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United States: Hurricane Katrina - Information Bulletin n° 8

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The Federation's mission is to improve the lives of vulnerable people by mobilizing the power of humanity. It is the world's largest humanitarian organization and its millions of volunteers are active in over 181 countries.

In Brief

This Bulletin (no. 08/2005) is being issued for information only. It is based on updates from the American Red Cross (ARC), reflecting the status of the situation and information available at this time. The information reflects important statistical information and facts from all major ongoing relief operations, and is made available daily when the Disaster Operations Center (DOC) is activated.

The Federation is not seeking funding or other assistance from donors for this operation at this time. The American Red Cross webpage (www.redcross.org) contains additional information on the evolving situation, the relief response to Hurricane Katrina, a tracing link, as well as information on donating to the National Disaster Relief Fund. To access information in Spanish please refer to the ARC Spanish webpage www.cruzrojaamericana.org

Red Cross and Red Crescent action

The Red Cross continues to meet the challenge of providing relief to tens of thousands of survivors of Hurricane Katrina, which plowed a wide path of destruction through the Gulf Coast just one week ago.

  • Since Hurricane Katrina first slammed ashore, the American Red Cross has housed 142,000 survivors in more than 485 shelters in 18 states.

  • The American Red Cross has served more than 3.3 million hot meals to survivors of Hurricane Katrina, and close to 4 million snacks.

  • More than 5,600 trained Red Cross workers have left their homes in every corner of the United States to join thousands of local volunteers who responded immediately to help their neighbors in need.

  • In the wake of a catastrophic disaster, the potential for illness and injury is heightened. Storm survivors are particularly vulnerable due to flood conditions, damaged sanitation and water treatment systems. Simple precautions include: washing hands regularly with soap or using hand sanitation products; avoiding flood waters; draining standing water; protecting yourself from mosquitoes For additional information, visit www.redcross.org or www.cdc.gov.

The American Red Cross is implementing innovative technology to provide faster, better service to victims.

  • Hundreds of computers are being delivered to the Astrodome in Houston as well as shelters across the country, where they will be used to register shelter residents.

  • Evacuees and loved ones separated by this disaster should go to www.redcross.org or call 1-877-LOVED-1S to join the "Family Linking Registry." To date, more than 105,000 people have registered.

  • The best way to help is by making an online contribution by visiting www.redcross.org. You can also help by calling 1-800-HELP-NOW.

  • The sheer volume of people affected, as well as the extensive geographical area affected, will require long-term massive feeding and sheltering operations for many months to come. Some 90,000 square miles have been affected-about the same size as Great Britain.

  • The Disaster Relief Fund enables the Red Cross, through its network of nearly 900 local chapters, to provide shelter, food, counselling and other assistance to people in need due to this disaster and thousands of other disasters across the country each year.

  • The Red Cross is unable to accept small, individual donations or collections of items such as clothing, food or cleaning supplies.

For further information specifically related to this operation please contact:

In the United States: American Red Cross National Headquarters, Stacy Ragan, Operations Lead; email ragans@usa.redcross.org; phone 1-202-303-5089; fax 1-202-303-0059; Media and Public Affairs; phone 1-202-303-5551; Nadia Mitchem, Fundraising; email mitchemn@usa.redcross.org; phone 1-202-303-4826

In Geneva for all enquiries from National Societies:

- Linda Stops, Operations Coordinator, Operations Support Department, Geneva; email linda.stops@ifrc.org, phone 41-22-730-4300, fax 41-22-733-0395 or Luis Luna, Federation Regional Officer, Americas Department, Geneva; email luis.luna@ifrc.org, phone 41- 22-730-4274, fax 41-22-733-0395

- In Geneva, contact the Media and Public Relations Unit, phone 41-22-730-4357, fax 41-22-740-0275

All International Federation assistance seeks to adhere to the Code of Conduct for the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement and Non-Governmental Organisations (NGO's) in Disaster Relief and is committed to the Humanitarian Charter and Minimum Standards in Disaster Response (Sphere) in delivering assistance to the most vulnerable. For longer-term programmes in this or other countries or regions, please refer to the Federation's Annual Appeal. For support to or for further information concerning Federation programmes or operations in this or other countries, or for national society profiles, please also access the Federation's website at http://www.ifrc.org

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