The American Red Cross has teamed with partner organizations to specifically address the needs of children after disasters, whether those needs are for physical safety, specialized food and clothing, or attention to mental health and spiritual care. On American Samoa, the Red Cross and Save the Children—a partner organization for more than two years—stocked and staffed a “Safe Space” play area in the convention center where families lined up to apply for assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
Catholic Charities, a long-time partner of the Red Cross, is sorting and distributing clothing donations. Red Cross workers are working to repackage specialty supplies that arrived Saturday evening, including diapers, baby formula, school supplies and Mickey Mouse dolls.
And with members of the faith-based community on American Samoa, Red Cross specialists in mental health and spiritual care are working with children—from preschool to high school—to deal with the losses of family members and classmates who were among the reported 34 killed in the tsunami.
