The Swiss Broadcasting Corporation's Solidarity Chain has announced record donations of SFr130 million over the past 15 months to help survivors of natural disasters such as Hurricane Mitch.

The Swiss Broadcasting Corporation's Solidarity Chain has announced record donations of SFr130 million over the past 15 months to help survivors of natural disasters such as Hurricane Mitch. The announcement comes as a new team of directors takes over at the helm of the charity.

The Solidarity Chain organised five campaigns for victims of natural disasters in central America, Turkey, Kosovo, Sudan and Switzerland over the past 15 months.

Most recently, the charity raised SFr2.8 million for the victims of the flooding in Venezuela and SFr1.1 million for the damage caused by Hurricane Lothar in Switzerland. A fifth of all money donated over the past ten years has been invested in this country.

The Solidarity Chain currently has 282 projects underway in more than 60 countries. They range from emergency relief and reconstruction projects to sponsoring the upbringing of children.

A new troica of directors has taken over in the charity's boardroom. Félix Bollman takes over as managing-director and will also be in charge of finance. Roland Jeanneret becomes head of communications. Héribert Kaeser takes over responsibility for international aid.

In another change, the outgoing head of DRS radio, Andreas Blum, has been appointed head of the commission for financing aid projects.

From staff and wire reports

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