American Red Cross Releases Comprehensive Tsunami Relief Plan

Lesly C. Hallman , Staff Writer, RedCross.org

Friday, January 07, 2005 — The American Red Cross today announced a massive relief plan for those affected by the tsunamis, requiring an estimated $400 million to respond to both immediate and long-term needs now and years into the future.

The two-phased plan calls for specialized relief in five areas, including food and safe water, healthcare and disease prevention, immediate family supplies, mental health counseling, and disaster preparedness and prevention measures.

“The American Red Cross is standing with the world community to bring desperately needed emergency assistance to our neighbors in need,” said Marty Evans, President and CEO of the American Red Cross. “We also are going to be using our unique resources in international disaster response to meet the countless long-term requirements that these disaster victims will face.”

The first priority for the American Red Cross is providing lifesaving help in the form of food, clean water, and sanitation, and other relief items like tents, hygiene kits and cooking utensils. Teams of American Red Cross experts have already been deployed to some of the affected areas, and are working hard to provide support to the ever-growing relief effort. Implementation of this plan has already begun in coordination with the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies and other important partners.

The American Red Cross will work in partnership with other relief organizations in a massive immunization campaign, while offering mental health services to those who have been so profoundly affected by this immense disaster.

This plan follows an initial American Red Cross announcement of $30 million in aid to the relief efforts on Dec. 31, 2004. Public and private donors large and small have already pledged nearly $150 million to the American Red Cross relief efforts in Asia. When contributions reach $400 million, the American public will be notified.

“We will continue to provide the most effective aid we can, and we will be absolutely transparent with how the donated dollars are spent,” Evans said. “America expects the American Red Cross to let them know when we’ve raised enough funds and trusts us to use their donations for longer-term needs of tsunami victims – and we are fully committed to upholding their trust. Should we need additional resources to help the tsunami victims, we have no doubt the generous American public will step up and provide us with those funds.”

http://www.redcross.org/article/0,1072,0_312_3927,00.html