ADRA Portugal has 109 Local Delegations throughout the territory, including the islands, and its operational strategy is to encourage and support each Delegation near the places affected by the fire.
“ADRA Portugal is supporting firefighters bringing to the headquarters of the Civil Protection or local corporations essential goods like water, milk, cereal bars, fruit” said Cármen Maciel ADRA Portugal Executive Director. “We are supporting families who have lost their property.”
Each Local Delegation locally identifies the needs and organizes to raise furniture, clothing, food. They cooperate with local authorities like city councils, parish councils, Civil Protection, Food Bank, and other NGO.
“Beside humanitarian intervention, we continue to pray for all families, communities and professionals affected by this terrible disaster” affirm Cármen Maciel, “we have received incredible testimonies and we are sure that there will be many more to tell”.
Nationally ADRA Portugal has supported the purchase of essential goods, according to the needs that have been reported, and provided and coordinated volunteers to support families and communities affected by the fire. “We have created a link where all those who wish to volunteer may leave their intention and information: http://migre.me/uCUoV,” inform Maciel. In only four days about 117 volunteers have registered, offering their time, making available their own construction tools, offering to collect furniture, clothes, food and more. “It has been wonderful”!
“We asked to the Portuguese Ministry of Internal Affairs to start a fundraising campaign to support the Madeira Island and we started a bank account which will serve to collect donations between 17th August 2016 and 16th February 2017. Bank details will be spread through our social networks” conclude Cármen Maciel.
For donations intended to support families in continental territory, ADRA’s usual account can be used http://adra.org.pt/
