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HAITIEARTHQUAKE
First Red Cross Volunteer Returns from Haiti
American Red Cross volunteer Winnie Romeril returned from Haiti this weekend after spending two weeks supporting relief efforts following the January 12 earthquake that devastated the country.
Winnie Romeril, a Red Cross international disaster response volunteer, carries Estphane Shan in Croix Desprez.
Winnie briefed Red Cross national headquarters staff on the conditions of the ongoing operation, sharing photos and her own personal impressions. She detailed the immediate response of American Red Cross workers as they established a first aid station in front of the crumbled Red Cross building minutes after the tremors ceased. She also elaborated on the concerted effort of the global Red Cross network of teams collaborating to provide relief to those affected within Port-au-Prince and in outlying areas around the Haitian capital.
David Meltzer, Red Cross senior vice president of International Services, provided an overview of the current situation, acknowledging that conditions remain challenging despite significant improvements.
Haitian people living without shelter, now estimated to be up to 1 million, will become more vulnerable this April as the rainy season begins. The arrival of hurricane season in June only reinforces this urgency.
Tracy Reines, director of the American Red Cross International Response Operations Center, detailed a “three-pronged approach” for Red Cross support to meet immediate shelter needs: providing support to host families outside of Port-au-Prince who can shelter friends and family members; distributing tents as part of a short-term solution; and distributing shelter kits containing such materials as reinforced tarps, lumber and tools to help people construct shelter out of available salvaged materials.
Romeril continued by describing the use of Red Cross mobile clinics to provide medical care to those impacted, the organization of relief distribution and the establishment of sanitation systems as water purification teams travel through the countryside to ensure well water safety.
In response to a question about the psychological impact of the disaster, Romeril highlighted the incredible resiliency she witnessed in the Haitian people. Since everyone has been affected by the earthquake and its aftermath, she said, this has created a powerful sense of unity. She noted that this resiliency is particularly prevalent among the children, who continue to laugh and play despite the widespread devastation.
A Long and Challenging Road Ahead
Although the relief operation makes significant gains each day, Haiti’s recovery from this disaster will present many challenges in the months to come.
Both Reines and Meltzer noted that coordination remains critical to success in the immediate relief operation as well as in Haiti’s long-term recovery. This necessitates continued collaboration with other Red Cross partners, international relief agencies, the Haitian government and the Haitian people. The importance of close coordination is exemplified in the successes of the relief and recovery efforts after the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami.
What will become a multi-year recovery program will require the early involvement of the community and a strong decision-making presence from the Haitian government. Although it is too early to determine the length of the ongoing efforts, the American Red Cross will continue to partner with other organizations to most effectively contribute to Haiti’s recovery.
DONATE TODAY
You can help the victims of countless crises, like this earthquake in Haiti, around the world each year by making a financial gift to the American Red Cross International Response Fund, which will provide immediate relief and long-term support through supplies, technical assistance and other support to help those in need.
The American Red Cross honors donor intent. If you wish to designate your donation to a specific disaster, please do so at the time of your donation.
People can donate by calling 1-800-REDCROSS. Mobile donors can text “Haiti” to 90999 to make a $10 contribution. A $10 donation made through mobile giving can provide a family with two water cans to store clean drinking water, basic first aid supplies or a blanket appropriate to the climate.
You can also mail your donation with the designation to the American Red Cross, P.O. Box 37243, Washington, D.C. 20013 or to the Tompkins County American Red Cross Chapter at 201 W Clinton St., Ithaca, NY 14850.
FY'09 Tompkins County
American Red CrossCommunity Service Report
717 people sheltered for a total of 8134 shelter bed nights 94,817meals served through homeless services 7135units of blood collected to better21,405lives 22families received emergency cash assistance for a total disbursement of $13,681 18responses to local disasters 6852health & safety trainees 24emergency communications were delivered to local
Armed Forces personnel 21families received Project Share disperal funds for
heat/electric assistance
We are always in need of essential items for our Homeless Shelter residents as well as visitors to the Friendship Center.
In an operation that has involved more emergency response teams than any other single-country disaster in global Red Cross history, the American Red Cross has spent or committed nearly $78 million to meet the most urgent needs of earthquake survivors.
To meet urgent needs, 71 percent of the funds spent or committed by the American Red Cross have been for food and water; 20 percent have been for shelter; and the rest are for health and family services.
Because of the generosity of donors, people in Haiti will receive more than immediate relief — they will receive resources, support and training from the Red Cross that will help them recover and rebuild in the years ahead.
The humanitarian aid pipeline is opening wider and logistical problems are getting smaller, but the needs in Haiti are still immense. Red Cross teams are on the ground assessing ways to not only meet the immediate needs but also provide long-term recovery assistance, such as restarting the local market economy and addressing housing needs.
4 Red Cross warehouses (2 in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic and 2 in Port-au-Prince, Haiti) are open and operating at full capacity.
The Red Cross is now producing 1 million liters of water per day, enough for 185,000 people to receive 5.4 liters per person per day. In addition, Red Cross teams are working to scale up latrine construction.
To date, Red Cross distributions of food and relief items have reached nearly 20,000 families (or 100,000 people).
To date, more than 64 flights carrying Red Cross aid from around the world have arrived in Santo Domingo and Haiti.
The American Red Cross is in Haiti as a part of the broader and coordinated Red Cross and Red Crescent network.
Year-EndTHANKS
The Tompkins County American Red Cross thanks
all the people and organizations that
helped make the 2009 holiday season a shining success
for the homeless and needy of Tompkins County.
Food was collected and donated to our Food Pantry by: Z95.5’s Out-in-the-Cold Food Drive at Tops Market in Lansing, Ithaca High School Link Crew, Aspen Dental, TanFastic Beach House, the 3rd Grade at Northeast Elementary School, NYSEG, Boynton Middle School, Cornell Biomedical Engineering Society and Curves of Ithaca. Some collected food was distributed by us to other Food Pantries throughout Tompkins County.
Winter coats were donated by Old Navy, and Cargill Deicing collected and donated about 400 winter coats, scarves, hats and mittens that were all cleaned, free-of-charge by Colonial Cleaners of Lansing. These coats
were shared with Catholic Charities
Share-the-Warmth Coat Drive.
Hyundai of Ithaca conducted a Penny Drive with donation boxes around Ithaca, as well as a Boot Drive. With the help of Z95.5’s Birdman and Dunkin Donuts, Hyundai collected $736 for the Chapter. Thanks to all our friends and neighbors who made private donations in support of our community programs and who donated Homeless Shelter Wish List items, including a generous $600 check.
Thanks also to the two caring families who combined resources for our 81 year-old client who needed warm winter clothing and a TCAT bus pass.
Again, thank you to all for the support you show to us all year long!
H1N1 What You Should Know
For local information on
H1N1 and Seasonal Flu Vaccines go to the
Tompkins County Health Department
website at http://www.tompkins-co.org/health/ or
Call 274-6616
