American Red Cross Sends Relief Shipment to Flood-ravaged Mozambique

Washington, D.C. -- The American Red Cross will send more than $300,000 worth of desperately needed emergency relief supplies to Mozambique on Saturday for distribution among some of the hardest hit by the torrential rains and floods. The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation's $350,000 contribution to the American Red Cross helped to make this emergency shipment possible.

"The situation caused by the heavy rains and flash flooding is desperate. People have lost everything they own to rising waters and the swift currents of flash floods," said Dr. John Clizbe, American Red Cross vice president of disaster services. "The Red Cross is providing essential and vital relief to the millions of people affected and will continue to do so through a long recovery period."

Saturday's shipment will include tents, collapsible water containers known as 'jerry cans' and clean-up kits that include cleanser, bleach, a bucket, a sponge, a scrub brush, and rubber gloves, for distribution in some of the hardest hit areas in Mozambique's Gaza province.

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies has issued an emergency appeal for nearly $7 million to help provide emergency relief for 85,000 people in the region over the next six months.

"The Red Cross relies on the support of individuals and foundations like the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to help us be there whenever and wherever disasters happen," said Dr. Clizbe. "The Gates Foundation is very aware of the severe nature of this disaster and its humanitarian impact. We are thankful for their support."

With more than two million people affected by the worst floods to hit southern Africa in 50 years, the American Red Cross is working closely with the Mozambique Red Cross and other non-governmental agencies on the ground to provide care and comfort to those affected by this terrible disaster.

Two weeks ago, the American Red Cross sent $100,000 in cash to help with the initial phase of the relief team. Deployed last week, an American Red Cross disaster response team has been helping set up networks to distribute supplies. The Red Cross relief team has distributed more than 40 metric tons of supplies including food, tents, kitchen utensils and clean water, thus far.

All American Red Cross disaster assistance is free, made possible by voluntary donations of time and money from the American people. To help the victims of this and other disasters, please make contributions to the American Red Cross International Response Fund by calling 1-800-HELP NOW or 1-800-257-7575 (Spanish). Internet users can make a secure online credit card contribution by visiting the American Red Cross online (www.redcross.org).

 

Contributions to the International Response Fund also may be sent to your local American Red Cross chapter or to the American Red Cross, P.O. Box 37243, Washington, DC 20013.
 
The American Red Cross is dedicated to helping make families and communities safer at home and around the world. A volunteer-led humanitarian service organization operating on a budget of $2.3 billion, the American Red Cross annually mobilizes relief to the victims of more than 60,000 disasters nationwide and has been the primary supplier of lifesaving blood and blood products in the United States for more than 50 years. The Red Cross also trains more than 11.7 million people in vital lifesaving skills, provides direct health services to 2.5 million people, assists international disaster and conflict victims in more than 20 countries, and transmits more than 1.4 million emergency messages to members of the U.S. Armed Forces and their families. Dr. Bernadine Healy is president and CEO of the American Red Cross.