 |
Search : | ||
|
|||
News
 |
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Red
Cross responds to multiple disasters in Central America 13 October 2005 Currently, the Red Cross is carrying out eight emergency operations in eight countries in Central America, Guatemala, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Honduras, Mexico, Belize and Haiti to assist more than 10,000 families affected by Hurricane Stan. This includes the operation in response to the Llamatepec volcano activity in El Salvador which aims to assist 21,000 people. A second flight, chartered by the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, loaded with relief goods will arrive today in Guatemala carrying blankets, hygiene articles and kitchen sets for people affected by devastating floods and landsides. For its part, the Guatemalan Red Cross, active since the beginning of the emergency operation, has sent 25 relief flights to the most affected regions of Coatepeque, Tecún Umán, Tejuela, Mazatenango and Retaluelo. Search and rescue activities have stopped in Guatemala, where the official death toll is 652. However, figures are estimated at 2,000 deaths as landslides buried several communities. Hundreds of thousands remain homeless and Red Cross volunteers are focusing now on the distribution of food, water and relief goods. The Guatemalan Red Cross has distributed food in more than 200 temporary shelters and is directly managing 32 shelters. It is also providing medical aid and psychological support in many shelters and in affected communities. Red Cross branches in Tecun Uman and Mazatenango are restoring family links. To date, 13 people have already been put in contact with their families. Elsewhere, a plane load of Red Cross emergency relief supplies arrived in Haiti yesterday in order to support the operation of the Haitian Red Cross in assisting those affected by the heavy rains and flash floods caused by Hurricane Stan. More than 2,000 Red Cross volunteers and staff are actively working in Central America to help the thousands of people affected. On 7 October, the International Federation launched an appeal for 1,568,000 Swiss francs to provide assistance for up to 10,000 families over the next six months to those countries affected by Stan. Another appeal seeking 487,000 Swiss francs to assist 21,000 people in El Salvador was launched on 5 October. For further information, or to set up interviews, please contact: Eva M. Calvo, Media Officer Tel. + 41 22 730 43 57 / + 41 79 217 33 72 Media Service Duty Phone (Out of hours) Tel: + 41 79 416 38 81 The Geneva-based International Federation promotes the humanitarian activities of 181 National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies among vulnerable people. By coordinating international disaster relief and encouraging development support, it seeks to prevent and alleviate human suffering. The Federation, National Societies and the International Committee of the Red Cross together, constitute the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. © International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
