Samoa measles epidemic: Request for donations to go through govt
Quoting Radio New Zealand - 2 December 2019
“The Chair of Samoa's Disaster Assistance Centre has requested that fundraising and donations related to the country's deadly measles epidemic come through the government.
“Ulu Bismarck Crawley said he has been overwhelmed with the assistance from the public, as well as Samoa's overseas partners.
“He suggested that all money, or medical supplies, go directly to the government.
"The issue we have is how the government is engaged and the involvement of the government as the basis for fundraising. That has to be very clear."
'Ulu said the centre had opened a bank account at the local Bank of the South Pacific for donations.
“He said the experience following the 2009 tsunami highlighted that the government needed to be involved in any fundraising efforts during the current epidemic.
“Meanwhile, Samoa Airways has announced its is offering free freight to bring measles medical supplies from New Zealand and Australia.
“Samoa's national airline has also offered to fly in overseas doctors and nurses.”
Copyright @ 2019, Radio New Zealand.
