Middle East Crisis & Evacuations
Overview
Since a United Nations brokered cease-fire was put into effect on August 14, 2006, hundreds of thousands of people have begun to return to their homes after weeks of hostilities in Lebanon and Israel. The priorities of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement (Movement) remain the same—to reach the civilian populations with food, water and other essential items, to evacuate the wounded and to properly care for the deceased.
The civilian populations in Lebanon and Israel have borne the brunt of the recent hostilities due to the destruction of local infrastructure and because of limited access and security concerns. Since the fighting started on July 12, 2006, aerial bombardment of targets in Lebanon destroyed roads, bridges, airports, ports, and fuel and gas storage tanks. At the same time, numerous rockets were fired into Israel, some hitting Haifa, Israel’s third largest city.
Access to the war-torn region has improved since the cease-fire was declared, but the challenges to providing humanitarian relief are very real. The damage to the transportation infrastructure in southern Lebanon makes it difficult for aid workers to reach the affected areas to provide assistance, and many refugees must confront the prospect of having lost everything and of facing vast destruction when they return home.
The International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement Response
Guided by its Fundamental Principles – humanity, impartiality, neutrality, independence, voluntary service, unity and universality – the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement (Movement) brings emergency relief to victims of disasters and conflicts and improves basic living conditions of those in need.
The American Red Cross
Guided by the Fundamental Principles of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, the American Red Cross is a neutral and impartial organization that supports people affected by man made or natural disasters, crisis and emergencies at home and abroad based on need, regardless of nationality, race, religious beliefs, class, or political opinions. Further, the American Red Cross cannot and does not endorse any comments of a political nature.
The American Red Cross is monitoring the situation and stands in solidarity with all members of the Movement as they seek to meet the increased humanitarian needs caused by this conflict. The American Red Cross is responding to appeals, or formal requests for support, issued by Movement partners and based on need. The American Red Cross is currently supporting an appeal issued for Lebanon humanitarian relief. Humanitarian assistance in Lebanon, provided through the Movement, will include food, water, medical assistance such as first-aid, shelter and psychosocial assistance to the affected population. The American Red Cross will consider additional appeals for support if they are issued, such as appeals from the Magen David Adom in Israel and the Palestine Red Crescent Society.
American Red Cross volunteers and chapters are assisting individuals being evacuated to the U.S. due to this conflict. All service provided is based on need. Knowing that evacuation from a combat zone can be stressful for evacuees and their families, the Red Cross is providing comfort and care to evacuees in a number of ways.
The assistance provided to evacuees is similar to relief services that the America Red Cross provides during domestic disasters. At the request of the federal government, the American Red Cross is providing evacuees with shelter, food, first aid, and help in obtaining government assistance and emergency communications. The Red Cross may provide additional assistance including child care, mental health counseling and personal-hygiene items, if our federal partners request those services.
Updates regarding American Red Cross activities and fundraising will continue to be available at www.redcross.org.
International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC)
In partnership with national societies in the Middle East, the ICRC is working to alleviate the worst effects of the current violence in the region. There is particular concern about the situation in Lebanon, where emphasis is being placed on evacuating the wounded and delivering food and other essential items as stocks begin to run low. For more information about work in the conflict areas, visit www.icrc.org.
International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (Federation)
The Federation is focusing its efforts on the needs in surrounding countries where those fleeing the conflict are arriving and where the Red Cross and Red Crescent National Societies have expressed a need for additional support. For more information, please visit www.ifrc.org.
A Coordinated Effort: Roles in the Movement
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (Federation) and the national societies are independent organizations. Each has its own individual status and exercises no authority over the others. The Federation helps coordinate the response efforts of the various societies in non-conflict areas to minimize a duplication of efforts and ensure coverage of relief needs.
The role of national Red Cross or Red Crescent societies, including the American Red Cross, when responding to an international disaster or crisis is different from their responses to domestic disasters in their respective countries. Each society works in a coordinated manner with many global partners, taking into consideration how it can provide unique, specialized assistance in the areas where it can best help.
The ICRC is an impartial, neutral and independent organization whose exclusively humanitarian mission is to protect the lives and dignity of victims of war and internal violence and to provide them with assistance.
The ICRC directs and coordinates any international relief activities conducted by the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement (Movement) in situations of conflict, and acts as the guardian of the Geneva Conventions, reminding all parties involved in conflict to adhere to the protections outlined in the conventions for prisoners of war, wounded and sick combatants and civilians. No other member of the Movement, including the American Red Cross, has that unique and challenging role.
Finding Missing Loved Ones
International Welfare Inquiries (Family Tracing)
At this time, the American Red Cross is unable to accept any inquiries regarding the well-being of family members in the affected areas. Inquiries concerning U.S. citizens should be referred to the U.S. Department of State, Office of Overseas Citizens Services, at 1-888-407-4747. Please remember that this phone number is frequently busy during the first days of a large disaster.
