Tim Serban offers a hug and emotional support to tsunami victim Taitasi Fitao. Serban is the volunteer spiritual care adviser among the 88 American Red Cross workers who flew to American Samoa to help with recovery from the tsunami. While his fellow Red Cross workers assist with residents’ physical recovery from the tsunami, Serban and his partners in Red Cross mental health are addressing the psychological and spiritual needs of the residents. Their work as part of Red Cross Disaster Services is supported by donations to the Disaster Relief Fund of the American Red Cross.
Elliott Hill of the Disaster Mental Health team at the American Red Cross describes the services volunteers are providing in the American Samoa disaster response.
At least 10,000 people are believed to have been affected by the earthquake and subsequent tsunami that rolled upon shore in Samoa last week
According to government officials (as of Oct. 6):
137 people have died
8 people are missing
310 people are injured
380,000 houses are damaged or destroyed
2,000 people are displaced
More than 200 Samoa Red Cross volunteers are distributing:
water
clothing
tarps
blankets
water containers
bags of rice and boxes of noodles
lanterns
cooking sets
building supplies
Others are helping to reconnect separated families and promote disease prevention
To date, the Samoa Red Cross Society has assisted more than 3,500 people with tracing services
The Red Cross is actively sharing information about hand washing, food handling and boiling water to ward off diseases and infections that are common after disasters
The American Red Cross has contributed an initial $100,000 to support the international response
Tonga
At least 800 people are believed to have been affected by the earthquake and subsequent tsunami that struck this Pacific island nation
According to government officials (as of Oct. 5):
9 people have died
78 houses are destroyed
56 houses are partially damaged
Tonga Red Cross Society employees have distributed blankets, cooking sets, lanterns, plastic buckets, tarps and water containers to those in need
Additionally, volunteers are providing emotional support to the traumatized survivors
American Red Cross Helps Meet Needs in Asia Pacific Disasters World’s largest humanitarian network pulls together with response
WASHINGTON, October 5, 2009 —As humanitarian workers in the Asia Pacific transition from disaster relief to recovery efforts, the needs of local communities after devastating earthquakes, a typhoon and a tsunami are becoming apparent. The American Red Cross, as part of the global Red Cross network, is contributing financial, logistical and material support to help affected people in Indonesia, the Philippines, American Samoa and Samoa.
“We work very closely with our sister Red Cross societies around the world, and when they ask for assistance we do everything we can to respond,” said Alex Mahoney, manager of disaster response operations in Asia for the American Red Cross.
• In Indonesia, nearly 800,000 people are believed to have been affected by the two devastating earthquakes in West Sumatra last week. To respond to these needs, the Indonesian Red Cross (known locally as Palang Merah Indonesia or PMI) is asking the global Red Cross network for $6.6 million in assistance. The American Red Cross is adding an additional $400,000 to the $100,000 contributed last week to the Indonesian Red Cross. This will assist in their efforts to procure and distribute relief supplies and clean water.
• In the Philippines, the Red Cross says 2.5 million people are affected from Typhoon Ketsana and estimates that they will need about $2.9 million for their disaster response. In response, the American Red Cross offered $100,000 last week and is making an additional $400,000 available this week.
I am constantly amazed and grateful that people who are personally affected by disaster set aside their own difficulties and find away to help others.
From American Samoa, where a devastating and deadly tsunami struck Sept. 29, Bob Howard reports:
An extended family from the west side of the island that hasn’t been able to go home is staying in part of our shelter. Last night, they prepared a Samoan meal for all of us in the shelter: garlic chicken, coconut rice and sausage and gravy.
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters, but its volunteers often find themselves the recipients of similar care from the people they are there to help—as happened Sunday in American Samoa.
The Red Cross volunteers—now numbering 70 in an open-air shelter—were most struck by the gracious customs of the American Samoans, Howard reports:
“The elder in the group and his wife sit down first, and their sons stand up and serve all the guests before they eat,” he said. “That part of the shelter is their home, and the Red Cross workers were their guests….
“It was marvelous,” Howard said. “We’re five miles from anything. It was totally unexpected and greatly appreciated.”
Tracy Reines, Director of the International Response Center, provides a weekend update of American Red Cross relief operations in the Asia Pacific region. Ongoing recovery efforts continue in the Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia, Samoa and American Samoa as a major typhoon, earthquakes and a tsunami ravaged the area this week.
At 3pm today several current and former NFL football players from Samoa joined with FEMA and the American Red Cross to discuss tsunami relief efforts.
WASHINGTON – Today at 3:00 p.m. EDT the Federal Emergency Management Agency hosted a media briefing via conference call featuring
Current Cincinnati Bengal and American Samoa native Domata Peko
Former NFL player Vai Sikahema
FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate
Joe Becker from the American Red Cross
They discussed the response and relief efforts for the tsunami that recently struck American Samoa.
American Samoa has a long and proud tradition of producing top flight football players, many of whom have made it to the NFL. These players are leaders within their communities, and FEMA (and the American Red Cross) welcomes their participation in the ongoing relief efforts as we work to address the needs of the survivors of the recent tsunami.
American Red Cross Responds as Part of Global Network to Multiple Disasters in the Pacific and Southeast Asia
WASHINGTON, October 2, 2009 —As Southeast Asia and the South Pacific islands grapple with devastating earthquakes, a typhoon and a tsunami, the American Red Cross is helping to provide relief as part of the global Red Cross relief network.
The tsunami that hit American Samoa, Samoa and Tonga on September 30 destroyed villages and displaced thousands of residents, and the Red Cross is responding.
In American Samoa, the American Red Cross branch on the island is leading the response, focusing on providing food, water and needed supplies. The American Red Cross has a warehouse on the island with stocks of cots, flashlights, cooking supplies and clean-up supplies, and will be sending in additional supplies as flights become available. A leadership team of about 70 volunteers is also on its way to the island to supplement the local Red Cross workforce.
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