Organisations like the Finnish Red Cross(FRC) aren't able to immediately send collected money to Haiti. It has to go through proper channels, be accounted for and then allocated to certain purposes. Before NGO's can sort through the donations, they rely on their own cash.
"At the moment we're missing 700- 800,000 euros of what we've pledged to send. We hope to get this missing sum from the public," says Kalle Löövi, the FRC's head of international aid. "Our relief aid is based on what we collected during our annual Hunger Day drive, and on the money that people have given us earlier."
This money paid for a field clinic and a hospital which are operating in Haiti. The incoming money will be used to send more clinics. The SPR's focus in on medical aid, but is also considering sending volunteers to help in distribution.
UNICEF Aiding Children
Finland's branch of UNICEF has collected 150,000 euros, mainly from donations pouring into its website and phone lines. UNICEF has had a presence in Haiti since 1949.
"Our mission is to save the children. In international crisis situations, UNICEF also has responsibility for water," says program manager Minna Karvinen. "In addition, we're responsible for getting schools up and running as quickly as possible."
Finn Church Aid, the charity organisation of the Evangelical Lutheran Church, is sending supplies like tents to the ravaged area. They're also running water purification equipment in the country.
