The
Russian Red Cross (RRC) has appealed, nationally and internationally,
for medical assistance and for cash donations, to help the victims
of the tragic hostage-taking in a Beslan (North Ossetia) school
last week, which has left 336 people dead, more than 400 injured,
many of them children, and hundreds more traumatized. Some 200
people are still unaccounted for.
The International Federation is putting out an appeal today
to enable the Russian Red Cross to set up and carry out long-term
psychological support programmes for victims and their families.
In the meantime, to accommodate the thousands of calls coming
in from the public all over the world, the Federation has set
up an online donation page on its Website (www.ifrc.org).
The Russian Red Cross is asking for medical equipment (such
as respirators and blood transfusion material) for hospitals
in Beslan and Vladikavkaz. The RRC is also collecting toys,
bed linen and clothes. They also need support to continue existing
and set up new psychological support programmes for victims
and their families. Last Friday (3 September), the International
Federation released 50,000 Swiss francs from its Disaster Relief
Emergency Fund to help Russian Red Cross meet immediate costs
for their emergency operation.
A Russian Red Cross truck loaded with relief goods is leaving
Moscow for Beslan tomorrow morning. It is loaded with toys,
clothes, sweets, games, school bags and stationery. "It
is hard to give the exact number of people who have been to
the Russian Red Cross with donations for Beslan in these three
days," says Galina Bokareva from the RRC. "Most people
refuse to give their names. One woman said 'I do not want anybody
to know my name, it is enough that we know the name of the Red
Cross and trust that you will deliver part of our souls with
these donations to the people in Beslan."
The furniture company IKEA has sent a shipment of mattresses,
blankets and bed linen for the hospitals in Beslan and Vladikavkaz.
Russian Red Cross volunteers, doctors, psychologists and visiting
nurses are in Beslan in hospitals and working with families.
As the hostage-taking unfolded, the RRC immediately mobilized
its staff and volunteers who were on site near the school, to
bring food and comfort to the families of the hostages. Together
with the ICRC, they helped evacuate hostages when the shooting
started.
"The Russian Red Cross can only be praised in its quick
and effective response to the disaster in Beslan," said
Per Jensnaes, head of the International Federation’s delegation
in Russia. "The psychological support they can bring to
the hundreds of traumatised children and their parents is essential
to make sure these families can recover as completely as possible
from this horrible tragedy.”
Some children still in hospital are too young or too traumatized
to identify themselves. Many bodies lie in morgues, disfigured
by the explosions that rocked the school.
There has been a widespread show of national solidarity from
the Russian population. RRC volunteers have been on duty at
the collection points as well as on the telephone hot-line round
the clock. Other volunteers are helping RRC staff from the headquarters
accept and package donations. RRC Disaster Manager Yuri Kanash
pointed out that, according to the government, all humanitarian
aid from abroad will get easy customs clearance into the country.
International mobilization has also been extraordinary, with
many sister National Societies around the world launching fund
raising campaigns on behalf of the hostages and their families.
"The response to the Red Cross appeal both in the country
and internationally will help people to survive the tragedy,"
said Russian Red Cross President Tatyana Nikolaenko. "The
international solidarity that is being shown once again emphasises
the power of humanity," she added.
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has provided
medical supplies (including anaesthetics, antibiotics, syringes,
infusions, sterile bandages, surgical materials and bed linen)
as well as medicines to hospitals in Beslan and Vladikavkaz
hospitals and is helping to assess needs. They are planning
to provide transportation to and from hospitals for the families
of the wounded, and will assist in tracing and identifying missing
people.
For more information :
Rita Plotnikova + 007 095 991 1712
Marie-Françoise Borel + 00 41 79 217 33 45
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Dozens
of Russian Red Cross volunteers were mobilized to help
sort and package donations from the public (p11929)
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Says
Galina Bokareva from the RRC. "Most people refuse
to give their names. One woman said 'It is enough that
we know the name of the Red Cross and trust that you will
deliver part of our souls with these donations to the
people in Beslan (p11931)
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There
has been a widespread show of national solidarity from
the Russian population (p11930)
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