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"We are very concerned for the people living in Haiti. To help our sistersociety the Haitian Red Cross, we are sending two disaster specialists to helpassess and respond to the needs of the community." said Christine Burkhart,American Red Cross program officer for Latin American and the Caribbean.
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In addition to the response workers in Haiti, the American Red Cross issending $100,000 to help replenish the prepositioned relief suppliesdistributed by the Red Cross in Haiti and Jamaica and another disasterresponse worker to the Bahamas, where Hanna is hitting now.
Hurricane Gustav made landfall last week on the southwestern peninsula ofHaiti with winds of up to 95mph, prompting heavy floods before proceedingwestward. Before the water receded, Tropical Storm Hanna slammed the regionand drenched the rest of the country causing an already bad situation to getworse.
"The devastation is widespread and there is no access to the city ofGonaives at this time," said Matt Marek, Head of American Red Cross Programsin Haiti after viewing the damage from the air. "From our colleagues at theInternational Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, we'rehearing 650,000 people near the city of Gonaives are at risk."
The American Red Cross has a long history of working with the Haitian RedCross during disasters--including after Hurricane Jeanne which claimed 3,000lives in Gonaives--and has had health programs in Haiti for nearly five years.
You can help the victims of countless crises around the world each year bymaking 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 RedCross honors donor intent. If you wish to designate your donation to aspecific disaster please do so at the time of your donation by eithercontacting 1-800-HELP NOW or 1-800-257-7575 (Spanish), or mailing yourdonation with the designation to the American Red Cross, P.O. Box 37243,Washington, D.C. 20013 or to your local American Red Cross chapter. Internetusers can make a secure online contribution by visiting www.redcross.org.
SOURCE American Red Cross
