Asia Programs
Bangladesh • Cambodia • China • India • Indonesia • Maldives • Nepal
Philippines • Sri Lanka • Thailand • Viet Nam
The World’s Largest Our Response
Humanitarian Network Asia faces disasters of all types, including
cyclones, floods, earthquakes and conflict.
The American Red Cross extends
its humanitarian mission around The region’s vulnerability is exacerbated
the world through its work as part of by trends such as urbanization, environ-
the global Red Cross network – mental degradation and climate change.
the International Committee of the In 2008, more than 175 million people in
Red Cross (ICRC), the International Asia were affected by disasters.1
Federation of Red Cross and Red
Crescent Societies and more than Population density amplifies the impact
185 national Red Cross and Red of any disaster, and also makes infectious
Crescent societies. disease management a particular challenge. The majority of global measles deaths
are now in India. Malaria is endemic in a number of countries, and the HIV/AIDS epi-
With 97 million volunteers, members
demic is growing, particularly among sex workers and drug users.
and staff, our humanitarian network
provides urgent assistance to the Our Response
world’s hardest-to-reach and most
The American Red Cross plays an important role in tackling these challenges. By
vulnerable populations.
working with our humanitarian partners, we train and mobilize Red Cross and Red
Crescent volunteers to deliver lifesaving services in their communities. Our pro-
grams focus on disaster management and disease prevention.
Disaster Management
The American Red Cross helps communities prepare for,
respond to and recover from disasters and conflicts.
Preparedness
We help prepare communities for the dangers of disasters – by building the
skills of emergency responders and by improving systems to alert people of im-
pending danger. Across Asia, we work with our Red Cross and Red Crescent part-
ners and the Asia Disaster Preparedness Center.
Since the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, we have developed extensive disaster pre-
paredness programs in Indonesia, the Maldives, Sri Lanka and Thailand. We work
with community members to better understand the risks they face, develop com-
munity action plans and conduct disaster drills. In addition, through the Program for
Enhanced Emergency Response (PEER), we are training local community members
in Bangladesh, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Nepal, the Philippines and Viet Nam to
serve as medical first responders and conduct basic search and rescue.
In Indonesia, the Philippines, Sri Lanka and Viet Nam, we are working with govern-
ments, civil society and communities to improve early warning systems and ensure
communities receive warnings of impending danger in time to save lives.
Response
We meet the needs of disaster survivors by providing technical support,
relief supplies and financial assistance to bolster operations led by sister Red Cross
A man in China collects clean water
provided by the Red Cross following the and Red Crescent societies. This past year, the American Red Cross responded to
2008 earthquake.
disasters in Bangladesh, Indonesia, the Philippines, Sri Lanka and Viet Nam.
In May 2008, two major disasters hit the region — an earthquake in China,
which measured 8.0 on the Richter scale, and a cyclone with 120 mph winds in
Myanmar. When our Red Cross partners in China and Myanmar reached out
1 World Disasters Report, International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, 2008.
July 2009
Risk Reduction l Disaster Preparedness and Management
(Natural and
Technological
Disasters) m we responded by providing more than
for help, Hydrometeorological Disasters $15 million in immediate assis-
tance, dispatching American Red Cross emergency relief stocks that were pre-
positioned in Dubai and Kuala Lumpur, and deploying disaster responders to
n Geological Disasters
provide support in assessment, logistics, monitoring and recovery planning.
o Recovery
Technological Disasters
Beyond immediate response activities, we work to strengthen the long-
term capacity of partners and communities to recover from disasters. Since the
2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, we have launched the largest international recov-
ery program in the history of the American Red Cross in order to assist more
Emergency Shelter
than 3 million people with water and sanitation services, psychosocial support,
I Shelter and
Settlements health, shelter and livelihoods. We are also helping people in China recover
2008 earthquake by supporting the reconstruction of homes and wa-
from theTransitional Shelter and Settlements
als
q
ter and sanitation infrastructure.
on (EPI) Disease Prevention and Environmental
r Hazard Mitigation
The American Red Cross helps communities prevent and respond to deadly
Management
A girl in Bangladesh prepares to receive
a measles vaccination during a campaign diseases, with a focus on measles, malaria and HIV/AIDS.
supported by the American Red Cross and
the Bangladesh Red Crescent Society. s Camp Design and Management
Measles
The American Red Cross is a founding member of the Measles Initiative—a part-
Strengthening Communities nership led by the American Red Cross, the United Nations Foundation, UNICEF,
the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the World Health Organiza-
EverywhereWater, Sanitation,
J
the American Red
Cross works, we are strengthening
t Hygiene Promotion
tion—which works to reduce measles deaths globally by providing technical and fi-
and Hygiene nancial support to governments and communities for vaccination campaigns, disease
the capacity of our partner
Red Cross and Red Crescent
societies, with the ultimate goal
u
surveillance and immunization services. The American Red Cross also works with
Other Environmental Health
volunteers from other Red Cross and Red Crescent societies to educate and mobilize
es) of strengthening their ability to communities to participate in these vaccination campaigns.
manage and sustain programs. v Sanitation (Household Level)
The Measles Initiative has vaccinated more than 600 million children in more than
Across Asia, the shortage of first 60 countries. As a result, from 2000 to 2007, measles deaths worldwide declined
responders and health personnel
has led governments to look
w
by 74%. Water
Yet challenges remain. India now accounts for 67% of all global measles
PE) deaths, with more than 350 children dying of measles each day. In 2009 and 2010,
to others to take on important the Measles Initiative will be working to vaccinate an additional 200 million children in
responsibilities. As part of one of
India, as well as conducting campaigns in Indonesia and Bangladesh.
the most trusted and recognized
Miscellaneous
organizations, often with a
p Malaria Assistance
Refugee
presence down to the community The American Red Cross works to prevent malaria by supporting the distribu-
level, Red Cross and Red Crescent of free, long-lasting insecticide-treated nets. But net distribution is only the first
tion IDP Assistance
volunteers are uniquely positioned step. Building on the unique nature of our extended volunteer base, we are educat-
to take on many of these roles.
ing families in India, Indonesia and Cambodia about how to properly use their nets.
Title II Food Assistance
The American Red Cross provides
HIV/AIDS
technical support in areas
American
TheFood Aid Red Cross is helping to mitigate the devastating social im-
such as program, financial and
volunteer management as well
y pact of this disease through prevention education and support for people
as organizational development— living with HIV/AIDS and their families. We are strengthening our partners’
enabling our sister Red Cross and x
capacityPeacebuilding
to mobilize communities and volunteers to provide counseling, peer
Red Crescent societies to maximize support and home-based care. Through work with the Red Cross of Viet Nam,
their impact in addressing their we are working to increase access to HIV/AIDS information and services and
country’s greatest challenges. Media
reduce stigma for high-risk and vulnerable populations in Hanoi.
Repatriation
How You Can Help
You can help the victims of countless crises around the world each year by making
a financial gift to the American Red Cross International Response Fund, which will
Conflict Prevention
provide immediate relief and long-term support to help those in need. To learn more
about how you can support the work of the American Red Cross in Asia and around
Emergency Relief
the world, please visit www.redcross.org/international, call 1-800-HELP NOW
Activities
or contact your local Red Cross.
Ambassador's Fund