News Release: American Red Cross Plans Long-Term Aid for India Earthquake Survivors

Internet Users Click-To-Donate on www.FreeRelief.net Through August 1 To Support Long-Term Aid

WASHINGTON, June 13, 2001 — For thousands of families in India's western state of Gujarat, the future holds recovery from devastation so immense that almost everyone will need some type of long-term assistance. Following the 7.9 magnitude earthquake in January that leveled entire communities, American Red Cross relief workers responded to that initial shock and cries for help by providing blankets, tarps, kitchen sets and family tents to more than 240,000 people. Now, Red Cross workers are concentrating on the design, implementation and coordination of projects that answer longer-term recovery needs. While the earthquake lasted only a minute, the misery it creates lasts for years.

To address some of the long-term needs resulting from the earthquake, the American Red Cross is developing a three-year plan for recovery in cooperation with the Indian Red Cross. Programs include repair of community water systems, mental health networks, preventative infant and maternal health care and education and others.

"The core of people most affected by the quake is about 600,000 - or the size of Washington D.C.," said Gerry Jones, vice president, American Red Cross International Services. "Our next step is to carefully plan lifesaving projects that will reach as many people as possible, addressing both the emotional and physical pain."

In support of the continued work of the American Red Cross in India, FreeRelief.net is sponsoring a click-to-donate program to raise $10,000. FreeRelief.net is a non-profit, free donation site that was created in association with The Center on Philanthropy at Indiana University. Visitors to www.FreeRelief.net simply click on the "Donate Free" button; for every unique click made daily until August 1, or until the $10,000 goal is reached, a donation is made to the American Red Cross India disaster relief fund.

The American Red Cross is dedicated to saving lives, easing suffering and restoring hope at home and around the world. Currently operating on a budget of $2.7 billion, the Red Cross annually mobilizes relief to the victims of more than 67,000 disasters nationwide and has been the primary supplier of lifesaving blood and blood products in the United States for more than 50 years. In 2000, the Red Cross also trained almost 12 million people in vital lifesaving skills, provided direct health services to nearly 2.6 million people and delivered more than 21 million locally relevant community services. The organization also assisted international disaster and conflict victims in close to 40 locations around the globe, and its emergency communication centers processed 1.2 million calls in support of U.S. military families. Bernadine Healy, M.D., is president and CEO of the American Red Cross.