Weekly Worldwide Wrap-Up!

Welcome to the Weekly Worldwide Wrap-Up, in which we consolidate the international Red Cross and Red Crescent news into one list of bite-sized links for you. It's a non-comprehensive sampling of the larger and/or more intriguing aspects of our global work...

LIBYA: Libyan refugees in Tunisia and people displaced within Libya itself are returning to their homes in many areas in the Jebel Nefusa including Jadu, Nalut and Zintan where the ICRC distributed 3,000 hygiene parcels and some 18,000 cans of food to returnees.

HORN OF AFRICA: Today, The American Red Cross announced an additional $1.7 million contribution toward the ongoing crisis in the Horn of Africa. This additional pledge was made because despite widespread relief efforts in the region, massive humanitarian needs persist, with 12 million people impacted by three years of crippling drought.

BANGLADESH: The IFRC launched an appeal for 1.3 million Swiss francs to provide emergency relief to support 50,000 people affected by the widespread floods in Bangladesh. The American Red Cross has contributed $50,000 to the cause.

USA: Thousands of Red Cross disaster workers are working in the major relief operation along the eastern seaboard launched by the American Red Cross to help people in the path of Hurricane Irene.


GLOSSARY:

ICRC = International Committee of the Red Cross
IFRC = International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies

Red Cross Responds to Local Disasters, While Several Volunteers Are Still On Assignment in the East Coast

The East Coast is still reeling from the effects of Hurricane Irene, which is likely to rank among the 10 costliest catastrophes in U.S. history, according to The New York Times, with a price tag of $7 billion to $10 billion.

The nation looks on in absolute horror at the damage and devastation the storm has left in its wake. Significant flooding, wind damage and widespread power outages are all still plaguing the communities along the eastern seaboard, where the storm has taken the lives of at least 44 individuals across 13 states and left 4.6 million homes without power.

It’s at times like these the Red Cross lives out its humanitarian mission: to keep victims of disaster sheltered, fed and clothed and to help those victims prepare and prevent further disaster. Since Hurricane Irene swept across the East Coast last weekend, the Red Cross has:

* Served more than 279,000 meals and snacks to people
* Supported 144 shelters with more than 2,700 people last night.
* Since Friday, August 26, 2011 has provided more than 52,000 overnight stays.
* To date shipped:
o Approximately 228,000 shelf stable meals
o Approximately 13,000 clean up kits containing trash bags, soap, and bleach.
o More than 8,000 comfort kits containing toothbrushes, soap and shampoo.
o More than 2,000 cots
o More than 3,000 blankets
o More than 100,000 bulk supplies such as shovels, rakes, gloves and flashlights.

But the Red Cross mission does not and can not end there.

When such a large scale disaster affects such a large portion of the nation, it’s easy to forget that disasters are also occurring on a local level nearly everyday.

Since August 26, although the national focus has been on the 1,000 mile swath of the Eastern Seaboard hit by Irene, home fires have broken out in 7 different counties across Western North Carolina and Upstate South Carolina.

The Red Cross has responded to 9 separate incidents of disaster in Madison, Buncombe, Polk, Anderson, Pickens, Spartanburg and Greenville Counties. The Red Cross assisted a total of 32 families in those counties with shelter, food and financial support, exceeding $14,500 in cash and resources, despite the fact that many of their resources and volunteers had already been deployed to other states in preparation and response to Hurricane Irene.

All across the nation, stories of the unwavering commitment of Red Cross volunteers can be heard. Yesterday, one Red Cross volunteer celebrated his wedding anniversary with disaster victims in Maryland. His wife of 40 years is back home in Tennessee, supportive and awaiting his return.

Another volunteer is recognizing a different kind of anniversary. Monday was the anniversary of Hurricane Katrina and one Red Cross volunteer from Mississippi that was affected by that unprecedented storm traveled to Baltimore this week to volunteer her time for victims of Hurricane Irene simply to return the kindness extended to her six years earlier.

Red Cross volunteers answer the call of victims of disaster in every part of the nation, whether that means a deployment to a different state or an emergency response to a local fire. Red Cross Disaster volunteers dedicate much more than their time and energy to response efforts. They dedicate their lives to serving the needs of disaster victims. Sometimes it’s difficult, many times it’s a sacrifice but it’s always rewarding.

You can help people affected by disasters like floods and tornadoes, as well as countless crises at home and around the world, by making a donation to support American Red Cross Disaster Relief. Your gift enables the Red Cross to prepare for and provide shelter, food, emotional support and other assistance in response to disasters. To make a donation, visit redcross.org or call 1-800-RED-CROSS (1-800-733-2767). Contributions may also be sent to your local American Red Cross officer or to the American Red Cross, P.O. Box 37243, Washington, DC 20013. To learn more about the work of the American Red Cross in the U.S. and around the world, please visit redcross.org or the Western North Carolina site at www.redcrosswnc.org .

Hurricane Irene Depletes Blood Supply

The American Red Cross is moving blood products to the areas most likely to be affected by Hurricane Irene so that these products will be available during and after the storm.

It’s the blood that is already on the shelves that helps save lives before, during and after a disaster, so the Red Cross is urging immediate blood and platelet donations in areas unaffected by this storm. We are also asking that community members consider donating blood in affected areas once the storm passes through and it’s safe to do so.

Since platelets have a shelf-life of just five days, it is imperative that there are enough platelets on hand to meet the needs of patients across the country and those in the path of the storm.

The Red Cross has already had to cancel more than 60 blood drives along the East Coast due to Hurricane Irene, resulting in the shortfall of more than 1,500 units of blood. It is expected that additional blood drives will be postponed in the coming days due to storm damage.

Nationwide, around 44,000 blood donations are needed each and every day to meet the needs of accident victims, cancer patients, and children with blood disorders. These patients and others rely on blood products during their treatment. If blood collections are negatively impacted by a disaster, the long-term care needs of these patients could also be affected.

When disaster strikes, this need does not diminish, even though blood donors may find it difficult or impossible to get to a convenient donation opportunity. If people will make an appointment to donate blood in the upcoming days and weeks ahead, blood will be available in the aftermath should conditions prohibit people in some parts of the country from traveling or coming to blood drives.

Please help now. Make a blood donation appointment online or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767). Please be aware the Red Cross anticipates unusually high call volume over the next several days from those directly affected by the hurricane and you may experience long delays.

Original post from www.redcrossblood.org/irene