American Red Cross workers deployed:
22 (to Sri Lanka, Maldives, Indonesia) with expertise to support relief effort in three primary areas: water sanitation services, family linking and reunification, and relief supply distribution

Aid Pledged by the American Red Cross:
An aid commitment of $134 million for the initial phase of relief efforts. This will not only address the needs of disaster victims right now, but will also lay the foundation for the long-term relief effort. The aid package will include: emergency and supplemental food aid: $55 million; water and sanitation support: $10 million; vaccination and health: $36 million; immediate family supplies: $20 million; psychosocial assistance: $2 million; emergency response staffing and deployment: $3 million; and direct support costs: $8 million.

Donations Pledged:
More than $228 million as of Jan. 24

Donations made by Lehigh Valley residents:
$327,217.85

Information on making a donation:
Contributions to the American Red Cross International Response Fund enable the organization to help those affected by this crisis. The American Red Cross does not have the capacity to accept or collect, and does not actively solicit individual or collections of in-kind donations in times of disaster. Monetary donations allow the American Red Cross to purchase relief items in the region, eliminating the added costs of shipment and transport from the U.S. In addition, cash ensures the acquisition of culturally appropriate goods and helps to stimulate local economies.

To donate...

     *   via phone - 1-800-HELP-NOW or 1-800-257-7575 (Spanish) or (610) 865-4400
     *   via online - donate securely at www.redcross.org or www.redcrosslv.org
     *   via mail - mail contributions to the local American Red Cross chapter at:

         American Red Cross International Response Fund
         2200 Avenue A
         Bethlehem, PA 18017

         or to:

         American Red Cross International Response Fund
         P.O. Box 37243
         Washington, DC 20013

Information on volunteering:
The American Red Cross maintains a specially trained team of relief workers experienced with responding to disasters of this nature and does not anticipate a need for volunteers. Interested persons are encouraged to contact the American Red Cross of the Greater Lehigh Valley at (610) 865-4400, ext. 229, for volunteer opportunities now and in the future.

FACTS AT A GLANCE

The American Red Cross estimates that it will spend approximately $400 million providing relief to those affected by the December 26 tsunami in Asia and Africa. This two-phased plan calls for immediate emergency relief and long-term response over the months and years to come.


IMMEDIATE RESPONSE STAGE -- For the immediate assistance stage, the American Red Cross will focus on four main areas: food distribution, vaccination and health, relief supplies and water and sanitation. A description of each area follows:

Food Distribution: The American Red Cross plans to coordinate with other organizations including the United Nation’s World Food Program to purchase and distribute culturally appropriate food like rice, noodles, lentils and canned fish for more than 2 million people in Sri Lanka, Indonesia and the Maldives for six months.

Emergency Water and Sanitation: Using our highly trained specialists, the American Red Cross will provide mass numbers of disaster victims with safe drinking water, water for sanitation purposes and safe waste disposal systems.

Vaccination and Healthcare: The threat of disease is significant, and the American Red Cross will work in partnership with organizations like UNICEF and the World Health Organization in a massive measles immunization and health intervention campaign for as many as 22 million children in affected countries. This could also include distributing polio vaccines and malaria protections along with Vitamin A.

Relief Supplies: Over the next six months, the American Red Cross will distribute emergency supplies like tents, cooking supplies, hygiene kits and more to the millions who need help.


LONG-TERM RESPONSE STAGE -- Based on a long history of providing relief to catastrophic international disasters, the American Red Cross recognizes that assisting over the long term is a vital part of helping disaster-plagued areas. During this multi-year stage, the focus will be providing food and preventing disease, along with working to better prepare communities for future disasters.

Providing Food and Preventing Disease: Beyond the initial stages, the overall recovery of affected countries depends on long-ranging guidance and assistance in many areas. This includes setting up and rehabilitating water and sanitation systems, providing mental health counseling for survivors, operating additional food programs as needed and working to ensure community health.

Prevention Measures in Countries: The American Red Cross will work to train and inform affected communities in prevention methods in order to reduce the loss of life, livelihoods and property from future natural disasters and build capacity in family reunification.


Information on contacting persons in affected areas:
     *   Continue to make contact through normal means of communication. Phone and cellular service have been possible - though sporadic - in some parts of the area.
     *   Keep in contact with friends and relatives living outside the affected area as they may have received news and information about loved ones.
     *   Visit www.familylinks.icrc.org established by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). The site offers family members an opportunity to search for missing relatives' names. If inquirers cannot locate missing people on the site, they can post their own name or the name of the missing family member. The information is not verified or tracked by either the ICRC or the American Red Cross but is offered by the ICRC as a stand-alone internet tool for inquirers to use on their own.

     *   Information about U.S. citizens in affected areas may be obtained from the U.S. Department of State, Office of Overseas Citizens Services, at 1-888-407-4747(local Washington DC area 202-647-4000 and ask for the Consular Affairs Task Force) overseas callers at 317-472-2328. Note that these phone lines are frequently busy during the first days of a large disaster.

     *   Non-U.S. Citizens in affected areas

India

The Indian Ministry of External Affairs has set up control rooms with hotline phone numbers in New Delhi to respond to calls regarding the disaster. This information is posted on the Ministry of External Affairs website at: http://meaindia.nic.in.
Control Room (24-hr)
Ministry of External Affairs,
New Delhi
Phone: 011-91-11-2301-1954, 011-91-2301-2292, 011-91-11-2301-7160
Fax: 011-91-11-2301-3945, 011-91-2301-0889
E-mail: asad@mea.gov.in pasad@mea.gov.in

Thailand

Family members living in the US are encouraged to visit the Royal Thai Embassy website: http://www.thaiembdc.org. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand and the Ministry of Interior has set up a Coordinating Center for people in Thailand affected by the Tsunamis. The Center will operate 24 hours a day.

Bangkok

There are several phone numbers provided for the Coordinating Centers in Bangkok: Ministry of Foreign Affairs Coordinating Centre
Phone: 011-66-2643-5262 or 011-66-2643-5000 Ext. 5003 or 5502
Fax: 66-2643-5256

Phuket

Phone: 076-220-361
Fax: 076-220-361

Malaysia

Families should contact the government of Malaysia's 24-hour crisis hotline at the Royal Malaysian Police Headquarters.
Tel: 011-60-3-2262-6555 or fax 011-60-3-2691-0707. Families can also send an email to rmp@rmp.gov.my

Sri Lanka

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has established a 24 Hour Assistance Unit to assist with queries from the Sri Lankan expatriate community and foreign nationals regarding the whereabouts of friends/relatives in Sri Lanka or those presently visiting the country. Two short Emergency Information Forms have been designed to be completed by those seeking information regarding their friends/relatives. One form is for Sri Lankan Nationals and the other for Foreign Nationals. Find the relevant form and other helpful information on the Sri Lanka Embassy website http://www.slembassyusa.org

Indonesia

Office of the Coordinating Ministry of Social Welfare
Phone/Fax: 011-62-21-345-3676 or 011-62-21-345-9102