American Red Cross President Gail McGovern from Haiti
From American Red Cross President and CEO Gail McGovern:
I can tell you that this is a devastating disaster with widespread extensive damage. Many buildings are pancaked flat, the streets are filled with rubble and people. The infrastructure of the country is in severely damaged – airports, ports and roads – making it very difficult to get aid in.
It was one of the most frustrating things I’ve ever seen in my life. We want aid to move faster, too.
But there are glimmers of progress. Despite all of these logjams and bottlenecks, things are getting through. But it’s slow. The pipeline of getting materials into Haiti was a straw only a few days ago, and now it’s a garden hose, but we need it to become a fire hose.
Even with the challenges, we are truly making a difference.
I saw American Red Cross staff, armed with first aid kits, going out to treat people. They have a truck and a door that they were using as a stretcher, and they were taking injured to a field hospital run by Red Cross. Every time a Red Cross truck would go through the streets, the people would clear the way to let it pass.
The American Red Cross is in Haiti as part of the broader and coordinated Red Cross and Red Crescent network. We all have our roles; we all have our expertise, and we’re all working together. That is a very powerful engine for relief.
But what struck me most were the people of Haiti. In the area we visited, several hundred families were living under makeshift tents of sheets, blankets, plastic – anything they could drape over something for a little shelter
They were patient, not pushing for water or food. But they need our help.
I feel like I left a piece of my heart in Haiti, and please know that the Red Cross is going to do whatever we can to help the people of Haiti, both in the short term but also as part of what we know will be a vast and long-term recovery for this nation and its people.
Details
In just the first week of the Haiti response effort, the American Red Cross already has spent or committed $34 million (approximately 25 percent of what has been pledged or received) as of Thursday, January 21.
We’ve committed and spent funds in three basic areas:
- food and water
- relief supplies
- logistical and support services
- 50 % of what has been committed or spent is being used to bring food and water to earthquake survivors. The American Red Cross is providing more 3 million pre-packaged meals, more than 1 million water purification packets and thousands of jerry cans so people can collect and transport clean drinking water.
- 30 % of what has been committed or spent so far is purchasing and distributing relief supplies. This includes items such as blanket, tarps, soap, hygiene supplies, kitchen sets and first aid supplies.
- 20 % of what has been committed or spent is providing the logistical support and other items needed to keep the relief effort running. This includes the purchase of vehicles to deliver relief supplies, warehouse space, gasoline, transportation costs and the deployment of our relief specialists. This category also includes the costs associated with the training and deployment of nearly 70 Creole speaking volunteers to the USNS Comfort.
This is only the beginning of the American Red Cross relief and recovery effort for Haiti.
Filed under: Development, Disaster Response, Flickr, International
I have a lot of staff from Haiti, but work here in the USA. They are trying to find out where their families in Haiti can get some food supplies. Is there a website or info where the food pick up points are? Someone should come up with a list of all orginazations food points in Haiti.
The children of my school, in 3 days, have responded to our “Helping Hands for Haiti” with $931 that will be donated to our local Red Cross for Haiti. We have a huge wall covered with a handprint for every quarter taken from piggy banks and savings from children preschool age to 5th grade. The little ones were so serious about their commitment and the older ones tried to understand the desperate need for help. We are not a wealthy community, but our kids have hearts of gold. God bless you for everything you are doing to help the people of Haiti.
I appreciate the work of the Red Cross; I am a former Red Cross Nurse volunteer and have donated money for disaster relief but I keep seeing and hearing reports from Haiti, specifically from cities outside Port-au-Prince where people claim they have not seen any aid.
I do understand there are security concerns and it is difficult to travel to these cities due to the destruction of the roads, but if all of these reporters can manage to get there, why hasn’t any aid? Please shed some light on what the efforts of the American Red Cross are in reaching these communities.
