American Red Cross Offers Assistance after Mexico Quake

Agencies Begin to Assess Need and Organize Relief

WASHINGTON, Thursday, January 23, 2003 — When a powerful earthquake shook central and western Mexico on Tuesday night, the American Red Cross immediately offered aid to the Mexican Red Cross. The Mexican Red Cross responded when the 7.6 trembler struck Colima and the surrounding states of Michoacan and Jalisco. The Mexican Red Cross, skillful in response to disasters, especially earthquakes, immediately mobilized its branches and volunteers, as well as relief goods. The Mexican Red Cross is also working with the Mexican Authorities, particularly the CENAPRED (Centro Nacional de Prevención de Desastres), which is carrying out search and rescue operations.

American Red Cross staff from its International Disaster Response Unit (IDRU) already stationed in Panama arrived in Mexico City on Wednesday. In addition, American Red Cross staff in Mexico accompanied the Mexican Red Cross team to assist in damage assessments in the affected areas yesterday. Mexican Red Cross staff and volunteers trained in an American Red Cross financed course are part of the search and rescue efforts.

In a call to Mr. Jose Antonio Fernandez of the Mexican Red Cross, American Red Cross president, Marsha J. Evans, expressed condolences and offered the support of the American Red Cross. “The Mexican Red Cross has excellent capabilities and technical skill in earthquake response. Should they request our assistance, we are here to give it.”

The American Red Cross has been active in Mexico for decades, carrying out relief and rehabilitation programs in the aftermath of the 1985 earthquake, providing humanitarian assistance to victims of Hurricane Gilbert in 1988, Hurricane Pauline in 1997, the Oaxaca floods, an earthquake in 1999 and Hurricanes Isidore and Kenna in 2002, technical assistance with Mexican Red Cross blood services and biomedical products development, food security programming in Oaxaca, water and sanitation and primary health care projects in Chiapas and support to disaster preparedness training efforts nationally. The American Red Cross has contributed approximately $20 million dollars to Mexican Red Cross programs, activities and disaster responses over the past twenty years.

As part of the world's largest humanitarian network, the American Red Cross alleviates the suffering of victims of war, disaster and other international emergencies, and works with other Red Cross societies to improve chronic, life-threatening conditions in developing nations. We reconnect families separated by emergencies and educate the American public about international humanitarian law. This assistance is made possible through the generosity of the American public. To help the victims of this and other disasters, financial contributions can be made to the American Red Cross International Response Fund by calling 1-800-HELP NOW or 1-800-257-7575 (Spanish). Internet users can make a secure online credit card contribution by visiting www.redcross.org. Contributions also may be sent to your local American Red Cross chapter or to the American Red Cross, P.O. Box 37243, Washington, DC 20013.