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