American Red Cross Issues One-Month Progress Report for Haiti Earthquake

National Headquarters 2025 E. Street, N.W. Washington, DC 20006 www.redcross.org
Date:	February 12, 2010
Contact:	Diane Concannon, 609.951.2116; (cell) 609.206.4043

NOTE: Red Cross disaster expert available for interview from Port-au-Prince, Haiti (details follow below release)

WASHINGTON, February 12, 2010 — The American Red Cross today issued a one-month progress report on its efforts to provide food, water, relief supplies, shelter, healthcare, family services and other assistance since the January 12 earthquake in Haiti.

“Every day since the earthquake, we have been focused on getting aid into the hands of those who need it most,” said Gail McGovern, president and chief executive officer of the American Red Cross. “The American people have entrusted us with this responsibility, and we remain committed to helping the people of Haiti cope with their losses.”

Since the earthquake, the American Red Cross has raised approximately $255 million for the Haiti relief and recovery efforts. To date, it has spent or committed $80 million, with approximately 69 percent of the funds spent or committed for food and water; 20 percent for shelter; and 11 percent for health and family services. As the response progresses and recovery begins, the Red Cross will continue to support these priority areas and longer-term assistance initiatives.

Food, Water and Other Relief Items
The American Red Cross has provided 3 million pre-packaged meals to the United Nations World Food Programme as well as $30 million in funding to help feed an additional 1 million people for a month. To meet the dire need for clean water, it has also distributed more than 1 million water-purification sachets as well as containers that allow people to clean and carry water. The American Red Cross is also providing supplies for 130,000 people and working with Red Cross teams from other nations distributing relief items such as blankets, kitchen supplies, hygiene kits and buckets.

Shelter
More than 1 million people in Haiti are in need of shelter. Leaders representing more than 20 Red Cross and Red Crescent societies, including the American Red Cross, gathered this week in Montreal, Canada for a two-day summit to develop and coordinate a comprehensive approach to respond to Haiti’s immediate and long-term needs.

“The challenges to quickly develop and deliver appropriate transitional shelters, and to do so prior to the rainy season, are immense,” said David Meltzer, senior vice president of international services with the American Red Cross. “This week’s meetings establish both a commitment and process to quickly shelter tens of thousands of survivors.”

In coordination with other relief agencies, the Red Cross aims to address the complex shelter situation in Haiti through a combination of strategies, including:

• Providing local families with solutions that will encourage them to rebuild safely near their pre-disaster homes
• Supporting host families who are housing displaced people
• Supporting people in post-quake settlements by providing both tarps and tents

Health and Family Services
Since the earthquake, the American Red Cross has provided more than 1,100 units of blood for earthquake survivors, more than 50 Creole-speaking interpreters for the USNS Comfort hospital ship, and $600,000 worth of food for the mobile clinics and hospitals operated by other Red Cross teams in Haiti.

In the United States, the American Red Cross has been providing welcoming services, shelter and other support for repatriated citizens and medical evacuees who arrived home following the earthquake. In addition, the American Red Cross is helping people find and reestablish contact with their loved ones in Haiti through its international family tracing service – a form of assistance that is also being provided by the Red Cross in Haiti.

Looking Ahead
It is clear that what took minutes to destroy will take many years and the collective support from governments and relief agencies across the globe to help rebuild. Because of the extraordinary support from the American public, the American Red Cross will continue to play an important role in relief efforts in the months ahead.

“The needs are great, but the generous support of the American people is making a difference every day,” said McGovern.

To learn more and read the complete report, please visit www.redcross.org/haiti.

You can help the victims of countless crises, like the recent earthquake in Haiti, around the world each year 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 mailing your donation with the designation to the American Red Cross, P.O. Box 37243, Washington, D.C. 20013 or to your local American Red Cross chapter. Donations to the International Response Fund can be made by phone at 1-800-REDCROSS or 1-800-257-7575 (Spanish) or online at www.redcross.org.

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Red Cross disaster expert available for interview from Port-au-Prince, Haiti

Bonnie Gillespie

One month after a 7.0 magnitude earthquake destroyed houses, schools and the capital city of Haiti, progress has been made, but many challenges remain. The American Red Cross has more than 100 disaster relief specialists and volunteers on the ground helping distribute much needed relief supplies, such as water, cooking sets and items to help meet basic shelter needs. We are working with our Red Cross partners and other humanitarian factors to develop a comprehensive multi-year plan together to meet the long-term needs of families affected by the earthquake.

To provide your audience with an update, we have Bonnie Gillespie, a seasoned disaster responder, available for interviews from Port-au-Prince, Haiti. Gillespie brings years of experience working on international relief operations to the Red Cross teams on the ground, including working in Banda Aceh in the wake of the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami.

WHAT: Bonnie Gillespie, experienced American Red Cross disaster respondent available for interviews on relief effort in Haiti.

WHERE: Port-au-Prince, Haiti – Red Cross operations center

WHEN: Wednesday, February 10 – Saturday, February 20, 2010 (Exact end date TBD)

HOW: Contact Diane Concannon, American Red Cross of Central New Jersey, Office) 609-951-2116, Cell) 609-206-4043, or concannond@usa.redcross.org with the following details:

• Request date(s), time slot(s)
• Taped or live interview
• Requester contact information including phone and email
• Name of media outlet

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: Most recently Gillespie has worked as an Advocacy Director for the Johns Hopkins University Center for Communications programs leading strategic communication efforts in Washington, DC and globally for increased funding for global health programs. Gillespie also has years of experience working with American Red Cross disaster relief operations. She has responded to more than 30 international disasters, and has also traveled throughout Africa as a Red Cross Measles Initiative team member.

Gillespie received her undergraduate degree from Delta State University in Mississippi and taught English in China upon graduation. She later received her master’s in journalism at Johns Hopkins University. She is a trained in psychosocial support crisis intervention and malaria programming and continues to work as a professional photographer and freelance writer when her schedule permits.

Other American Red Cross resources are available for your use through redcross.org.

• Red Cross photographs are available for download here: http://media.redcross.org (username: current; password: redcross). *Credit must go to the photographer/American Red Cross.
• B-roll from Haiti is available: Click Here
• Press releases and other stories are available on www.redcross.org and on http://blog.redcross.org.