All Citizens Traveling Abroad should Register with the State Department
Americans traveling abroad, including those who are traveling long-term (living abroad), who have not yet registered with the Department of State, should call 202-501-4444 from overseas or 888-407-4747 if calling from the U.S. and Canada. Registration also can be done online by visiting https://travelregistration.state.gov.
ICRC Family Links Web Site
In order to respond to the need of families to know the whereabouts of their loved ones, the ICRC has launched a specific page of its Family Links website. The objective is to allow persons in Lebanon or who have fled Lebanon to register themselves as safe and well and provide information on their current location. In addition, concerned family members around the world may register relatives for whom they are seeking information.
The website can be accessed in English and in Arabic at: http://www.familylinks.icrc.org
NOTE: All information in this website is provided by relatives of persons sought or by persons who register themselves. Information posted on this site is not confidential and cannot be verified by the Red Cross.
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For inquiries regarding U.S. citizen abroad, call U.S. Department of State at 1-888-407-4747 |
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U.S. citizens traveling abroad can register by phone at 202-501-4444 or
1-888-407-4747 |
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U.S. citizens traveling abroad can register online at https://travelregistration.state.gov |
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Visit ICRC Family Links Registry for international disaster registries |
How to Support the Relief Efforts
Donate to the International Response Fund
Donate to the International Response Fund
You can help those affected by countless crises 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 help those in need. Making a financial contribution is the best way to help. To make a donation:
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* ALERT * ALERT * ALERT * |
Fraudulent Donation Emails
The American Red Cross is aware of and wishes to alert the public to an email scam. An email currently circulating purports to be from the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. While the subject line may vary, one version is: "Make an Online (Onilne) Donation."
Email solicitation is a tool used by the American Red Cross in its fundraising efforts; however, such emails only are sent to individuals who chose to receive the organization's “One Minute Update” electronic newsletter or previous donors.
Do not respond to unsolicited emails asking for money. Note: Red Cross never asks for personal information in an e-mail. This is done only at our official donation sites.
Make online donations through Red Cross or Red Crescent donation sites: |
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American Red Cross Donation Sites |
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International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (www.ifrc.org) |
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International Committee of the Red Cross (www.icrc.org) |
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Call 1-800-REDCROSS
En Español 1-800-257-7575 |
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Make a secure, online donation here. |
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Contact your local Red Cross chapter |
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Mail a Donation to:
American Red Cross
P.O. Box 37243
Washington, D.C. 20013
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The American Red Cross honors donor intent. If you wish to designate a donation for a specific disaster please do so at the time of donation.
NOTE: The Red Cross has a four-star rating from Charity Navigator for its effective use of donations. |
Promote the Red Cross
Support the American Red Cross by hosting an online advertisement/public service banner on your Web site encouraging others to make a financial donation. |
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Sign up to host an online advertisement/public service banner. |
About Donations of Goods or Collected Items
If you are an individual who would like to make a donation of food or clothing, please understand, though your generosity is sincerely appreciated, the American Red Cross cannot accept this type of donation. Please keep in mind that due to the time sensitivity, transportation costs, and the complex nature of our product needs, we have greatest success procuring product as close to the disaster site as possible, which avoids delays in getting basic necessities to disaster victims. For these reasons, we are especially appreciative of the financial contributions made by individuals, corporations, and foundations.
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Read more About Collections of Goods and Individual Items
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Find your Local Red Cross Chapter
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About Offers to Volunteer
While the American Red Cross deeply appreciates the compassion and generosity of those who offer to volunteer internationally, the organization maintains a specially-trained team of relief workers experienced with responding to international disasters of this nature.
The American Red Cross does not anticipate a need for additional international volunteers at this time.
The Red Cross is a volunteer led and driven organization that responds to domestic disasters - big and small - on a daily basis. Red Cross volunteers help their neighbors recover from the so-called "silent disasters" such as house fires that don't make headlines even though they can be as devastating to the victims as large scale disasters. Red Cross volunteers also may register with their local chapters for deployment to help with relief efforts in response to large-scale (regional or national) disasters such as hurricanes.
To get involved and learn more about becoming a domestic volunteer, contact your local chapter.
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Find your local American Red Cross Chapter |
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Or, visit VolunteerMatch.org to search for Red Cross volunteer opportunities in your area |
Inquiries
Media Inquiries
Please visit the American Red Cross Press Room on Redcross.org for the latest press releases, media advisories or statements, links to available news photos, video and public service announcements. |
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Visit the Press Room on Redcross.org |
NATIONAL and INTERNATIONAL Medial Requests ONLY: |
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Call Disaster Public Affairs at 202-303-5551 |
LOCAL Media: Please contact the American Red Cross Chapter nearest you.
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Find the local American Red Cross Chapter |
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Public Inquiries or Comments
Non-media, public requests including private citizens, businesses or students: |
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Visit the Contact Us page. |
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