Back WASHINGTON, November 18, 2002 — Leadership from the American Red Cross is visiting the Middle East this week to meet with leaders of Magen David Adom in Israel, the Palestine Red Crescent Society and the Jordan Red Crescent Society as well as International Red Cross counterparts to express support for their humanitarian activities. During these visits, American Red Cross Chairman David McLaughlin is signing Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) with Magen David Adom (MDA) and the Palestinian Red Crescent Society. Immediately prior to his travels in the Middle East, McLaughlin met with leaders of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies and the International Committee of the Red Cross to discuss current humanitarian issues and the continued operational support of the American Red Cross. Yochanan Gur, Chairman of the MDA Executive Committee (left) and David McLaughlin, Chairman of the American Red Cross signing Memorandum of Understanding. In Jordan, McLaughlin visited with the Jordan Red Crescent Society and discussed humanitarian programs in the Middle East. Jordan Red Crescent President Mohammed Al-Hadid provided the delegation from the American Red Cross with an update on regional and international issues of mutual interest. Today, McLaughlin participated in a signing ceremony at the Magen David Adom (MDA) headquarters in Tel Aviv with MDA Chairman Yochanan Gur. MDA is the Israeli equivalent of the American Red Cross. The comprehensive MOU with MDA, highlights the ways the two organizations will continue to work together and expresses continued support for MDA's membership in the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. The MOU also focuses on collaboration in areas of activity such as preparedness for incidents involving weapons of mass destruction, international tracing and family reunification, biomedical services, organizational development and international humanitarian law dissemination. The partners will identify opportunities for collaboration, including product development and programs enabling mutual knowledge exchange so that each organization can learn from one another. "The American Red Cross and Magen David Adom have developed a tradition for knowledge exchange that has resulted in improved service to our respective populations," McLaughlin said. "We've enjoyed a strong relationship of mutual assistance and will continue to learn from this collaborative approach." The American Red Cross Board of Governors has considered the admission of MDA into the International Red Cross a policy priority for more than 25 years. Through multiple resolutions, the Board of Governors has established its policy to support MDA membership in the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. Since 2000, this policy has included non-payment of dues to the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. The American Red Cross is also participating in the working group established by the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement to consider related issues. The American Red Cross supports the working group's efforts to promote diplomatic consideration of a Third Protocol to the Geneva Conventions on Emblems while simultaneously increasing operational collaboration between MDA and components of the Movement. Further solidifying support for the Movement in the region, on November 16, McLaughlin signed an MOU with the Palestinian Red Crescent Society (PRCS). The MOU establishes priorities for strategic collaboration between the two organizations including primary health care programs, emergency response and disaster preparedness. The American Red Cross has supported the lifesaving work of PRCS through donations of medical equipment, ambulances and relief supplies. "The agreement with PRCS further demonstrates Red Cross's continued commitment towards meeting the humanitarian needs of the civilian population, regardless of their country or status, based on need and vulnerability," McLaughlin said. The American Red Cross seeks to uphold the fundamental principles of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement which include humanity, impartiality, neutrality, independence, voluntary service, unity and universality. Further information can be found on the American Red Cross Web site, www.redcross.org. Governed by volunteers and supported by community donations, the American Red Cross is a nationwide network of local community supporters -- volunteers, blood donors, and financial donors -- organized into nearly 1,000 chapters, Blood Services regions and field units dedicated to saving lives and helping people prevent, prepare for and respond to emergencies. Led by 1.2 million volunteers and 36,000 employees, the Red Cross annually mobilizes relief to families affected by more than 67,000 disasters, trains nearly 12 million people in lifesaving skills and exchanges more than a million emergency messages for U.S. military service personnel and their families. The Red Cross is the largest supplier of blood and blood products to more than 3,000 hospitals across the nation and also assists victims of international disasters and conflicts throughout the world.

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