by the Filipino community include a Brunch-For-A-Cause at the Philippine Consulate-General this Friday. — DVM, GMA News

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