ICA calls for assistance for co-operatives in Haiti
ICA creates Haiti Co-operative Reconstruction Fund
Given the extent of the damage provoked by the 7.0 magnitude earthquake and numerous after shocks, ICA has made an appeal to members to contribute to finance longer-term co-operative reconstruction efforts. The funds that are collected will be used exclusively for co-operative reconstruction in Haiti and will complement other initiatives.
14 June: ICA member, Pancyprian Co-operative Union donated CHF 85,357 to ICA Reconstruction Fund for Haiti
7 June: ANGKASA of Malaysia, ICA member, donated CHF 16,165 for Haiti reconstruction
4 May: Mauritius Co-operative Union, ICA member, contributes CHFF 1,500 to Haiti Reconstruction Fund
27 April : ICA Americas collects USD 27,584 from members in the region
The following co-operatives have made contributions to ICA Haiti Reconstruction Fund through the ICA Americas office:
- COOMULDESA, Colombia: USD 9,980
- Agricultores Federados Argentinos (AFA), Argentina: USD 9,965
- La Segunda Cooperativa Ltda, Argentina: USD 4,990
- Confecoop, Colombia: USD 2,499
- Cooperativa Ahorro y Crédito, Peru: USD 150
16 April:JA-ZENCHU of Japan make CHF 350,000 donation to ICA Reconstruction Fund
16 April: "iCOOP of Korea collects USD 37,251 for ICA Reconstruction Fund
15 February : Japanese Consumer Co-op Union (JCCU) contributes over CHF 35,000 to ICA Reconstruction Fund
JCCU is also assisting in collecting funds for the Red Cross for emergency relief. More >>>
10 February : East of England Co-op Society in the UK contributes GBP 10,000 to ICA Reconstruction Fund
4 February : "iCOOP Korea for Haiti" national fundraising campaign for ICA Reconstruction Fund 74 local co-ops of ICA member, iCOOP Korea, have taken part in collecting donations through campaigns
in all their retail shops. Online donations are being also made by participating iCOOP Korea members. All donations collected will be sent to the ICA Fund in mid-March.
3 February : ICA member, COOPEUCH of Chile donates USD 10,00 to ICA Reconstruction Fund COOPEUCH and its members have also made contributions to the local Red Cross to assist with relief efforts.
3 February : ICA member, Japan Workers Co-operative Union donates CHF 1,100 to ICA Fund
2 February : ICA Member, Coompanion of Sweden donates CHF 712 to the ICA Fund.
22 January : Caja San Nicolas of Mexico donates USD 5,000 to ICA Fund
22 January :
Co-operative Association of Czech Rep pledges CHF 5,000 to ICA Fund for Co-op Reconstruction in Haiti.
14 January : ICA has received its first commitment of USD 30,000 for the ICA Fund for Co-operative Reconstruction in Haiti
ICA members in Colombia, Saludcoop (Entidad Promotora de Salud) and Progressa Entidad Cooperativa de los Empleados de Saludcoop have committed USD 20,000 and USD 10,000 respectively to help in long-term co-operative reconstruction in Haiti.
How to make a donation to the Fund for Co-operative Reconstruction in Haiti
Donations may be sent to the International Co-operative Alliance at one of the accounts below. Please indicate that your donation is designated for the Haiti Co-operative Reconstruction Fund.
| Beneficiary |
International Co-operative Alliance (ICA)
15 Route des Morillons, CH-1218 Grand Saconnex / Geneva, Switzerland
|
| Reference |
Haiti Co-op Reconstruction |
| Name of Bank |
BANK COOP |
MIGROS BANK |
| Address |
6-8, Place Longemalle
CH-1211 Geneva , Switzerland |
Rue des Terreaux 23
CH-1002 Lausanne, Switzerland |
| SWIFT |
COOPCHBB12A |
MIGRCHZZ80A |
| IBAN / Account Number |
CH73 0844 0284 0434 5009 0 |
CH05 0840 1016 1881 8210 8 |
|
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ICA mobilising members and partners to provide emergency relief and reconstruction assistance
The International Co-operative Alliance (ICA) is mobilising its members and partners around the world to provide emergency relief and reconstruction assistance to co-operators in Haiti following the devastating earthquake of 12 January 2010.
Much of Port-au-Prince, Haiti's capital city has been destroyed leaving thousands without homes and workplaces. The death toll is estimated to be high touching not only in the capital, but also in other parts of the country.
