Aid efforts still coming

EFFORTS ARE still being made across the island to raise money, clothes and food supplies for the survivors of the tsunami that truck south-east Asia last week. Anti-racism organisations, the church and commercial companies have all held out a helping hand over the last few days.

The group of Action for Equality, Support and Antiracism (KISA) yesterday announced that 467 boxes and 197 bags filled with clothes, sheets, blankets and food as well as 30 bags of rice and lentils collected at their head offices had set sail for Sri Lanka.

The Sri Lankan Union of Cyprus, the Christian Brotherhood of Sri Lanka and the Sri Lankan Sisterhood of the Roman Catholic Church of Cyprus have also sent their donations in the same container.

KISA thanked the volunteers who helped to raise the food and clothing as well as the people around the island who donated to those in need. KISA added that efforts are being made in conjunction with other companies and media organisations around the island to help in whatever way they can raise money. So far, KISA have raised just over £5,000.

The church of Cyprus yesterday called on churches around the island to request donations from churchgoers to help raise money for the victims in south-east Asia.

In circulars read in churches around the island, the Holy Synod, which mentioned that it felt the pain of those suffering in the tsunami hit region, stated that it was certain that the church faithful would respond promptly with financial donations to help the suffering in south-east Asia.

The church added that the fundraiser gives the Cypriot people “a chance to show compassionate support to the victims of the earthquake that are currently enduring trying times.” The Holy Synod also expressed its sympathy and love to all the suffering on behalf of the clergy of the church of Cyprus.

Meanwhile, the Cypriot based international contracting company Joannou & Paraskevaides Group (J&P Group) has donated a cheque of £10,982.50 into the Sri Lankan Consulate’s bank account in Cyprus. J&P employs thousands of Sri Lankans, who work for the company in the Arab nations.

The Cyprus Mail is the only English-language daily newspaper published in Cyprus. It was established in 1945 and today, with its popular and widely-read website, the Cyprus Mail is among the most trusted news sites in Cyprus. The newspaper is not affiliated with any political parties and has always striven to maintain its independence. Over the past 70-plus years, the Cyprus Mail, with a small dedicated team, has covered momentous events in Cyprus’ modern history, chronicling the last gasps of British colonial rule, Cyprus’ truncated independence, the coup and Turkish invasion, and the decades of negotiations to stitch the divided island back together, plus a myriad of scandals, murders, and human interests stories that capture the island and its -people. Observers describe it as politically conservative.