EU DIPLOMATS DONATE BLOOD TO ADDRESS SHORTAGE
Mr Thomas Wiersing, Chargé d'Affaires a.i. of the EU Delegation to the Philippines together with Ambassadors Saskia de Lang (Netherlands), Harald Fries (Sweden), Chargé d'Affaires a.i. Mr Mihail Sion (Romania), Mr Fernando Heredia, Consul General of Spain and colleagues from the Embassies of Belgium, the Netherlands and the EU Delegation participated in the bloodletting drive. Senator Richard Gordon who is also Chairperson of the Philippine Red Cross has witnessed the drive.
Team Europe in Manila stands in solidarity with the Filipinos in the fight against COVID 19, said Mr Wiersing.
“In response to the call of the Philippine Red Cross for blood donation, we have all come here to donate our blood to avert shortage of supply created by the pandemic”.
The EU has been a long-standing partner of the Red Cross movement in the Philippines.
Through its humanitarian office (ECHO), the EU has been a donor and partner of the Philippine Red Cross.
During the Taal Volcano eruption early this year, the EU has provided more than Php 42 million to the Red Cross response. ECHO also provided funding support during recent calamities including Typhoon Tisoy, dengue outbreak, Batanes earthquake, and the conflict in Mindanao.
The EU has been in one with the Red Cross in search and rescue, clearing operations, food assistance, multi-purpose cash, water, sanitation and hygiene promotion, emergency health units and welfare desks.
“We continue to express our support as “we heal as one” community. We believe that together we can fight this pandemic”, said Mr Wiersing.