Red Cross Give Blood

Within hours of the magnitude 7.0 earthquake that devastated Haiti last week, the American Red Cross began mounting a massive effort to aid the loading of aircraft based in Miami with food and water, distribution of thousands of blankets, plastic sheeting and other supplies, promising a million dollars of his own money and in partnership with Verizon Wireless on a campaign of text that would allow other concerned citizens to contribute more. (From January 18, the partnership and donations via their direct phone line and website generated 87 million dollars.)

As many as one hundred thousand people may have perished in the earthquake that devastated the island nation. Hundreds of thousands have been left without food, water, shelter, utilities and access to medical care. It has been estimated that nearly three million Haitians in need of some form of relief.

In the absence of the necessary infrastructure to provide food, water and medical care to survivors of Haiti, health officials fear outbreaks of diarrhea, dengue fever, malaria and measles, which can also be devastating than the earthquake itself.

"Our focus now is more along the lines of comfort needs as well as tarpaulins, blankets, hygiene kits, buckets and supplies for shelters," said the spokesman American Red Cross Carrie Housman.

Nevertheless, the American Red Cross is currently setting up a field hospital of 150 beds in downtown Port-au-Prince where he expects to treat 250,000 people. At the request of the U.S. Navy, they have also provided blood and blood products for use in the treatment of Haitians evacuated to medical facilities at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and a transfer of blood products to the United Nations Mission in Haiti itself.

Taking advantage of his long years of planning and management of regional disasters, the American Red Cross had access to emergency supplies in its warehouses in Panama and almost immediately had shelter, food and cooking utensils for five thousand families ready for air transport to Port-au-Prince. Six specialists in disaster management with the first aid to Haiti, where they had a dozen professionals in the field, previously used as an HIV / AIDS.

With a long history of international efforts in disaster relief, some other NGOs have experience of the American Red Cross in the fight against human needs and logistical nightmares that arise in the immediate aftermath of a major disaster. In addition, after the devastation of Hurricane Katrina, the American Red Cross supporters have learned the importance of raising money quickly to meet short term requirements and long term relief. The American Red Cross and International Red Cross will remain on the ground in Haiti for months or years to come. Devastating destruction may be times in manufacturing, but reconstruction efforts may take a generation.

For more information on the Haitian relief, see http://haitiandisasterfund.com