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Tsunami Recovery May Be Largest Ever for Red Cross
By Lesly C. Hallman, Staff Writer, RedCross.org
Friday, December 31, 2004 — Officials expect the recovery efforts following last Sunday’s massive earthquake and tsunami to become the largest ever as the death toll continues to climb and now tops 115,000 victims, according to the United Nations. Millions of others are now homeless and without the basics needed for survival including food, water, and shelter, and the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement and other international aid groups are rushing to fill the need.
An Indian man holds his head as he sits atops the ruins of his house destroyed in a tsunami in Cuddalore, some 180 km south of the southern Indian city of Madras, December 27, 2004.
Reuters/Arko Datta, courtesy www.alertnet.org.
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The American Red Cross is deploying personnel and materials to assist those in the affected areas of Southern Asia, including experts in relief assessment, water and sanitation and logistics. American Red Cross staff based at delegations in Asia have traveled to assist the effort as well.
The United Nations (UN) World Health Organization warns that up to 5 million people in South Asia are without basic services. Health experts are concerned that in the aftermath, as many people may fall victim to diarrhea diseases, respiratory infections, malaria, and dengue fever, as were affected by the tsunami.
A field assessment team from the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (Federation) is in Indonesia to assess the most urgent needs faced by the country, and how best to support the efforts of the Indonesian Red Cross. According to the Federation, some 80,000 lives have been lost in Indonesia, and the focus remains on providing shelter and health care. The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), the lead Movement agency in conflict areas, is coordinating the assistance it is providing with the Federation, and the national society.
In Sri Lanka, where more than 27,000 people have died and almost 900,000 are displaced according to reports, the need for basic shelter and food is immense. Seven flights carrying Red Cross health materials and relief goods from all over the world have already arrived on the island, with four more scheduled to land by Friday morning.
The American Red Cross is unable to service any International Disaster Welfare Inquiries (Ideas) at this time although the International Committee of Red Cross has established a website with which family members can search for their relatives by name. This information has been shared with chapters. The website is http://www.familylinks.icrc.org. Inquiries concerning U.S. citizens should be referred to the U.S. Department of State, Office of Overseas Citizens Service, at 1-888-407-4747. Please note that these phone numbers are frequently busy during the first days of a large disaster
You can help those affected by this crisis and countless others around the world each year 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 those in need. Call 1-800-HELP NOW or 1-800-257-7575 (Spanish). Contributions to the International Response Fund may be sent to your local American Red Cross chapter or to the American Red Cross International Response Fund, P.O. Box 37243, Washington, DC 20013. Internet users can make a secure online contribution by visiting www.redcross.org.
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