I am available to volunteer in Haiti. I am an EMT with heavy rescue training. Please contact me with information on how to help
i appreciate the help yall gave but where was all dis damn help when Katrina hit right in our own country people said New Orleans people were Refugees wouldnt help but soon as real refugees get hurt they run to help so fuck AMERICA as a whole this country is backwards and fuck what BUSH did for Haiti he still racist New Orleans people pay taxes but they refugees,ya’ll helpin refugees now so i say all yall can go to HELL & Kiss my A** as a WHOLE…
The Haiti disaster reminds us all of the sudden changes in life that can affect us all, whether we are in the midst of disaster or not. We are all connected in some way, sprititually, we feel and reach out to bridge the darkness of hopelessness with light of life and hope.
God bless you all for the pragmatic approach you apply in the face of disaster and human turmoil. Thank you, thank you, thank you.
My 12 year old daughter and I are trying to organize a collection of needed items to send to the children of Haiti. Although we have also contributed monetarily, she especially really wants to have a ‘hands on’ experience in helping the Haitian people. At first we considered a clothing/shoe drive, but after reading online realize that perhaps toothpaste and toothbrushes are more needed. We are located on an Air Force base in Texas and are beginning our collection of toiletry items (specifically for dental needs)amongst our neighbors. Please advise the best way to get these items to those in need.
Thank you,
Trasi Mullin
Our company is holding a fundraiser for survivors of the earthquake in Haiti. Our children’s hearts break for the orphans and they very much want to be a part of the fundraiser. Is there a way for us to donate the money to the Red Cross specifically to help orphans?
Thank you, Red Cross, for being a trusted source for great care for people in tragic situations. Please post about any need for donated blood for Haiti victims. I was checking your site to see what I could do in the way of donations of blood and possibly water. Your article speaks of “water purification packets”. Should I donate bottled water, or are you using another approach, such as water filters/kits? I will look into blood donation with my local Red Cross, because I understand that there are many broken limbs and surgeries needing performed. God bless you, and my heartfelt thanks again for all your efforts!
My friends and I are wondering if, or when, the Red Cross, or some other organization, will be collecting clothing for the people of Haiti….?
We’ve heard of churches in our state (Iowa) that are collecting new or slightly used shoes to send.
I’m truely grateful for the efforts of the Red Cross in Haiti and around the world. I want to pledge but with organizations this size my level of confidence is very low that donations actually make it to the people in Haiti that need it most. I’m hearing billions of dollars are being donated but when I watch the news and research on line where are the billions of dollars of assistance going?
i would just like to say that what the red cross is doing is wounderful the people in hati need our help and knowing that if you donate your money to a company like the red cross and that the money will acually be used correctly is great
Is there anyway the people can begin to be airlifted out of the villages where no one has been to offer relief. When will evacuation begin, the living conditions are past whats considered healthy?
I am an Illinois regstered nurse, Rn, BSN. I work at a hospital in wound care, in the western suburbs of chicago, and am also a member of the red cross, fox valley chapter. I am available to go to Haiti and help. Who can I contact to get information so that I may get to Haiti and help. Please email me as soon as possible so that I may get the ball rolling. Thank you so much. God bless all your good works, Marina Weis
My name’s Olving, I can’t begin to tell you folks how much of a wonderful job you all are doing to help Haiti at a time like this. Haiti has now gotten every the almost the whole worlds attention and I’ll say it’s the work of god. May god bless everyone who has pitch in to help Haiti in whatever way they could; I speak creole fluently and if there’s any creole translators needed don’t be afraid to contact me at tiga792003@hotmail.com
We lost our home and everything we owned, 2 years ago, and the Americn Red Cross was there with money and support.
When it was our time to donate, we chose the Red Cross, and in reading arricles and lisening to other media, our feelings we’re confrrmed.
Best wishes and keep up the good work.
Chris King
San Pancho, Nay, Mexico
I could not send this message with my text donation to 90999:
Please ensure like you have been that this money helps the poor of Haiti- they need it most. Thank you for your true love of humanity and your relentless efforts.
[...] fears about its potential to repeat its flops in previous relief efforts, spearheaded by this on-the-ground video of Red Cross president Gail McGovern. McGovern speaks specifically on dollars used to date [...]
[...] Check out another video put up just a few days ago by the Red Cross – also a good example of the right use of video for the circumstances. [...]