Action day Giro555 throughout the Netherlands, standings now 28.6 million euros

NOS News•today, 06:10•Amended today, 08:15

In Sound & Vision in Hilversum, the national day of action for the victims of the earthquakes in Turkey and Syria started early this morning. The starting signal was given at 5:55 am, referring to Giro555.

Around that time, the counter of the aid campaign stood at 28.6 million euros. On Monday that was almost 25 million.

The cabinet is making an extra 10 million euros available for aid to earthquake victims. Minister Liesje Schreinemacher announced this this morning in the television program Goedemorgen Nederland (WNL).

“I really hope that the people at home who can spare something, also contribute to that beautiful day of action today. Because that help is really very much needed,” said Schreinemacher.

This 10 million euros for Giro555 comes on top of the 10 million euros that the cabinet pledged last week for emergency aid in Syria.

Spokesman for the aid organizations Michiel Servaes explains why a lot of money is needed:

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Action day Giro 555 started: ‘It is a disaster of unprecedented magnitude, we need a lot of money’

Who is behind Giro555?

The special account number is an initiative of eleven cooperating aid organizations: Care, Cordaid, Kerk in Actie, Netherlands Red Cross, Oxfam Novib, Plan Netherlands, Save the Children, Refugee Foundation, Terre des Hommes, Unicef Netherlands and World Vision.

Nine of the eleven charities that are part of the Cooperating Aid Organizations receive a percentage of the proceeds that has been determined in advance. Because Plan International and Terre des Hommes do not work in the disaster area, they waive the money for this action.

Doctors without Borders (AzG) withdrew from the Cooperating Aid Organizations in 2006, partly because of the condition that the disaster is in the news before a Giro555 action is launched. The organization is active in Turkey and Syria and also asks for donations.

The national day of action was organized by the eleven Cooperating Aid Organisations. The Sound & Vision building is the beating heart of the fundraising campaign. Radio and TV programs are made there all day long and a call panel is ready with well-known Dutch people to accept donations. Representatives of the Turkish and Syrian communities are also helping.

There are currently countless small and large initiatives in the Netherlands to raise money. Schools, among others, have organized activities and many companies have campaigns.

From 8.30 pm there will be a live broadcast on NPO 1 from NPO, RTL and Talpa. The announcement of the provisional final score can be seen at the end of the day on NPO 1, RTL 4 and SBS6.

It is now nine days since Turkey and Syria were hit by strong earthquakes. The death toll has risen to more than 40,000. Many rescue teams have since stopped searching for survivors. Nevertheless, several people were pulled alive from under the rubble yesterday, including a 77-year-old woman.

Millions of people in the disaster area have been affected by the earthquakes. The proceeds of Giro555 are used, among other things, for shelter, medical aid, food, drink and relief goods such as medicines, warm clothing and blankets.

You can see what goes on behind the scenes in this video: