As Hong Kong still reels from the devastating Wang Fuk Court blaze that claimed the lives of over 128 persons, one local charity has waded in to provide relief. World Vision Hong Kong will divert a portion of the funds raised from its annual December charity run to provide emergency educational grants to affected children.
World Vision Hong Kong To Support Victims Of Tai Po Fire
According to a report, World Vision Hong Kong has disclosed plans to provide urgent relief to victims of the Wang Fuk Court blaze in Tai Po. Per the statement, the non-profit will divert funds from its upcoming Global 6K for Water charity Run to support the displaced victims in the aftermath of the fire.
Scheduled for December 14, the annual 6-kilometer event raises funds to provide potable water in communities facing dire shortages globally. Going forward, World Vision Hong Kong will match participant entry fees and redirect the funds toward supporting victims of the fire.
Despite the redirection of proceeds, the run will proceed as planned at Tamar Park with each participant paying HK$300 in registration fees. Already, the South Korean iteration of the run drew nearly 16,000 participants, with organizers expecting similar numbers in Hong Kong.
At the tail end of November, a fire broke out in Wang Fuk Court, a subsidized housing estate in the Tai Po District of Hong Kong. At press time, the fire incident has claimed the lives of over 159 people, including a firefighter, making it the deadliest building fire in decades.
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Providing Immediate Assistance To Victims
Since the fire incident, World Vision has placed its boots on the ground, providing emergency relief to the victims. Working in concert with local partners, the charity has begun the distribution of emergency education grants to scores of children directly affected by the inferno.
“Together with churches, schools, and social service organizations, we will offer support and solidarity to those in need in this difficult time,” read a post on the official website.
Early relief efforts have yielded a streak of positives for World Vision, with recipients replacing lost books, uniforms, and school supplies. Furthermore, World Vision Hong Kong is providing emotional support to victims, teaming up with Faith Health Counselling and Training Center for crisis counselling.
Meanwhile, the staff and students of Tai Po Baptist Public School have received dedicated psychological support sessions. Younger students are participating in a string of activity workshops aimed at supporting their mental recovery following the fire tragedy.