ICA has received information a few after the quake that the Israeli relief team have found and are providing medical assistance to several members and staff of ICA member, Conseil National des Coopératives CNC (National Co-operative Council) located in Port-au-Prince. Through the Israeli team, we have also received an initial overview of the situation of a number of co-operatives. ICA is now working with its development partners to determine the continued immediate relief needs of these co-operatives as well as identify future needs of Haitian co-operators for longer-term
reconstruction of the co-operative movement. More Information as it becomes available.
"The ICA has developed a framework for co-operative response to disaster reconstruction. It involves assisting to co-ordinate responses during disaster relief with agencies operating in the disaster areas which we have initiated now. It will be followed by a mechanism to co-ordinate co-operative reconstruction among the co-operative development partners to help ensure optimum response and a co-ordinated approach to the no doubt many initiatives that will be undertaken to help our Haitian co-operative colleagues."
Iain Macdonald, ICA Director-General
Information on how to contribute to the ICA Haiti Co-operative Reconstruction Fund
The Co-operative Movement responds to the disaster
The co-operative movement is once again showing its solidarity with an outpouring of initiatives to respond the disaster in Haiti. Below are some of the initiatives which have been taken
and reported to the ICA. There are no doubt many more initiatives underway.
See ICA Digest 69 issue of June 2010 for a special report >>>
National Movements from: Bangladesh - Canada - Chile - Colombia - Czech Republic - Dominican Republic - Italy - Israel - Japan - Switzerland - United Kingdom - United States
International: World Council of Credit Unions -
Confederación de Cooperativas del Caribe, Centro y Sur América
- ICA member, Bangladesh National Co-operative Union (BJSU) reports that its members are helping collect emergency medical supplies from co-operators and pharmaceutical producers to send to Haiti.
- The Canadian co-operative movement has also taken immediate action:
- The Co-operative Development Foundation of Canada (CDF) is raising funds in response to the earthquake that is estimated to have already claimed thousands of lives in Haiti. Working in partnership with the World Council of Credit Unions (WOCCU), CDF will be providing relief to those affected by the disaster. To support Haiti's credit unions and their members through the international credit union disaster relief fund, make payments via check, credit card or mail. Donate on-line or by mail at Co-operative Development Foundation of Canada , Suite 400, 275 Bank Street, Ottawa, Ontario, K2P 2L6, Canada.
- Desjardins Group is joining the Canadian Red Cross to collect funds for victims of the earthquake. With a strong presence in Haiti for over 15 years, particularly through its subsidiary Développement international Desjardins (DID), Desjardins will be sending CDN 300,000 to provide immediate support to those in need as a result of this disaster.
Développement international Desjardins (DID) reports contacts with partner organisation, Federation Le Levrier, whose membership and leadership have incurred deaths and injuries. Activities of the Federation and its member caisses are resuming from locations out of Port-au-Prince. Two caisses have been completely destroyed, others have various degrees of damage. DID is assisting to ascertain financial losses and working with the Federation to be able to deal with stress ahead - increased withdrawals by members for subsistence and an increased demand for loans for reconstruction of homes. DID will increase its support to the Le Levier Federation to help relaunch its network of financial co-operatives. See more > > >
- The Co-operators, insurance co-operative will provide up to CDN 150,000 to match donations to the Canadian Red Cross in support of the organisation's relief efforts for victims of the earthquake in Haiti .
- Consejo Nacional de Cooperativas (CONACOOP) - the National Co-operative Council - of the Dominican Republic is co-ordinating the collection of in-kind emergency relief items including food and clothing, for distribution in Haiti. Contact: José Joaquín Rosario, e-mail: conacoopdo14@yahoo.com, tel. +809 686-1151.
- ICA co-operative development partner, NISPED (Negev Institute for Strategies of Peace and Development) of Israel has provided IsraAID ( the Israeli Forum of international humanitarian aid) contact information for the CNC and its Director-General, Mr. Frantz Prinvil, as they are sending a search and rescue team and are working with local partners in Port-au-Prince. They are calling on ICA members and partners for co-operation and donations in the first stage of medical aid. Please contact, Mully Dor, Chairperson of the Board, NISPED by tel. +972-3-6078923, fax: +972-3-6945772, or by e-mail: mullydo@gmail.com or mullydo@walla.com.
