Philippine Tragedy

WASHINGTON, Friday, October 02, 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.

In the sovereign nations of Samoa and Tonga, their respective Red Cross societies are running relief efforts to provide assistance to affected residents, including operating five camps for now homeless families.


YouTube Video: International Update: Asia PacificThe American Red Cross is working with other Red Cross organizations in the other disasters that have hit the Asia Pacific area in recent days.

?We?re working closely with the countries that have been hit by these terrible disasters to make sure they have the resources they need?most importantly, clean water, food and shelter,? said David Meltzer, senior vice president of International Services at the American Red Cross.

In Indonesia, two devastating earthquakes 24 hours apart have left nearly 1,000 dead and many others trapped. The Indonesian Red Cross has dispatched hundreds of volunteers to the quake zone to offer first aid services, shelter and other assistance for those in need, and is moving thousands of relief supplies to Padang.

The American Red Cross is providing an initial $100,000 from the International Response Fund to support the Indonesian Red Cross and stands ready to provide additional support, should it be requested. The American Red Cross is also sending three staff members, already working in Indonesia, to the quake zone.

Last week?s Typhoon Ketsana wreaked havoc across the Philippines, Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos, causing record-level floods, destroying houses and taking lives. In addition to the thousands of local Red Cross volunteers and employees who are providing emergency relief in their countries, the American Red Cross is contributing an initial $100,000 worth of supplies ? including mosquito nets, jerry cans and blankets ? to the Philippines from the Red Cross warehouse in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. An additional $50,000 cash is going to Vietnam to support their relief efforts.

The American Red Cross is also sending a shelter specialist to the Philippines, and in preparation for an unrelated storm, Typhoon Parma, which is on track to hit the Philippines, the organization is sending a leadership team to Saipan to supplement the local chapter. Additional volunteers and supplies will be sent as needed.

How to Help
The American Red Cross honors donor intent. Please indicate at the time of the donation, which disaster you intend to support. General donations to each of the funds listed below are also accepted and preferred. If a media agency or community group would like to coordinate a fundraising activity or make a public appeal, please coordinate with your local American Red Cross chapter.

INTERNATIONAL RESPONSE FUND
You can help the victims of countless crises around the world each year, crises like the recent earthquakes in Indonesia and the flooding and typhoons in the Philippines and Vietnam, by making a financial gift to the American Red Cross International Response Fund, which will provide immediate relief and long-term support through supplies, technical assistance and other support to help those in need. The American Red Cross honors donor intent. If you wish to designate your donation to a specific disaster please do so at the time of your donation by either contacting 1-800-RED-CROSS or mailing your donation, with the designation, to the American Red Cross, P.O. Box 37243, Washington, D.C. 20013.

DISASTER RELIEF FUND
You can help people affected by disasters, like the recent earthquake and floods in American Samoa, by donating to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund. On those rare occasions when donations exceed Red Cross expenses for a specific disaster, contributions are used to prepare for and serve victims of other disasters. Your gift enables the Red Cross to provide shelter, food, emotional support and other assistance to victims of all disasters. You may also call 1-800-RED-CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or 1-800-257-7575 (Spanish) or mail your donation, to the American Red Cross, P.O. Box 37243, Washington, DC 20013.


About the American Red Cross:
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies nearly half of the nation's blood; teaches lifesaving skills; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a charitable organization ? not a government agency ? and depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit www.redcross.org or join our blog at http://blog.redcross.org.