Corps news in brief – Embassy 23 – February 2010

Chile Embassy rallies to aid quake victims

Staff at the Chilean Embassy have been working tirelessly to assist their nationals in the wake of the devastating earthquake that claimed more than 800 lives.

Chilean Consul General Alejandro Gibbons told Embassy the mission had been inundated with phone calls from anxious expatriates awaiting information on relatives in the disaster zone. Departing Chilean Ambassador, Rafael Moreno, who has a 72-year-old sister in Concepcion, one of the worst affected cities, personally manned the phones, promising callers he would do everything in his power to help.

A number of Chilean nationals have been stranded in the UK unable to return home, including young children, who were taken in by British-Chilean families.

Mr Gibbons said the Embassy has been overwhelmed by offers of support.

“We have been touched by the solidarity shown to us by local Chilean organisations and the British public,” he said.

CHILEAN EARTHQUAKE APPEAL

Members of the diplomatic community wishing to donate funds to the Chilean Earthquake Appeal are requested to transfer funds into a bank account set up for the sole purpose of receiving donations.

Bank BBVA
Account Number: 01010982
IBAN: GB46BBVA23473601010982
Client No. 264077
Sort Code 23 47 36
Address: 142 Brompton Rd, SW3 1HY

The Government of Chile is also requesting assistance in the procurement of items for the relief effort, including:

	Makeshift bridges
	Satellite Phones and dual frequency transmitters
	Electric generators
	Devices to measure structural damage
	Saline water purification devices
	Tented accommodation
	Portable dialysis machines
	Makeshift canteens
	Rescue dogs