GERMAN PRIVATE DONATIONS FOR HAITI REACH 86

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BERLIN 000098 SIPDIS STATE FOR HAITI EARTHQUAKE TASK FORCE, WHA/CAR (DI PERRO, MCCANTS, ROBINSON, SMITH),IO/UNP (NARANJO, GARUCKIS), PRM/PRP (SCHAAF),EEB/IFD/ODF (SIEMER, LEATHAM, ALEXANDER), EUR/CE (HODGES, SCHROEDER) TREASURY FOR ICN (NORTON) E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EAID ECON EFIN PGOV PHUM PREL UN GM HA SUBJECT: GERMAN PRIVATE DONATIONS FOR HAITI REACH 86 MILLION EUROS REF: BERLIN 80 BERLIN 00000098 001.3 OF 002 ¶1. (U) SUMMARY. German private donations for victims of the January 12 earthquake in Haiti have reached 86 million euros. A televised fundraiser on January 19 was responsible for over 20 million euros of the total. While private donations are less than at a similar point following the 2004 Asian tsunami, the number and variety of appeals for donations are similar. German individuals, companies and organizations all over the country are getting involved, not only by donating money but also by sending emergency personnel, supplies and equipment to Haiti. Official relief assistance by the German government recently increased to 15 million euros. END SUMMARY. GERMANS OPEN THEIR WALLETS -------------- ¶2. (U) According to the German Central Institute for Social Issues (DZI),Germans had by January 22 contributed 86 million euros in private donations to victims of the earthquake in Haiti via at least 50 different humanitarian organizations, donor groups and internet portals. DZI reports that at least 15 organizations have contributed over 1 million euros each. The largest intake came from a televised fundraiser sponsored by the German television station ZDF and Bild newspaper, which pulled in 20.1 million euros in just 24 hours. Other major contributors include: Gemeinsam fuer Menschen in Not -- Entwicklung Hilft (12.9 million euros); the German Red Cross (7.8 million euros); Deutsche Welthungerhilfe (7.2 million euros); Aktion Deutschland Hilft (5 million euros); and the German branch of Medecins sans Frontieres (5 million euros). Although private donations are currently less than at a similar point following the 2004 Asian tsunami -- when they stood at 330 million -- the number and variety of appeals for donations are similar, according to DZI. (Note: Germans eventually contributed a total of 670 million euros in private donations toward tsunami relief efforts, and 350 million euros following the 2002 floods in Germany.) ALL HANDS ON DECK -------------- ¶3. (U) Examples of engagement can be found all over Germany. The ZDF-Bild televised fundraiser for victims of the January 12 earthquake in Haiti, called "A Heart of Children," attracted a wide variety of donors, including some Mission contacts. Congen Frankfurt reports that Karl-Erivan Haub and his family-owned food retailer Tengelmann Group donated 1 million euros, screw manufacturer Wuerth Company contributed 500,000 euros, and SAP founder Dietmar Hopp gave 100,000 euros. The Global Markets Equity Team of Deutsche Bank (based in the United States) donated the proceeds of its January 15 trading activities, which came to $4 million. Frankfurt-based Deutsche Bank is also matching employee donations for Haiti. The city of Freiburg, Suedwestrundfunk radio station, the Deutscher Caritasverband charity association and the Badische Zeitung newspaper have launched their own donation drive for earthquake victims, called "Suedbaden Hilft" (southern Baden help). Other private organizations in and around Freiburg have also started collecting donations, such as the Central Market Hall in Freiburg and the Mercure Hotel in Herdern. ¶4. (U) ConGen Dusseldorf reports that the government of North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) has launched its own fundraising drive, dubbed "North Rhine-Westphalia Helps Haiti," with Minister President Juergen Ruettgers at the helm. The drive has chosen 10 groups to which it will contribute, and will split the donations evenly among them. The NRW government has already contributed 300,000 euros from its own coffers, and has sent a planeload of relief goods to Haiti. On a smaller scale, the Dusseldorf Consular Corps is donating 10,000 euros to Haitian earthquake victims. BERLIN 00000098 002.3 OF 002 ¶5. (U) ConGen Leipzig reports that Saxony's Social Minister Christine Clauss has taken the lead for the German Red Cross's fundraising drive for Haiti. She has called on Germans to give generously, noting that those in her area have first-hand experience with natural disasters (i.e., the 2002 flood). Saxony's cabinet will decide on a state contribution to Haiti on January 26. On a less grandiose scale, the local Lion's Club has donated 500 euros to Haiti. The Mayor of Markkleeberg, outside Leipzig, used a recent reception to encourage donations -- there was a cash collection box as well as information available about donating through other organizations. ¶6. (U) Congen Hamburg has reported on several grassroots efforts in support of Haiti underway. Gymnasium Eppendorf High School students raised 5000 euros, and are working on a plan to raise another 50,000 euros, possibly through a jump rope contest. Nico Gilbert, owner of a Kiel-based advertising firm, has initiated a campaign including 16 local businesses, which will contribute a share of their revenues over time. The Werder Bremen football club has donated 150,000 euros. Archbishop Werner Thissen asked Catholics in the Archdiocese of Hamburg to donate for the victims of the Haiti earthquake, and the Protestant church in Schleswig-Holstein and Hamburg has likewise appealed for donations. Radio Hamburg and other stations belonging to the RTL Group, and Lower Saxony's Radio FFN have encouraged listeners to donate to Haiti. On a tour of Germany, the New York Gospel Stars gave a benefit concert in Glueckstadt; revenues and other donations will go towards a Haiti relief bank account. ¶7. (U) Bavarians are also rising to the occasion. ConGen Munich reports that the K-9 unit Rettungshundestaffel Bayerwald traveled to Haiti to assist with search and rescue operations. The Kaufbeuren organization Humedica sent three medical teams to Haiti, and shipped 100 tons of relief goods. The Hallbergmoos-based charity organization NAVIS has installed a field hospital and drinking water device in Haiti. The Diedorf-based Bavarian Red Cross transported a complete mobile hospital to Haiti with two inflatable operating rooms, capable of treating up to 250,000 people over the next 4-6 weeks. The Bavarian dioceses of Bamberg, Wuerzburg, Passau and Eichstaett each donated 20,000 euros to earthquake victims, while Munich-Freising gave 100,000 euros. Finally, the FC Bayern and VfL Wolfsburg football clubs will play a charity match to benefit Haiti, taking place in Wolfsburg some time in the next six months. The main sponsors of both clubs -- Audi for FC Bayern and Volkswagen for VfL Wolfsburg -- are joining forces to donate 1 million euros together. ¶8. (U) Berliners have also been active in fundraising efforts for Haitian earthquake victims. A benefit concert is taking place at the Berlin Philharmonic on January 25, with proceeds supporting the organization Buendnis Entwicklung Hilft. A German Red Cross field hospital, currently operating in Port-au-Prince, was sent from Berlin, and a second field hospital is reportedly on its way. Even local Boy Scout troops are doing small fundraising activities, according to Mission contacts. ¶9. (U) Official German government relief assistance to Haiti following the earthquake recently increased to 15 million euros. (NOTE: Details will be reported septel.) ¶10. (U) MINIMIZE CONSIDERED. DELAWIE