THE HAITIAN RED Cross and the International Federation of the Red Cross have started responding to the Hurricane Matthew disaster in Haiti.
A release issued today through the Barbados Red Cross said hundreds of Red Cross volunteers are already in the field assisting victims. More Red Cross teams will be going in tonight and over the next few days from various countries.
The release said European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (ECHO) has already approved an initial amount of money for the International Red Cross to assist with early response efforts.
“The International Red Cross will be providing major initial funds and will also determine the level of an international appeal after initial assessments. The American Red Cross has made available its communications systems in Haiti. The Canadian Red Cross has an emergency response unit on standby and a regional response team will be going in tonight,” the release stated.
It also noted that an International Red Cross Team is going in by ground from the Dominican Republic.
Initial Red Cross stocks are prepared and ready for delivery from Panama where the International Red Cross Pan American Disaster Reponse Unit (PADRU) is located.
The main part of Hurricane Matthew has gone pass Haiti but the tail is still affecting the country and rains are expected to continue for another two days. There is a lot of infrastructural damage and severe flooding.
The International Red Cross, the world’s biggest volunteer organisation, is the world’s largest aid provider to disasters. (PR/NB)
