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 Recent American Red Cross Activities:
Family Linking:
The American Red Cross International Family Tracing Services has received 641 Safe and Well and Red Cross Messages from Iraq since April 2003.
Recent Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement Activities:
Protection and Family Linking:
Efforts by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and the Iraqi Red Crescent Society (IRCS) to re-establish family links are ongoing.
The ICRC has collected from Iraqi prisoners of war and civilian internees held by Coalition forces a total of 15,146 Safe and Well messages. More than 9,000 of them were forwarded to addressees in Iraq and abroad through different National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. The distribution of messages is still a daily activity. ICRC teams continue to visit detainees in both central and southern Iraq.
Community Health and Water/Sanitation:
ICRC medical teams continue to visit and evaluate the needs of hospitals and medical facilities in Iraq as well as to deliver ad hoc supplies, including food and medical supplies, where needs are urgent. Recently, the ICRC distributed food to a hospital in northern Iraq and to the general hospital, the children's hospital and the teaching hospital in Basra in southern Iraq.
Explosive Remnants of War (ERW):
IRCS volunteers in central and southern Iraq are attending ICRC-sponsored training sessions on Explosive Remnants of War (ERW). Trained volunteers will conduct ERW awareness sessions in contaminated areas, targeting particularly vulnerable groups such as children.
Cooperation with the IRCS and other national societies:
The ICRC has delivered food supplies for 1,000 families to the IRCS in Najaf in central Iraq to be distributed to those directly affected by the conflict. Food supplies for another 600 persons were also delivered to the Iraqi Association for the Blind.
Our Humanitarian Response
American Red Cross Response
At the onset of hostilities in Iraq the American Red Cross responded immediately, initiating a multi-faceted relief operation that provided emergency assistance through our Red Cross and Red Crescent partners. The American Red Cross response is now evolving into relief and recovery support that will focus on both the emergency and recovery needs of vulnerable Iraqis, especially in the areas of water and sanitation, community health, disaster preparedness, and family reunification assistance.
Highlights of the American Red Cross's emergency response contributions to date:
Technical Expertise
Three American Red Cross International Response Team relief logisticians provided to the Federation in support of regional Red Cross and Red Crescent operations.
Relief Supplies
34,200 blankets and 30,000 water containers contributed to the ICRC Appeal.
Cash Support
$30,000 to the Federation in support of the basic National Society crisis preparedness initiatives of the Jordanian Red Crescent Society and the Syrian Arab Red Crescent.
$100,000 (each) to the Emergency Appeals of the ICRC and the Federation.
Delivery of Red Cross Messages and Family Tracing Services:
American Red Cross International Family Tracing Services continues to work through the ICRC in Geneva, ICRC delegations around the world and national Red Cross and Red Crescent society partners throughout the Movement to expedite the transmission and delivery of Red Cross Messages between individuals in Iraq and their family members in the US.
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