The American Red Cross has responded to some of the most overwhelming needs in eastern Siberia, a region burdened by a harsh economic and physical environment. The American Red Cross has been there since 1998, when the banking crisis and subsequent collapse of the Russian ruble following the Asian financial crisis led to widespread wage declines and an increase in poverty. Today some 40 million Russians live on less than $1 U.S. per day and many institutions function on 30 percent of their former budgets. In addition to helping the Eastern Siberian Red Cross build a stronger program, the American Red Cross is supporting a Red Cross youth program, providing aid to orphanages and running a large-scale food relief program for the socially vulnerable. With the help of the American Red Cross, orphans have gained weight and recovered from malnutrition. More than 1,000 orphans have been helped through the special American Red Cross program that includes the supply of fresh produce, dairy products and medicines. The food shipments were particularly welcome during the harsh 2000-2001 winter, when temperatures dipped to their lowest in 30 years. Psychiatric institutes, hospitals, nursing homes, orphanages and juvenile detention centers have benefited from the $15.5 million program. Multi-child and single mother families are also among those targeted. Our slide show (below) offers a view of the program at work.
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