WASHINGTON, Monday, October 05, 2009 — As humanitarian workers in the Asia Pacific transition from disaster relief to recovery efforts, the needs of local communities after devastating earthquakes, a typhoon and a tsunami are becoming apparent. The American Red Cross, as part of the global Red Cross network, is contributing financial, logistical and material support to help affected people in Indonesia, the Philippines, American Samoa and Samoa.

“We work very closely with our sister Red Cross societies around the world, and when they ask for assistance we do everything we can to respond,” said Alex Mahoney, manager of disaster response operations in Asia for the American Red Cross.

• In Indonesia, nearly 800,000 people are believed to have been affected by the two devastating earthquakes in West Sumatra last week. To respond to these needs, the Indonesian Red Cross (known locally as Palang Merah Indonesia or PMI) is asking the global Red Cross network for $6.6 million in assistance. The American Red Cross is adding an additional $400,000 to the $100,000 contributed last week to the Indonesian Red Cross. This will assist in their efforts to procure and distribute relief supplies and clean water.
• In the Philippines, the Red Cross says 2.5 million people are affected from Typhoon Ketsana and estimates that they will need about $2.9 million for their disaster response. In response, the American Red Cross offered $100,000 last week and is making an additional $400,000 available this week.
• In American Samoa, the American Red Cross is leading the disaster response, providing food, water and needed supplies, with more supplies en route. The American Red Cross has a warehouse on the island with stocks of cots, flashlights, cooking supplies and clean-up supplies, and will be sending in additional materials to support recovery efforts. A leadership team of about 70 volunteers is also on the ground supplementing the local Red Cross workforce. To date, the American Red Cross has served more than 4,000 meals during the relief operation on American Samoa.  
• In nearby Samoa, the American Red Cross is contributing $100,000 from the International Response Fund towards the Samoa Red Cross Society’s efforts to provide relief supplies, first aid supplies, water, sanitation and shelter. Immediately after the tsunami struck, the global Red Cross network sent about $325,000 to assist the local Red Cross in their immediate disaster response.

The global Red Cross network is the world’s largest humanitarian network, with 186 national Red Cross and Red Crescent societies like the American Red Cross, 97 million volunteers and three regional warehouses of relief supplies prepositioned around the world to enable a quick response when disasters strike.

How to Help

The American Red Cross honors donor intent. Please indicate at the time of the donation, which disaster you intend to support. General donations to each of the funds listed below are also accepted and preferred. If a media agency or community group would like to coordinate a fundraising activity or make a public appeal, please coordinate with your local American Red Cross chapter.

INTERNATIONAL RESPONSE FUND

You can help the victims of countless crises around the world each year, crises like the recent earthquakes in Indonesia and the flooding and typhoons in the Philippines and Vietnam, 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. 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 by either contacting 1-800-RED-CROSS or mailing your donation, with the designation, to the American Red Cross, P.O. Box 37243, Washington, D.C. 20013. Internet users can make a secure online contribution by visiting redcross.org.

DISASTER RELIEF FUND

You can help people affected by disasters, like the recent earthquake and floods in American Samoa, by donating to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund. On those rare occasions when donations exceed Red Cross expenses for a specific disaster, contributions are used to prepare for and serve victims of other disasters. Your gift enables the Red Cross to provide shelter, food, emotional support and other assistance to victims of all disasters. You may also call 1-800-RED-CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or 1-800-257-7575 (Spanish) or mail your donation, to the American Red Cross, P.O. Box 37243, Washington, DC 20013. Internet users can make a secure online contribution by visiting redcross.org.