Since writing the below article the British Red Cross are now accepting donations, please visit: http://www.redcross.org.uk/japantsunami/?approachcode=68861_blogjapan

Like many of you, we have seen the images coming out of Japan and are moved to see if there is some way we can help. This type of disaster is not something that TravelPledge, with our limited resource, can hope to support in any great capacity. However, we have monitored the British Red Cross to see if we can at least guide our supporters to an effective and capable organisation to help with the long and difficult recovery.

Their statement today is:

We are receiving a large number of inquiries about donations for Japan.

We cannot accept donations where the country affected has not asked for them. The Japanese Red Cross has been working on the ground since the tsunami hit in large numbers, providing first aid and healthcare. It has not requested money, supplies or personnel from us so far. The Japanese Red Cross is a large, well-funded organisation, with a huge amount of experience dealing with natural disasters and well-established emergency response plans and supplies. We have to take our lead from them. We are immensely grateful for our supporters’ willingness to give and appreciate it is frustrating not being able to do so. We will let you know immediately should the position change.

While the Japanese government has asked for some specific operational support from the UK, there has been no request at this time to launch a general appeal for funds from the Japanese Red Cross.

For more information the Directors at TravelPledge suggest you monitor the Red Cross Blog: http://blogs.redcross.org.uk/

Filed under: Charity