earthquake « American Red Cross Disaster Newsroom

Video: Red Cross Response to Cholera in Haiti

December 15, 2010

Gail McGovern, President and CEO, American Red Cross, speaks about the Red Cross Response.

Leave a Comment » | Haiti earthquake (Jan. 2010), International Updates, Videos | Tagged: cholera, earthquake, haiti, health, red cross | Permalink
Posted by amrecro

Press Release: American Red Cross Commits Additional $2 Million to Combat Cholera in Haiti

November 29, 2010

American Red Cross Commits Additional $2 Million to Combat Cholera in Haiti

NOVEMBER 29, 2010 – The American Red Cross announced today it is committing an additional $2 million to combat an escalating cholera epidemic in Haiti that has killed more than 1,700 people and sickened more than 75,000.

The funds will be used to purchase much-needed supplies, including 40 million chlorine tabs, 3 million pieces of soap, and 140,000 oral rehydration solution sachets, as well as tens of thousands of buckets, jerry cans and water purification sachets. These items will be distributed in coming weeks.

The new contribution increases the total American Red Cross support for the cholera response to date to more than $3.3 million. The American Red Cross contribution is part of a broad response to the cholera outbreak by the global Red Cross network, which includes hygiene promotion, water and sanitation services and provision of medical supplies.

“This multi-faceted response is urgently needed to save lives,” said David Meltzer, senior vice president of International Services at the American Red Cross. “The Red Cross is engaged on multiple levels – from leading cholera prevention activities in camps such as hygiene promotion to educate thousands of Haitian earthquake survivors, to funding treatment facilities and bringing desperately needed supplies into Haiti. And we are prepared to do much more in the days and weeks to come.”

Since the cholera outbreak began last month, the American Red Cross has provided 5,000 cots for use in health centers operated by Partners in Health, Project Medishare and the Haitian Ministry of Health. At the request of the Haitian Ministry of Health, the American Red Cross has also purchased 250,000 sachets of oral rehydration solution, an essential supplement to combat the rapid dehydration from cholera which can lead to a patient’s death.

As the number of cholera cases grows, the Red Cross is trying to prevent the crisis from crossing borders.

Video: Visit to Red Cross Cholera Treatment Center

November 29, 2010

As of November 29, 2010, the American Red Cross has contributed more than $3.3 million to combat the growing cholera epidemic. Learn more about ongoing Red Cross relief and recovery after the Haiti earthquake, as well as cholera response and prevention work, by visiting www.redcross.org/haiti.

1 Comment | Haiti earthquake (Jan. 2010), International Updates, Videos | Tagged: cholera, earthquake, haiti, red cross, update | Permalink
Posted by amrecro

Press Release: American Red Cross Extends Support to Indonesia Following Multiple Disasters

November 9, 2010

American Red Cross Extends Support to Indonesia Following Multiple Disasters

Tuesday, November 09, 2010 — Following a series of devastating disasters – an earthquake, tsunami and repeated volcanic eruptions – thousands of Indonesians from Java to Sumatra are unable to return home and are relying on critical assistance from the Red Cross to cope with and recover from their losses.

“Since the devastating tsunami of 2004, the American Red Cross has been working extensively within Indonesia to ready the nation and the people for the next disaster,” said Alex Mahoney, the American Red Cross manager of disaster programs for Asia. “We have also committed an initial $50,000 to assist the Palang Merah Indonesia (PMI or Indonesian Red Cross) in their efforts to provide relief to the affected communities in the wake of the current disasters.”

Mount Merapi, located in central Java, first erupted on October 25, killing 34 people, including one local Red Cross volunteer who was heroically working to evacuate the local residents.

The volcano’s menacing effects continued throughout the past week, forcing another major eruption as recent as Friday. Sadly, more than 100 people are estimated to have died and more than 200,000 more have been affected.

The Indonesia Red Cross is assisting the survivors who live near Mount Merapi by supplying temporary shelter and blankets as well as providing three meals a day and attending to the injured at mobile clinics. The most recent eruptions, with an erratic spewing of ash, clouds and gas, have forced the displaced residents to move even further away from their homes to escape danger. Because many people’s livelihoods are dependent on agriculture, persuading people not to return to their homes has proved to be a great challenge.

Read More >>

Leave a Comment » | International Updates, Press Release | Tagged: earthquake, indonesia, red cross, tsunami | Permalink
Posted by amrecro

Disaster Update: Cholera in Haiti

November 9, 2010

Disaster Update

While Haiti was spared the worst feared impacts of Hurricane Tomas over the weekend, the storm brought heavy rains and flooding to other parts of the country, including the area north of Port-au-Prince that is the center of a serious cholera outbreak.

The Red Cross among other aid organizations is concerned that the outbreak will spread and is therefore continuing large-scale cholera prevention and response activities in the affected region and Port-au-Prince.

