Mexican Red Cross Answers Cross-Border Call for Assistance

American Red Cross requests assistance from Sister Society

Editorial Notes: Members of the Mexican Red Cross are available for on-site interviews in Southern California.
Video and photo material of the Red Cross response to the wildfires is available – follow directions below.
The national Disaster Operations Center is available 24 hours a day to facilitate media requests -
Please call 202-303-5551.

WASHINGTON, Tuesday, October 30, 2007 — The Mexican Red Cross sent ten volunteers at the request of the American Red Cross to help reach out to the Spanish speaking community in Southern California affected by the wildfires.

"We are thankful to the Mexican Red Cross for sending a delegation of outstanding volunteers to assist us in responding to the tragic Southern California fires," said Cesar A. Aristeiguieta, M.D., FACEP, Director of the California Emergency Medical Services Authority and member of the American Red Cross Board of Governors. "The contribution being made by the Mexican Red Cross to the Southern California relief efforts is exemplary of the dedication of all the volunteers that form the world-wide Red Cross movement."

The Mexican Red Cross volunteers are working as part of the American Red Cross shelter team to access the unmet needs of the Spanish speaking community. By working together, the Red Cross is helping to ensure that the most vulnerable receive the assistance they need in finding shelter, meals and a connection to other community services.

"This collaboration between the American Red Cross and the Mexican Red Cross demonstrates there are no borders when offering humanitarian assistance," said Isaac Oxenhaut, National Disaster Relief Coordinator of the Mexican Red Cross. "When Hurricane Dean affected us in August, the American Red Cross was there to support our relief efforts. When the request came to help the people of Southern California, the Mexican Red Cross was happy to answer the call."

This strategy worked successfully during the American Red Cross response to Hurricane Katrina and is an advantage of the American Red Cross being part of an international Movement that can call on the assistance of sister Red Cross societies around the world.

To Access American Red Cross Photo and Video Material:

Photo Instructions:

You must use an SFTP client for easy access and transfer of these high-resolution files.

Photos are in a folder called '2007 CA Wildfires'.

• Host Name: photos.videobluemoon.com
• User Name: arctransfer
• Password: qazwsxpl

Please courtesy: American Red Cross

Video Instructions:

• Host Name: http://www.videobluemoon.com/login.php
• User Name: wildfires
• Password: Red Cross (this is case-sensitive and space-sensitive)

No courtesy required, video material comes pre-bugged.

All American Red Cross disaster assistance is free, made possible by voluntary donations of time and money from the American people. You can help the victims of thousands of disasters across the country each year, disasters like the Midwest ice storms, by making a financial gift to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund, which enables the Red Cross to provide shelter, food, counseling and other assistance to victims of disaster. The American Red Cross honors donor intent. If you wish to designate your donation to a specific disaster please do so at the time of your donation. Call 1-800-REDCROSS or 1-800-257-7575 (Spanish). Contributions to the Disaster Relief Fund may be sent to your local American Red Cross chapter or to the American Red Cross, P. O. Box 37243, Washington, DC 20013. Internet users can make a secure online contribution by visiting www.redcross.org.

Related Links:

• Photo essay: Mexican Red Cross Response
• Comunicado de prensa en español