NEWS

Chile Response Report

March 4, 2010

The American Red Cross has increased its pledge to $250,000 for relief operations in Chile following Saturday’s 8.8 magnitude earthquake; and we stand ready to mobilize additional support, including relief supplies, trained personnel and additional financial assistance.

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The Chilean Red Cross is mobilizing its volunteers to distribute food, hygiene articles and blankets to survivors. It is also providing mental health support to the affected people. In addition, it has called upon Chileans to donate blood in order to keep up with demand from hospitals.
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A five member regional Red Cross team of disaster experts is in Chile to provide technical support to Chilean Red Cross response activities and inperforming damage assessments as well as health, relief and information management.
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The global Red Cross network has issued a response plan that will provide relief supplies, emergency shelter, basic health care, and water and sanitation for 15,000 families.
Following a request for international assistance from the Chilean Red Cross, the American Red Cross is now accepting donations specifically for response and recovery in Chile. This includes Chile-designated donations through www.redcross.org, through calls to 1-800-REDCROSS, and by texting "CHILE" to 90999. People can also call 1-800-257-7575 to make a donation in Spanish.

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We waited to accept Chile-designated donations until more was known about the need and there was a specific request for international assistance for the earthquake survivors.
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The International Federation of the Red Cross on Tuesday launched a preliminary emergency appeal of $6.4 million to all Red Cross and Red Crescent societies in order to assist the Chilean Red Cross. The American Red Cross is accepting donations in response to this appeal.
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The American Red Cross initially committed $50,000 USD to help the Chilean people and has now increased that amount to a total of $250,000.
Our hearts go out to the people of Chile as they cope with the immediate aftermath of this devastating earthquake and its aftershocks.

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Chilean officials report that more than 2 million people have been affected by the earthquake, 500,000 homes have been seriously damaged and approximately 1.5 million houses may have sustained damage. It is believed that adobe structures and indigenous populations were among the worst affected.
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Communications and electricity are progressively being restored in Santiago but still remains out in the hardest hit areas, which is hampering relief operations. This has also significantly affected hospitals and health centers especially in the cities of Concepcion, Talca and Curico where many hospitals are unable to function. The government will install field hospitals and will launch a health campaign.
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In Santiago, the country’s capital, the international airport is Operational. Major ports have also been damaged and bridges connecting the central regions of the

Chile Response Report addthis_pub = 'chicagoredcross';

Chile Response Report