Local credit unions pledge €60,000 for typhoon relief effort

Westmeath Credit Unions, in partnership with the Irish League of Credit Unions International Development Foundation (The Foundation), the charitable arm of the Irish credit union movement, has pledged €60,000 to help those affected by the typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines.


A major element of the fund, administered by the foundation in conjunction with the Canadian Co-operative Association and the World Council of Credit Unions, will go towards supporting the National Federation of Co-operatives for Persons with Disabilities in the Philippines (NFCPWD).


The NFCPWD, a federation of worker co-operatives for persons with disabilities, suffered catastrophic damage to their facilities and equipment. NFCPWD members have also experienced irreparable damage to their homes and communities.


The assistance provided by the Irish credit union movement will go towards enabling their members to rebuild their homes and return to their livelihoods as soon as possible.


It has been one month since Typhoon Haiyan hit the Philippine islands, figures released by the government on Sunday suggests that the death toll has risen to over five thousand people and over one thousand people are still unaccounted for.


Alan Moore, General Manager of the Foundation said: “We have been in close contact with our colleagues in the Philippines and we’re aware of the extensive damaged and despair Typhoon Haiyan has caused. I would like to take this opportunity to thank our partner credit unions across the island of Ireland who have shown immense generosity and support. We will continue to closely monitor our assistance to the people of the Philippines.”