Flooding poses a new threat from this water-borne disease and officials from the Haitian Ministry of Health reported on Monday that the number of cholera deaths had risen to 544 over the weekend, with more than 8,000 people hospitalized for the disease. Late Monday, reports surfaced that a new batch of potential cholera cases had surfaced in Port-au-Prince and were being tested. Another reason for a possible spread of cholera is the fact that an untold number of people in the capital and countryside evacuated their homes ahead of the hurricane and moved to other parts of the country.

To combat this epidemic, the Red Cross global network has established a cholera treatment center in Arcahie, northwest of Port-au-Prince, to respond to the growing epidemic that threatens millions of Haitians, and plans two additional cholera treatment centers in other parts of the country.

The Red Cross has been working for months to educate the camp populations about health and good hygiene, and has further ramped up those efforts with the cholera outbreak. Health promotion teams have temporarily doubled in size, to about 200 promoters, and the Red Cross expects to directly reach hundreds of thousands of people with cholera prevention messages within a month.

These face-to-face interactions have been reinforced by millions of text messages sent to about 380,000 cell phone users by the Red Cross network, as well as radio broadcasts.

Press Release: Red Cross Prepares in Haiti as Hurricane Tomas Threatens

November 2, 2010

Red Cross Prepares in Haiti as Hurricane Tomas Threatens

WASHINGTON, Monday, November 01, 2010 – The Red Cross is activating its emergency plans in Haiti, with government officials describing Hurricane Tomas as potentially the gravest hurricane threat to the country since Hurricane Ike in 2008.

As of Monday, November 1, weather forecasters said Tomas could begin to affect Haiti as early as Tuesday, causing heavy rain and strong winds that could affect communities living along the country’s southern coast.

With hundreds of thousands of people living in makeshift camps in and around the capital Port-au-Prince as a result of the January 12th earthquake, Haiti’s population is especially vulnerable to heavy winds and rain.

What the Red Cross is doing to prepare
The Red Cross has been preparing for the threat of a hurricane since February. At present, emergency stocks for 17,000 families are in Haiti and ready to be deployed to disaster-affected communities. Additional supplies for 8,000 families have also been called in from the Red Cross network’s regional logistics hub in Panama.

“We are working closely with the government to ensure that our plans are coordinated,” said Dr. Michaèle Amédée Gédéon, president of the Haitian Red Cross Society.

Ever since the January quake, the Red Cross has been supporting communities to better ready themselves for possible hurricanes and storms. To date, Red Cross volunteers have reached tens of thousands of people living in makeshift camps through disaster preparedness projects. Volunteers have worked with community residents to help them dig drainage ditches, sandbag hillsides and create evacuation routes. In addition, Red Cross volunteers have provided emergency first aid training, and handed out waterproof bags that contain safety messages and can be used to store and protect important documents.

Video: A Conversation with Matt Marek, Deputy Country Representative, Haiti

October 12, 2010

Matt Marek provides an update from the field on some American Red Cross work in Haiti.

Leave a Comment » | Haiti earthquake (Jan. 2010), International Updates | Tagged: earthquake, haiti, matt marek, red cross, shelter | Permalink
Posted by amrecro

Press Release: American Red Cross Funds Critical Medical Care in Haiti

October 6, 2010

American Red Cross Funds Critical Medical Care in Haiti

Wednesday, October 6, 2010 – The American Red Cross has committed $2.76 million to underwrite operating expenses at Hospital Bernard Mevs Project Medishare Critical Care Trauma and Rehabilitation Program in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, allowing the facility to remain open until the middle of next year.

The hospital operates 24/7 for the general public, providing the only critical care and trauma services for all of Haiti. Funding from this agreement will support essential medical services, including operating expenses, payroll and administrative fees.

“After the catastrophic earthquake in January, we treated tens of thousands of Haitians; and continue today to treat as many critically ill and injured patients as any major metropolitan medical center in the United States,” said Dr. Barth Green, the Co-Founder and President of Project Medishare. “Thanks to the American Red Cross and their generous support, we are now able to continue to provide this crucial medical safety net for the people of Haiti.”

The Hospital Bernard Mevs Project Medishare employs 160 Haitian staff members of which approximately 147 are healthcare professionals. They are joined by more than a dozen full time international staff providing specialized services, including an on-the-job mentoring program.

This one-of-a-kind facility in Haiti offers critical care treatment for adults and children in well-equipped intensive care units and operating rooms supported by a modern medical laboratory and a well-supplied pharmacy as well as advanced imaging technology.

Disaster Alert: Earthquake in Utah

April 16, 2010

Disaster Alert

Utah – An earthquake that registered 4.9 on the Richter Scale shook Rich County residents on Thursday. No significant damage or injuries were reported.

The Greater Salt Lake Area Chapter placed teams on standby, contacted local Emergency Management to offer assistance and communicated with ARC of Northern Utah Chapter.

Leave a Comment » | Disaster Alerts | Tagged: earthquake, red cross, Utah | Permalink
Posted by amrecro

Video: China Earthquake 2010

April 15, 2010

Ramsey Rayyis, the American Red Cross head of programs for China provides a quick update on the situation in northwest China after an earthquake causes hundreds of deaths and thousands of injuries.