To kickstart the public appeal, the Singapore Government will contribute US$20,000, in addition to an earlier US$30,000 donation in April to the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) for humanitarian relief in Sri Lanka.

According to estimates by the United Nations (UN) and the International Committee of Red Cross (ICRC), hundreds of thousands of Sri Lankans have been made homeless and are currently housed in the IDP camps.

'At present, the UN, the ICRC, and their supporting partners are currently on the ground to provide the necessary humanitarian relief to these IDPs,' said a joint statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Singapore Red Cross (SRC) on Wednesday evening.

'These IDPs are in dire need for food, shelter, potable water and family kits for their daily sustenance.'

The money collected through the public appeal by the SRC will be used to fund the purchase of the required relief items. The SRC will work closely with the ICRC to meet the immediate needs of the IDPs in the camps.

The SRC has requested the public to donate cash as this would allow it the flexibility to meet the changing needs of the IDPs.

Donations in-kind will be considered at a later date if there are specific long-term demands, said the joint statement.

The donation drive will end on July 2.

Members of the public who wish to contribute to this fund can make their donations through the following:

*Walk-in cash/cheque donations:

Singapore Red Cross, 15 Penang Lane Singapore 238486. Opening hours: Monday to Friday, 9.30am to 5.45pm

*Cheque donations:

Cheques to be made payable to 'Singapore Red Cross Society' Please indicate at the back of the cheque the following:
'SRI LANKA IDP APPEAL'
Name of Donor/Organisation (if applicable)
Mailing Address
Contact Numbers

Cheques to be sent to the Singapore Red Cross at 15 Penang Lane, Singapore 238486. Once the cheque is received, an official non-tax deductible receipt will be issued.

For more information on the SRC or the public appeal, the public may log on to www.redcross.org.sg or call the SRC at 6336-0269.