Dutch Red Cross mobilizes aid for earthquake victims in Myanmar and Thailand

The Dutch Red Cross has opened a special bank account, Giro 7244, to collect donations for victims of the recent earthquake in Myanmar and Thailand, AD reports. The Giro system is commonly used in the Netherlands for charitable fundraising efforts. The Red Cross is reported to be working around the clock to rescue people trapped under rubble and provide emergency aid.

In Myanmar, Red Cross workers are involved in search and rescue operations, as many people remain buried under debris. They are also preparing to distribute essential supplies, including food, blankets, tents, and hygiene kits. The military-led government in Myanmar has reported at least 144 deaths and 732 injuries. In Thailand’s capital, Bangkok, at least nine people have died.

Harm Goossens, director of the Dutch Red Cross, emphasized the urgency of the situation, saying, “People have lost their homes, and many do not know if they will ever see their loved ones again. Red Cross volunteers are doing everything they can to save lives in these critical hours. The most important thing now is providing medical care to the injured and ensuring that people are rescued alive from beneath the rubble.”

In addition to the Red Cross, Stichting Vluchteling, a Dutch refugee organization, has also mobilized to assist. The foundation has allocated 250,000 euros from its emergency reserves to aid victims on the ground. With teams already in the hardest-hit areas, the organization has reported a critical shortage of food, water, medical care, and shelter. Stichting Vluchteling stressed the severity of the situation, saying, “Before the earthquake, 20 million people were already dependent on aid, many of whom were displaced and living in uncertainty. Now, the situation has become even more dire.”