VZCZCXRO7174
OO RUEHIK
DE RUEHRL #0098/01 0251614
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 251614Z JAN 10
FM AMEMBASSY BERLIN
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 6362
INFO RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE
RUCNFRG/FRG COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE
RUEHZH/HAITI COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE
RUEHDG/AMEMBASSY SANTO DOMINGO IMMEDIATE 0006
RUEHDF/AMCONSUL DUSSELDORF IMMEDIATE 0273
RUEHFT/AMCONSUL FRANKFURT IMMEDIATE 8367
RUEHAG/AMCONSUL HAMBURG IMMEDIATE 0361
RUEHLZ/AMCONSUL LEIPZIG IMMEDIATE 0266
RUEHMZ/AMCONSUL MUNICH IMMEDIATE 2238
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK IMMEDIATE 0915
RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE
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