American Red Cross Tsunami Response Transitions to Long-Term Recovery

Today the American Red Cross released
its long-term tsunami recovery plan that addresses the needs of tsunami
survivors over the next five years. Now that the initial emergency phase has
passed, the organization is embarking on the important task of rebuilding
lives and livelihoods.


The generosity of the American public has allowed the American Red Cross
to provide more than $100 million in emergency aid to more than 2 million
survivors. This aid includes emergency food for 1.6 million people,
vaccinations for 1.1 million children and relief supplies for 400,000 people.


The relief effort was carried out with the worldwide International Red Cross
and Red Crescent Movement, along with other global humanitarian organization
partners.


In the past six months, the needs of tsunami survivors have evolved. They
range from the rehabilitation of complete community water systems to disaster
mental health counseling. With the initial emergency needs addressed, the
long-term recovery efforts of the American Red Cross are now underway and are
estimated to last five years.


"I witnessed the devastation first-hand and am inspired by the enormous
amount of help the Red Cross has already provided to tsunami survivors," said
Marsha J. Evans, President and CEO, American Red Cross. "We recognize there is
a long road ahead, and we are committed to meeting the challenge. Working with
our partners, we will help rebuild the lives and livelihoods of affected
communities."


Over the next five years, the American Red Cross will assist survivors by
providing:


-- Community health services and disease control such as rehabilitating
water and sanitation systems, preventing disease through massive
vaccination campaigns, and training local disaster mental health staff.


-- Disaster preparedness activities to promote safer communities ready for
future disasters. When disaster strikes, preparedness efforts help to
ensure fewer lives will be lost and communities will be better equipped
to respond.


-- Community restoration and rebuilding by working with partners in the
reconstruction of schools, health systems, and livelihoods in the
affected regions.


The long-term tsunami recovery plan takes advantage of the expertise and
experience of the American Red Cross in areas such as water and sanitation
rehabilitation, healthcare education and disaster mental health services.


For
detailed information on the American Red Cross tsunami recovery plan, please
visit redcross/tsunami. For information on the
efforts of our
Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement partners, visit ifrc.


Whether across the street or around the world, the American Red Cross will
continue to turn the compassion of our donors into action, help communities
prepare for emergencies and bring aid to those in need.















SIX-MONTH ACCOMPLISHMENTS


-- Provided emergency food assistance to more than 1.6 million people in
Indonesia, Sri Lanka, and the Maldives through a partnership with the
World Food Program.


-- Provided safe drinking water and sanitation to tsunami survivors by
supplying water storage units in Maldives, and offering guidance for
long term water supply and household sanitation programs in Indonesia,
Sri Lanka and Thailand.


-- Rushed relief supplies to 400,000 tsunami survivors. This aid included
family tents, sleeping mats, cooking sets, hygiene kits and much more.


-- Prevented epidemics by vaccinating nearly 1.1 million children against
measles in Indonesia in conjunction with United Nations agencies, the
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the World Health
Organization (WHO).


-- Trained local disaster mental health volunteers including teachers,
community leaders and clerics who assisted more than 100,000 grieving
survivors.


The American Red Cross is where people mobilize to help their neighbors-
across the street, across the country and across the world-in emergencies.


Each year, in communities large and small, victims of some 70,000 disasters
turn to neighbors familiar and new-the nearly 1 million volunteers and 35,000
employees of the Red Cross. Through almost 900 locally supported chapters,
more than 15 million people gain the skills they need to prepare for and
respond to emergencies in their homes, communities and world. Some 4 million
people give blood-the gift of life-through the Red Cross, making it the
largest supplier of blood and blood products in the United States. The Red
Cross helps thousands of U.S. service members separated from their families by
military duty stay connected.


As part of the International Red Cross and Red
Crescent Movement, a global network of 181 national societies, the Red Cross
helps restore hope and dignity to the world's most vulnerable people. An
average of 91 cents of every dollar the Red Cross spends is invested in
humanitarian services and programs. The Red Cross is not a government agency;
it relies on donations of time, money, and blood to do its work. Marsha J.
Evans is the President and CEO of the American Red Cross.


American Red Cross

redcross

ifrc