Oslo’s main boulevard from the central train station to the heart of town was full of folks Sunday night who defied the late autumn cold to march in a torchlit parade honouring victims of the devastating typhoon in the Philippines. The event also helped raise more funds for disaster relief.
The parade, organized by humanitarian organizations and with government minister Thorhild Widvey joining in, headed for the National Theater, where state broadcaster NRK aired live coverage of a fund-raising concert featuring such Norwegian artists as Anne Grete Preus, Ole Paus, Eva and The Heartmaker and Morten Abel.
NRK could later report that fresh donations amounting to NOK 22 million (nearly USD 4 million) had been tallied by Monday morning, in addition to the millions already donated by Norwegians through such organizations as the Norwegian Red Cross, Kirkens Nødhjelp, Unicef, Redd Barna (Save the Children), Caritas and Streetlight. The Norwegian government has also donated NOK 205 million in emergency aid.
Fundraisers from the organizations had also roamed the streets on Saturday, collecting more funds that will be used for food, fresh water, clothing, housing and other emergency supplies.
newsinenglish.no staff