- ICA member, the Japanese Consumers' Co-operative Union (JCCU) reports its regional co-operatives have organised a fund raising campaign for the victims of Haiti earthquake. These emergency relief funds would be channeled through UNICEF or Red Cross. JCCU has also pledged three million Japanese Yen to the ICA Fund for Co-operative Reconstruction in Haiti.
- ICA member, Legacoop of Italy launched the “Legacoop
for Haiti” fundraising national campaign, involving all our structures and member co-operatives.
ANCC-Coop (consumer co-operatives) has issued an appeal to their members
to contribute to the “Legacoop
for Haiti” fund.
In the immediate a number of Legacoop members co-operatives are sending to
Haiti a cargo with food aid in collaboration with an Italian NGO, GVC,
that belongs to AGIRE, the Italian Network of NGOs active in Emergency
and Reconstruction projects. Legacoop has also translated into Italian
the ICA press release and posted it to the Legacoop website.
- ICA member, Migros (consumer co-operatives) has contributed 1 million Swiss Francs (approx USD 1 million) to the
Chaîne du Bonheur et 16 other partners involved in the emergency relief. More > > >
ICA member, The Co-operative Group of the United Kingdom has £50,000 to the UK Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) Appeal for the victims of the Haiti earthquake.
In addition, collection boxes have been made available in all Co-operative Food stores and in the Group’s Travel, Pharmacy and Bank branches across the UK to enable customers to donate to the appeal. More > > >
- The US co-operative movement has taken a number of initiatives.
- ACDI/VOCA is working with the local civil sector, USAID and UN agencies to aid relief efforts in
Tabarre, Haiti. More information > > >
- The US Co-operative Development Fund (CDF) is mobilising support through the Co-operative Emergency Fund. This facility raises funds for co-operative relief and rebuilding efforts. Donations are being accepted until July 2010 to help the rebuilding efforts in Haiti. CDF will collaborate with international co-operative relief efforts and with rebuilding. As of 5 February 2010 some USD 100,000 have already been collected. For further information and the possibility of making on-line donations see www.cdf.coop.
- The National Rural Electric Co-operative Association (NRECA) International is assessing the power situation in Haiti and working with local co-operatives. NRECA International helped establish a co-operative in Pignon, Haiti, which is in the northern part of the country. It officially started providing service to about 500 members in 2005. We have heard directly from our local partners and volunteers that the village did not suffer any damages. NRECA International has two members traveling to Haiti to help with the assessment of the critical needs for the international relief efforts.They will work with the international relief community in assessing the power situation, both for providing service to the hospitals, shelters, etc. as well as studying what needs/can be done in the short run with the distribution network. This will especially be essential down the road as reconstruction begins once again. Once we also know and understand better the need in terms of electrical equipment and materials that will be needed for immediate and emergency use, NRECA will request the donations of such equipments (transformers and other such materials). Through our NRECA International Foundation, donations are being collected to assist in this relief effort. See www.nrecafoundation.coop .
- The Confederación de Cooperativas del Caribe, Centro y Sur América (CCC-CA) has opened a fund to assist victims of the Haiti earthquake.
- ICA member, the World Council of Credit Unions (WOCCU) launched a three-year programme in July 2009 to extend financial services to Haiti's rural poor. Their staff in Port-au-Prince is safe but report that there has been significant destruction to the island. WOCCU is making an appeal to support Haiti's credit unions and their members through the international credit union disaster relief fund. Donations can be made to the Worldwide Foundation for Credit Unions, Inc., 5710 Mineral Point Road, Madison, WI 53705, USA. Online donations can be made at www.woccu.org /give. For wire transfer information, contact: Valerie Breunig, Worldwide Foundation for Credit Unions, tel. + 1 608- 395-2055 or via email at vbreunig@woccu.org. Please indicate that your donation is designated for the Haiti Disaster Relief Fund. See www.woccu.org/newsroom/releases?id=1651 for more information.
The ICA is also appealing to its member and partners to make donations to finance the longer-term co-operative reconstruction efforts. The funds that are collected will be used exclusively for co-operative reconstruction in Haiti and will complement other initiatives.
Information on how to contribute to the ICA Fund for Co-operative Reconstruction in Haiti.
We thank you in advance for your co-operative solidarity.
ICA Press Release (14 January 2010) (pdf)
Alianza Cooperativa Internacional llama a ayudar a las cooperativas en Haití (pdf)
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