The latest figures emerging from Chile record the number of deaths to be nearly 800. While the figure is almost 500 times lower than the one for Haiti, Chile’s situation should not be taken lightly.

About two million Chileans are believed to have been affected by Saturday's earthquake, the seventh most powerful on record and the worst disaster to befall Chile in 50 years.

Half a million people are still homeless in Chile where about 1.5 million homes have been damaged. Help is needed as the devastation has been worse than expected and reports confirm that many of the city's 500,000 inhabitants are short of food and have seen their water and electricity supplies cut off. Media reports state that rescue efforts have been slow also because of a mangled infrastructure as highways have been sliced in two and road bridges have collapsed.

Initially, the Chilean president, not gauging the extent of the damage correctly, had denied outside help for which she has been criticized by the victims of the affected areas where help was very slow to reach, and in some areas, not at all.

Reports show that the help so far extended to Chile is insufficient. With people already having given substantial amounts for the Haiti disaster, aid agencies were appearing to struggle to raise money for relief efforts as the world community seems to be getting ‘disaster weary’. The country, which is supposed to be one of South America's most stable and prosperous nations, has now requested help from the UN and the humanitarian community.

IDRF is preparing to respond accordingly and asks you to join in its relief efforts for Chile.

IDRF is proud to announce that the Hoops for Haiti event, held on Sunday, February 28th, 2010 at Lincoln Alexander Secondary School, was a great success! The event raised over $6,000 for the survivors of the Haiti earthquake. Overall, 19 teams registered and 19 sponsors supported the event. Many volunteers and supporters also attended to show their support and to make the event a success.

IDRF would like to thank the event organizers, specifically Haider Abdullah and Uzma Kapadya, as well as all the players, volunteers, supporters and sponsors. Your willingness to help those less fortunate demonstrates the true meaning of “People Helping People.”

Mardan, Pakistan

The war against terrorism reached its peak last year when the military began its operations in the Swat region of Pakistan. Every day brought news of death and suffering. Besides those who were killed or injured, there were those four million who had left their homes in search of a shelter. Some settled in refugee camps set up by governmental and non-governmental organizations. A few rented houses in other cities. But initially, many had to spend their life in open grounds until help arrived.

Update from the Field
Monday, February 22, 2010

It has been a very busy week for the ground operations in Haiti. A team of 11 doctors and nurses along with SHINE/CDRS staff arrived in Haiti on Feb 12th after missing multiple connections and having a car break down on them. The doctors and nurses serve the patients that visit the Bojeaux Parc medical facility. Team members are also deployed with the US 82nd Airborne to provide mobile health services at various camps. The medical volunteers are also continuing with food distribution activities.