Since the earthquake in Haiti, the Red Cross has helped more than 1.3 million people and will continue to aid hundreds of thousands more in the months ahead.

Due to the many complexities of this disaster - and the extraordinary needs of the Haitian people - the emergency relief phase could last up to 12 months. And because of its permanent presence in Haiti, the Red Cross expects to be involved in recovery efforts for much longer than that.

Food & Relief Supplies:

• Volunteers from around the world, including those from the American Red Cross, are actively distributing food and other supplies, like tarps, rope, hygiene kits, water containers and cooking items. So far, at least 1.3 million people have received these basic, yet life-sustaining items.


• Distributions continue regularly throughout urban settlements and in surrounding areas reaching approximately 12,500 people each day.

Water & Sanitation:

• The Red Cross has delivered more than 25 million liters of safe drinking water in 110 different settlements since the earthquake. That translates to approximately 1.25 million liters per day - enough for 320,000 people.


• To address sanitation needs and prevent the spread of disease, 450 latrines have also been installed.

Health:

• More than 20,000 people have been treated by Red Cross health care facilities and mobile teams. That translates to approximately more than 1,000 patients per day. They will continue to provide medical services for the community for at least the next five months.


• In partnership with the Haitian government and UN agencies, the Red Cross is helping to promote a vaccination campaign in Haiti to protect children against measles and other infectious diseases. So far, nearly 15,000 have been vaccinated. This first phase of the campaign will continue for at least four more weeks and aims to reach 250,000 people.


• Fifteen million text messages have been sent to survivors, sharing important health messages, such as how to prevent the spread of disease and safely prepare food outdoors.

Restoring Family Links:

• The Red Cross has the unique responsibility and expertise to help reconnect separated families in Haiti.


• Caseworkers are helping people register at the official family linking Web site, place phone calls to loved ones abroad and find family members scattered throughout different settlements in Port-au-Prince. So far, nearly 33,000 people have been assisted in this way.


• The American Red Cross is also supporting Haitian-Americans and others living in the Untied States who are looking for immediate relatives in Haiti.


• The Haitian government is working to provide shelter to all who need it. This will take a long time to achieve, but Red Cross has already begun finding some temporary solutions to support the government and addressing this complex situation.


• Initially, the Red Cross plans to provide emergency shelter supplies - tents, tarps or tools - for 400,000 people before the rainy season officially begins. We have already provided these items to nearly 180,000 people, and thousands more will be distributed in the days ahead.


• Looking ahead, Red Cross shelter experts are working with the Haitian community to identify appropriate transitional shelter options for 150,000 of the most vulnerable people before the Caribbean hurricane season starts.

The American Red Cross has already spent or allocated $80 million to meet the most urgent needs of Haiti's earthquake survivors.

• To meet the survivor's immediate needs, the American Red Cross has spent or allocated 69 percent of the $80 million for food and water; 20 percent for shelter; and 11 percent for health and family services.


• As the response progresses and recovery begins the Red Cross will continue to support these priority areas and longer-term assistance initiatives. The Red Cross will continue to invest the money entrusted to us by the American people in the most responsible way.


• Because of the generosity of donors, people in Haiti ill receive more than immediate relief - they will receive resources, support and training from the Red Cross that will help them recover and rebuild in the years ahead.


• People can donate in support of the relief effort in Haiti at www.indyredcross.org or by calling 317-684-1441. Mobile donors can text "Haiti" to 90999 to make a $10 contribution.

The American Red Cross is in Haiti as a part of the broader and coordinated Red Cross and Red Crescent network.

• The American Red Cross has deployed more than 100 people to help with the relief efforts in Haiti, including staff members who were there at the time of the earthquake. In total, more than 600 Red Cross and Red Crescent workers from more than 30 countries are in Haiti, supporting the more than 2,500 Haitian Red Cross volunteers from Port-au-Prince.


• Each Red Cross society team has its own roles and expertise on the ground. Working together, the global Red Cross network forms a very powerful engine for relief.


• This is the largest single-country relief operation in global Red Cross history. The number of international teams in Haiti is greater than the number that responded to the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, which spanned 14 countries.


• The American Red Cross is applying experience gained following other major disasters, including the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami. For the past five years, we have been working with partners to construct water and sanitation systems, providing emotional support and healthcare, building shelters, restoring livelihoods, and preparing communities for the next disaster.