The Netherlands on Monday is holding a national action day to raise money to help victims of the recent typhoon in the Philippines.

Just 15 minutes after the phone lines opened at 06.00, the organisers said the total amount pledged had reached €8m. The emergency aid bank account number Giro 555 was first opened on November 11.

The activities are being coordinated at the public broadcasters’ Sound and Vision centre in Hilversum.

However, BNR radio reports that research has shown four out of five people in the Netherlands do not plan to donate money to the relief effort because they don’t think the money will reach the people who need it.

The aid group platform Samenwerkende Hulporganisaties said in a statement they understand peoples’ concerns and have promised to report back properly about what happens to the money and any problems they encounter.

Marathon broadcast

Radio 2 is broadcasting live from the centre until 18.00 and a number of Dutch performers will take part in the programming. Regular radio and television shows are also dedicating some of their output to the impact of the typhoon.

The marathon broadcast will end with a television show from 22.30 to midnight presented by public television presenters Jeroen Pauw and Paul Witteman, together with Humberto Tan and Bridget Maasland from the commercial sector. The show will be broadcast on public television station Nederland 1 plus the commercial stations RTL4 and SBS6.