December 07, 2005

PRESS RELEASE

  Romania’s contribution to the humanitarian relief for Tsunami victims

The President of Romania, Traian Basescu stated on Monday January 7th, that Romanians have the duty to prove solidarity to the hundred of thousands of people that suffered a tragedy in the Tsunami disaster.
President Basescu attended, together with the ambassadors of the South East Asian countries to Bucharest, the official launching of the national fundraising campaign "This is a Tsunami we can stop" for helping people who suffered in the tragic disaster.

The Romanian President called on all Romanians to help with financial contribution to the humanitarian relief for the grieving people in Asia. “I think that it is the right time to show that the most important value in the world is the human being, independently of religion, race, thoughts or cultural options”, added President Basescu who was the first making a donation and opening the campaign.

On Thursday, December 6th, the Government of Romania approved financial assistance, of 115,000 euros (including transportation), to be sent to Indonesia and Thailand by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, the international body with coordinating responsibilities in the system of humanitarian assistance for affected regions.
Also, considering the terrible effects of the earthquake on December 26th, emergency humanitarian relief, valuing 247,000 euros (including transportation) and containing food, water, tents, blankets, pharmaceutical products and medicine will be sent to Indonesia.

The Romanian Government launched initiatives during the last two weeks, since the Tsunami tragedy to contribute to the emergency humanitarian relief in South East Asia.
On December 30th, a military cargo containing tents, pharmaceutical products, medicines and blankets, valuing 192,000 euros, left Romania with destination Sri Lanka.

Following the Romanian citizens’ requests for information about donation procedures, in order to help the grieving peoples of South East Asia, the Romanian Government decided to set up a rapid reaction group to offer information on donations and donating procedures. The General Secretariat of the Government opened new accounts for Romanian citizens to make donations for people in South East Asia.

Flags flied at half mast throughout Romanian territory on Wednesday, 05 January 2005 and Romanians marked their regret by standing silently for three minutes as a mark of respect for the people who lost their lives in the December 26th Tsunami-Earthquake.