Renovations
to the Red Cross Disaster Relief Centre in Curaçao are
expected to begin within two months following a March 20 ground-breaking
ceremony.
Beside operating as a base of operation,
the centre
will serve as the main collection point of goods during
major disasters.
It will
have several telephone lines to receive calls from family members
searching for loved ones during disasters.
The Curacao Red Cross
will have two offices at the centre and share the meeting room
with the Lions Club of Curaçao.
The building will also serve as a base for amateur radio operators.
The remaining space in the centre will be rented out to a copy
shop and a dentist. Community groups, for example, Alcoholic
Anonymous, will be able to have meetings.
The Centre was first constructed for
the Red Cross in 1969 with funds from the Lions Club. Over
the years the centre deteriorated and was in urgent need of
repairs.
A decision was taken by the Curaçao Red
Cross and Lions Club to form the Florence Nightingale Foundation
to raise funds for reconstruction.
After six years searching for funds, the Red Cross received
a cheque for 219 000 euro in May 2006. These funds were made
available by the National Disaster Funds in the Netherlands following
a request by the Netherlands Red Cross. The Lions Club donated
the remaining funds amounting to 100,000 Antillian guilders (56,000
USD).
Construction will start in May and finish in early September
as most of the material will come from overseas.
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