BELIZE RED CROSS RECEIVES DONATION

September 06, 2007

The Association of Protected Areas Management Organizations – APAMO, and the OAK Foundation this morning made a monetary donation to the Belize Red Cross Society. Arturo Cantun has the story. 

Arturo Cantun,Love FM:

“The donation is worth a total of $200,000 BZ,and was made available by the eighteen environmental organizations that form part of APAMO.Edilberto Romero is Chairman of APAMO and he is say, the association is very much concerned about the victims of the hurricane and they believe,the more the community works,the less the impact is felt.” 

Edilberto Romero,Chairman of APAMO:

“The conservation community,we’re concerned about the hurricane and especially communities like Sarteneja who depend of the marine resources.If we work with them and attend their needs,we believe the impact of the natural resources will be less.” 

Arturo Cantun,Love FM:

“President of the Belize Red Cross,Karen Diaz says this particular donation will allow the society to be able to expand the relief efforts in the areas and in the length of time they can help the victims.” 

Karen Diaz,President of the Belize Red Cross:
 

“This morning,we were very fortunate to receive substantial donations from the OAK Foundation and APAMO family of $200,000 BZ,which will be utilized for providing assistance in particular to the villages of Sarteneja,Copperbank,Xonox,Fireburn inside the Corozal district.With these types of donations we are actually able to expand out more relief efforts.We have initially committed to serving 500 families for up to three months with food and necessary supplies such as our standard kitchen sets and hygiene sets,blankets and tarpaulins.With this donation now,we’re able to expand to feed 400 plus families in those four villages that I mentioned.”  

Arturo Cantun,Love FM:

“Karen Diaz also acknowledged that the donation locally has been very good.And in addition,assistance coming from other Red Cross societies around the world.” 

Karen Diaz,President of the Belize Red Cross:
 

“The international assistance has been very positive through the vast network that the Red Cross represents because it’s 186 national societies and they’re all members of the international federation including Belize.So when we put out an appeal,the federation then puts it together with the appeal for the rest of the countries that has been affected by the Hurricane Dean like Jamaica,St.Lucia,Dominica,Mexico,and so they put out a large appeal and a plan of action for each country and then you get international donors that respond to that;some governments as well,I know that the Australian government also made a pledge to that appeal.So with all of that we can give,not only the immediate assistance that they need,but we can also do some future training,hygiene information,sexual reproduction information,HIV/AIDS,sheltered behavior,we do a long term work with the communities that we’re involved with.” 

Arturo Cantun,Love FM:

“They said the money will not only be used for food and shelter for the victims of the hurricane,but will also be utilized to defray some of the costs in the distribution of the items.Edilberto Roberto from APAMP did make a point to note that natural disasters cannot be stopped,but the community can do their part in making our home safer.” 

Edilberto Romero,Chairman of APAMO:

“I would also like to say that a hurricane is a natural phenomenon and should not be taken lightly,but it also means that adequate planning should happen in the country of Belize,meaning that the government should not be without considering major conservation,especially with mangroves.Mangroves should be cleared completely,especially with the islands that offer protection for Belize and the coastal communities like Sarteneja,those are the ones that are most affected.” 

Arturo Cantun,Love FM:

“Reporting for Love FM news,I am Arturo Cantun.”

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