Finland will grant an additional fund of 3.75 million euros for humanitarian assistance to the earthquake victims in Haiti, said a statement released by the Finnish Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Thursday.

Of the 3.75 million euros, 1.1 million is granted to the World Food Program (WFP), to be used for the distribution of food aid and for responding to the needs of relief logistics.

The grant to the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) is 1 million euros, which is focused on improving water, sanitation and primary health care alongside child welfare.

The International Organization for Migration (IOM), which holds the main responsibility for administering the camps set up for earthquake victims and for emergency shelter, will receive 0.7 million euros from Finland in support.

The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) will direct its assistance of 150,000 euros to coordinating international emergency relief. The other 800,000 euros will be granted to the Finnish Red Cross and other Finnish organizations to support their relief work in Haiti.

The Finnish Ministry of Foreign Affairs had already granted 1. 25 million euros for Haiti last week, 750,000 euros of which had been used to cover the cost of sending a mobile clinic of the Finnish Red Cross to Haiti. The organization had sent 11 workers to Haiti, with 25 more heading for the quake-hit country on Thursday night.

Besides that, Finland and Germany are discussing the establishment of a permanent hospital in Haiti, which would have space for 150 to 300 people. According to the plan, Germany would be responsible for the hospital's infrastructure and management, while Finland would contribute relief workers. The Finnish Red Cross has already recruited 60 Finns for the project.

The quake disaster in Haiti has awakened the compassion of Finns, who have given generously to aid organizations involved in the relief efforts. The Finnish Red Cross alone has collected about 1.4 million euros in its disaster relief fund by Thursday.

(Xinhua News Agency January 22, 2010)