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Trauma Association of Canada

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International Issues/Disaster Committee

CHILE EARTHQUAKE & TSUNAMI

Photo courtesy of National Geographic
A major earthquake registering 8.8 occurred in Chile on February 28th/2010 followed by a tsunami along the coastline and multiple aftershocks. Authorities estimate that more than 700 people were killed with over 2 million people affected. The Chilean government declared the regions as ‘catastrophic zones’. The Trauma Association of Canada International Issues/Disaster Committee would like to express our deepest sympathies to all those affected. As concerned health providers we would also like to assist our membership to obtain information about the event and provide relevant links to identify ways to help.

 

Volunteer Opportunities

Refer to http://www.publichealth.gc.ca (Public Health Agency of Canada) for current updates related to travel advisories, vaccination and safety information.

Those interested in volunteering overseas are encouraged to work with well established organizations such as:
         Doctors without Borders/Medicins Sans Frontieres (MSF) http://www.msf.org/

         Canadian Red Cross http://www.redcross.ca

         International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) http://www.icrc.org/

         Habitat for Humanity http://www.habitat.ca
 

Useful websites for obtaining current information on disaster relief and humanitarian efforts:

         Operation Giving Back (OGB) Disaster Response Centre (American College of Surgeons):   
          http://www.operationgivingback.facs.org/content3017.html

          UNICEF Canada http://www.unicef.ca

          Salvation Army Canada http://www.salvationarmy.ca

          World Vision http://www.worldvision.ca

          Oxfam Canada http://www.oxfam.ca
 

Donations:

The Canadian government will match each dollar donated to registered Canadian charitable organizations to a maximum of $50 million.

Organizations accepting donations include:
         
           Canadian Red Cross at http://www.redcross.ca Make donations online or by calling toll-free 1
           800-418-1111 or give at a local Red Cross office in your area. Earmark cheque to “Chile
           Earthquake”

           Canadian Salvation Army at http://www.salvationarmy.ca or call 1-800-SaL-Army or at a local
           Salvation Army location in your area.

           UNICEF Canada http://www.unicef.ca

           Salvation Army http://salvationarmy.ca

           World Vision http://worldvision.ca

           Oxfam Canada http://www.oxfam.ca