Tipping Point > Chile Telethon

Chile Telethon Raises US$58 Million for Disaster Victims

Written by Laura Burgoine
Monday, 08 March 2010 05:11

Doubles its target of US$29 million

Around 10,000 volunteers in 400 locations across Chile united to raise funds for the earthquake stricken country over the weekend.

Colombian singer Juanes attended, while Spanish singer Miguel Bose sent a message of solidarity by YouTube. And singer Shakira sent a telephone message to the Chileans.

President Michelle Bachelet said Friday that 35 nations responded to specific requests for relief, including bottled water from Bolivia, tents from China, seismic equipment from France, water cleansers from Russia, satellite phones from U.S and pontoons from Sweden.

India’s Prime Minister expressed condolences and offered a cash contribution US$5 million for relief. The Spanish Red Cross sent a plane with 25 tons of materials. China sent a Boeing 747-400 to Santiago carrying 90 tons of aid; 10,000 blankets, 700 tents, 100 generators and two water purification plants. Canada offered $2 million.

German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle included a last minute stop in Chile as part of his Latin America tour. German ambassador in Chile, Michael Glotzbach, said it was important at this time to show solidarity of the German government and German people with the Chilean government and its President-elect.

Secretary General of the UN, Ban Ki Moon, pledged US$10 million in immediate help from the UN. The Chilean government asked the UN for field hospitals with surgical facilities, dialysis centers, generators, saltwater purifying systems, mobile bridges and field kitchens.

The US$58 million raised in the telethon is enough to build 60,000 basic homes. But infrastructure damages are enormous, with the cost of rebuilding bridges in the Biobio region estimated at near US$600 million over at least a five year period. The Ministry of Public Works plans to build four bridges over the river Biobio, rebuilding the damaged infrastructure and connectivity in the area of Concepcion, but also improving on the original design.

State Railways (EFE) estimated damages of around US$50 million to railroad tracks and bridges. EFE general manager Franco Faccilongo said between Santiago and Chillan around 200 kilometers of railroad tracks were seriously damaged from the earthquake. Faccilongo said the most serious damage was found south of Curico, where sections of the railroad were “literally swallowed by the earth.”

SOURCES: EL MERCURIO, CNN
By Laura Burgoine (editor@santiagotimes.cl )

Source:
http://www.santiagotimes.cl/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=18331:chile-telethon-raises-us58-million-for-disaster-victims&catid=1:other&Itemid=38

As the saying goes, always after the storm comes the calm ...

On Saturday morning all the channels around the world were talking about the disaster that happened in Chile and presenting images of what had happened. It was noted that the destruction was very huge, many homes were lost and so as Chile’s infrastructure. In addition, separately from the damage caused by the earthquake, there was a tsunami that caused more devastation and death. Water, food, among other things was skimpy. People began to anguish and began to steal from supermarkets and houses which caused a higher social problem that create more insecurity. The social problem from Chile affected everyone; many countries began to send humanitarian support, medicaments, medical staff, food, trying to decrease the serious of situation Chile was facing. Many people that live in countries with much seismic activity became concerned and many people began to panic because they started to think that we are living the beginning of the end of the world. After Haiti’s and Chile’s earthquakes in a very short period of time, people started to be cautious about what to do if an earthquake hits our country. However, after such a disaster the world has sympathized with the people of Chile, for example countries like Bolivia, donated bottled water, tents from China, satellite phones from USA, and other countries such as Sweden, France, Russia, India and Spain also helped. Chile had an idea about making a special telethon. It was organized in order to raise money for the victims of the earthquake on Saturday 27 February, which intended to collect U.S. $ 29 million. Thanks to artists like Shakira, Miguel Bose, Juanes, among other national artists and international support, the help was so massive that doubled the goal, collecting $ 58 Million for the Disaster Victims. According to the article, this money could be used to build some homes for the large number of people that was affected, but the certain thing is that Chile will be need so much more help and money to reconstruct infrastructure and buildings in the affected region around the country. The true is that Chile is facing the situation and slowly is coming back to normally. Still many people are homeless, some others are disappear and sadly a lot of people that died are still under the rubbles.