A joint trade union effort has been established to help the people of Chile after the earthquake which left over 700 dead and thousands homeless and destitute.
Merseyside TUC has joined the Merseyside Chile Solidarity Campaign and the FBU (firefighters) in launching a massive aid programme to help the people of Chile to resolve and rebuild their lives and communities.
A 44ft container, which has already been half filled, will be shipped in 20 days to a small town close to the quake's epicentre off the coast of Chile's second largest city, Concepcion.
Dichato was almost completely flattened by the quake, and it is small towns like these that are in most need of help.
The shipment is being coordinated by the Honorary Consul of Chile in Liverpool, Julio Ernesto Arellano, the Chile Solidarity Campaign, and trade unionist Alec McFadden. Julio the proprietor of Valparaiso, on Hardman Street, said "People, especially in some of the smaller towns, cannot do anything until help arrives, and even now that help isn't coming."
Alec McFadden said "We need the essentials so children and their parents don't have to sleep under the stars anymore, Chile is in dire need of help."
People in Chile are short of such as livestock, cattle, chickens, hens, sheep, which were all killed by the tsunami, and need replacements of their homes, roads, beds, blankets. So our campaign is to try and replace some of those necessities such as beds, blankets, tents and wheelchairs. Any items donated can be dropped off at the Merseyside TUC Centre offices, 4 St Anne Street, Birkenhead, Wirral, CH41 3JU.
Money would also be very welcome and the special bank account is Merseyside Chile Solidarity Campaign HSBC account 52285088 sort code 402908.
Alec McFadden
Merseyside TUC President