Gail McGovern in Haiti

Posted on March 12th, 2010 by Gloria Huang

Our President and CEO Gail McGovern is visiting Haiti for the second time since the earthquake. See what she has to say in this video update:

Filed under: Disaster Response | 7 Comments »

Weekly Worldwide Wrap-Up

Posted on March 11th, 2010 by Robin Parker

Welcome to the Weekly Worldwide Wrap-Up, in which we consolidate the international Red Cross and Red Crescent news into one list of bite-sized links for you. It’s a non-comprehensive sampling of the larger and/or more intriguing aspects of our global work…

[The place names link to maps so that you can get a quick idea of the region.]

CHILE: In one of various relief activities, mobile Red Cross teams have been taking satellite phones into some of the worst quake-damaged areas to help people restore contact with their family members.

HAITI: Last week marked the 100,000th Red Cross-assisted vaccination in Haiti. This week the American Red Cross passed the $100 million mark in aid for Haiti relief and recovery. And a third milestone: the Red Cross and partner humanitarian agencies have passed the halfway mark in the race to provide emergency shelter for those affected by the earthquake.
UGANDA: A catastrophic landslide completely wiped out three villages. The Uganda Red Cross has been assisting with search and rescue, and providing tarp, blankets, cooking sets, water purification tablets and other aid to more than 1,500 affected families.
NIGERIA: Violent attacks last Sunday in five villages just south of Jos forced thousands of people to flee their homes. The ICRC and Nigerian Red Cross Society have been providing first aid for injured persons, food and water for displaced people and detainees, and collecting the names of the missing with the aim of finding them and reuniting them with their families.

DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO: The ICRC is reuniting 15 children with their families after years of separation.

GLOSSARY:
ICRC = International Committee of the Red Cross
IFRC = International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies

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Haiti: Video Diary from Mat Morgan

Posted on March 11th, 2010 by Wendy Harman

Increasingly hairy American Red Cross worker Mat Morgan updates us on what’s happening in Port-au-Prince.

Filed under: International, Video | 2 Comments »

You Have Been Challenged

Posted on March 11th, 2010 by Greg Haines

Calling all college students and alumni!

A new American Red Cross Blood Donors Facebook application was launched yesterday:

Campus Blood Donor Challenge

It lets you show support for your school by registering donations with a national database, letting you see how your school is matching up with your rivals.

Filed under: Blood | No Comments »

Today in the Red Cross Twitterverse

Posted on March 9th, 2010 by Wendy Harman

Reminder: You can follow local Red Cross Twitter accounts or Red Cross workers.

Filed under: Disaster Response, Health & Safety, Hero, Holiday, International, Volunteers | No Comments »

What We’re Reading (and watching)

Posted on March 8th, 2010 by Wendy Harman

See other links we should be aware of? Leave them in the comments.

Filed under: Development, Disaster Response, Holiday, International | No Comments »

Every Single Red Cross Woman

Posted on March 8th, 2010 by Wendy Harman

Today is International Women’s Day and we’re celebrating the achievements of all Red Cross women past, present and future.

Which Red Crosser are you celebrating today?

Here’s who some of you are already thinking about:

Add your inspiration either to our Facebook page or here in the comments.

Filed under: Holiday, Volunteers | No Comments »

What We’re Reading

Posted on March 4th, 2010 by Wendy Harman

Have you seen any interesting mission-related articles we should be reading? Leave the links in the comments.

Filed under: Development, Disaster Response, International | 1 Comment »

National Grammar Day: The Role of Language in Red Cross Work

Posted on March 4th, 2010 by Wendy Harman

Happy National Grammar Day! With such an exciting holiday upon us, we thought it’d be interesting to explore the role language plays in the Red Cross’s work. While we’re probably not always perfect stewards of good grammar, we do strive to communicate important life-saving information in a variety of languages.

Whether it’s making a doctor’s appointment or learning where to go in the wake of a disaster, being able to communicate effectively is critical to a person’s safety and well-being.

Take, for example, the Seattle chapter’s Language Bank, and the Greater Richmond Chapter’s Language Bank and check out the Creole speaking Red Cross volunteers who translated for injured Haitians on the USNS Comfort.

If you’re a grammar nerd and have bi or multi-lingual skills, please contact your local chapter and offer to help out.

Filed under: Holiday, International | 1 Comment »

Weekly Worldwide Wrap-Up

Posted on March 4th, 2010 by Robin Parker

Welcome to the Weekly Worldwide Wrap-Up, in which we consolidate the international Red Cross and Red Crescent news into one list of bite-sized links for you. It’s a non-comprehensive sampling of the larger and/or more intriguing aspects of our global work…

[The place names link to maps so that you can get a quick idea of the region.]

CHILE: The ICRC has launched a website, www.icrc.org/familylinks, to help people affected by the earthquake restore contact with their loved ones. Red Crossers are on the ground giving aid and also in the air doing aerial assessments. The American Red Cross has increased its pledge to $250,000 and activated mobile giving for Chile – meaning you can now donate $10 by texting “Chile” to 90999.

HAITI: Torrential rains have brought floods to the already earthquake-damaged country. The Haitian National Red Cross Society is responding, as Red Crossers from around the world continue to help those affected by the earthquake. On the IFRC’s list of duties: “decongesting” camps. Recently, they helped 126 families move from one camp to another on higher ground.
FRANCE and SPAIN:  After a storm called Xynthia ripped through both countries with gale force winds and torrential rains, the French and Spanish Red Cross have been responding with medical aid, food, water, clothing and other assistance.
OCCUPIED GOLAN: One of the very few crossings that take place from the Golan into Syria proper is that of apples, transfered by the ICRC acting as a neutral intermediary. This year up to10,000 tons of apples will be transfered across the demarcation line.

GLOSSARY:
ICRC = International Committee of the Red Cross
IFRC = International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies

Filed under: International | No Comments »

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