Chile Earthquake Update: Save The Waves Launches Relief Effort, Donations Will Go Directly to Humanitarian Aid

Please read the following update and urgent plea for assistance from our friends at Save The Waves Coalition. Note: "All donations to Save The Waves for Chile earthquake relief will go directly to humanitarian aid in the most devastated region. No bureaucratic filters, no delays, just pure support for the coastal communities that are in dire need." Your help is greatly appreciated. [Tsunami destruction in Pichilemu, Chile's Surf City. Photo: Josefa Santander]

SAVE THE WAVES CHILE EARTHQUAKE HUMANITARIAN AID TRIP
Help Earthquake Victims & Donate Now

A massive earthquake and tsunami hit Chile this weekend. The earthquake epicenter was just 5km from Save The Waves Coalition's Vigilante Costero (Coastkeeper) office and the focus of Save The Waves' many years of environmental campaigns. The earthquake and tidal wave damage to the area where Save The Waves works is devastating. Friends, colleagues and neighbors in coastal Chile need our help more than ever before. The good news is that loss of life thus far appears to be relatively low because the "gradual" start to the shaking allowed people to evacuate. But the destruction to infrastructure is devastating, including many destroyed homes, no drinking water, power, transportation, and communications. This means that aid and relief in the next few weeks will be crucial to save lives and lessen suffering.

Save The Waves Coalition is organizing a relief trip to the hardest hit region of Chile this week with doctors and medics. Save The Waves needs donations of all sizes to support travel to the region, distribute medical treatment, and purchase and distribute medical supplies, water, food, water filters and camping gear for the suffering. Save The Waves is partnering with Waves for Water to provide water filters for clean drinking water, something that is crucially needed right now.

Because Save The Waves Coalition's ongoing environmental work is in the same region as the disaster epicenter, Save The Waves is uniquely positioned to help direct humanitarian relief efforts in the region. Save The Waves is therefore organizing this humanitarian aid trip to the Buchupureo, Cobquecura and Curanipe areas at the quake epicenter. Josh Berry, Save The Waves environmental director, is on his way to Chile to act as coordinator of this relief effort.
 
All donations to Save The Waves for Chile earthquake relief will go directly to humanitarian aid in the most devastated region. Your donations will be spent directly on the ground in Chile. Since Save The Waves is a small and nimble organization with years of experience in coastal Chile, your support for this disaster will be extremely effective. No bureaucratic filters, no delays, just pure support for the coastal communities that are in dire need. Donate and learn more at the link below.
 
DONATE & HELP SAVE THE WAVES EARTHQUAKE RELIEF IN CHILE
 
Chile Relief & Media Contact:
Josh Berry
josh@savethewaves.org
Tel. 415-578-8388

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Ignacio from Patagonia Santiago wrote us on Saturday with news from the store: "A quick update: attached are some pictures of the store as I found it this morning. We're very lucky that no one was there when the earthquake hit. The mall announced that it will be closed until further notice, and seeing how it was, it won't be just a couple of weeks."

We're glad to hear our co-workers are okay. Unfortunately, many people in the region are not. Please help Save The Waves help those who need it most by making a donation today. Thank you.