American Red Cross Announces Its Funding Needs for Myanmar Cyclone Have Been Met

WASHINGTON, Wednesday, August 27, 2008 — Thanks to the generous support of the American public and a $1 million grant from the U.S. Agency for International Development, combined with the robust contributions of other Red Cross and Red Crescent societies around the world, we have determined that current contributions are sufficient to carry out the American Red Cross portion of the relief and recovery efforts in Myanmar. As a result, the American Red Cross will no longer accept donations designated for Myanmar cyclone relief.

"On behalf of staff and volunteers of the American Red Cross, I would like to extend our thanks to all those who kindly donated to help the people of Myanmar," says David Meltzer, Senior Vice President, International Services of the American Red Cross. "Because of you, we've been able to deliver hygiene kits, mosquito nets, and tarps to the people of Myanmar and send a relief worker to support our sister organization, the Myanmar Red Cross, in their relief activities."

Through our partnership with the Myanmar Red Cross, we were able to rapidly deliver supplies, over 200,000 relief items, into the hardest hit areas. Over 27,000 trained, local Red Cross volunteers created a web of regional hubs to diffuse the aid supplies to more than 500,000 people.

"The volunteers of the Myanmar Red Cross responded just hours after the storm, despite being affected themselves. They were able to get life-saving assistance, such as blankets and water purification tablets, to the most affected, in the hardest hit areas," says Alex Mahoney, International Disaster Manager for Asia at the American Red Cross. "Without their perseverance, the humanitarian crisis could have been much more severe."

The American Red Cross, through support to the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies and the Myanmar Red Cross, will continue to help affected families as the long road to recovery begins.

About the American Red Cross:
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and counsels victims of disasters; provides nearly half of the nation's blood supply; teaches lifesaving skills; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a charitable organization – not a government agency – and depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its humanitarian mission. For more information, please visit www.redcross.org or join our blog at www.redcrosschat.org.