13 January 2010

To all United Nations Associations

Dear Friends:

By now, most of you have probably heard of the devastating earthquake that has hit Haiti yesterday evening, 12 January 2009.  The center of the earthquake was about ten miles from the capital city of Port-au-Prince. It has been reported that many thousands have died and there is likely to be many thousands more discovered during the aftermath of the disaster. 

We send our deepest sympathies to all Haitian people around the world, especially those directly affected by the disaster.  We would like for them to know that WFUNA shares in both their grief, at the horrible destruction, and hope, that the future will bring a peaceful reconstruction. 

WFUNA would like members of UNA-Haiti to know that they are supported by a global UNA community, and hope that they are safe. Our thoughts are also with the many UN peacekeepers and staff that were in the UN Mission building in Haiti. The UN reports that about 100 UN employees are missing in the rubble of the UN building and some 40 more are unaccounted for in other damaged buildings.

This morning Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon announced that the UN would provide $10 million for relief from its Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF).  WFUNA is in contact with the UNCERF Office in New York and is accepting contributions for the relief work in Haiti.  These contributions will be given directly to UNCERF.  Please send donations to:
WFUNA – New York Office
Chase Bank
ACT: 015-619-4861-65
ABA: 021 0000 21;  SWIFT: chasus33

WFUNA is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.  If you are a United States citizen and would like your contribution to be fully tax deductible, please contact Allen Abi-Yaghi at abiyaghi@wfuna.org or call
212-963-5611.

No one can be fully prepared for the devastation an earthquake of this magnitude causes. Our hope is that the international community, including WFUNA and UNAs, can take action to help support Haiti in the days after this catastrophe.  We are each Global Citizens, and as such share in this responsibility. 

Sincerely,

Bonian Golmohammadi
Secretary-General