American Red Cross Sends Worker to Assist Flood Relief Efforts in Sudan

To: FOREIGN EDITORS

Contact: American Red Cross Public Affairs Desk, +1-202-303-5551or Susannah Cernojevich, +1-202-343-4458

WASHINGTON, July 26 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The American RedCross is deploying a disaster relief worker to Sudan to assist theflood relief efforts. According to the Sudanese government, more than35,000 families have been affected by the floods. However, theInternational Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies(International Federation) warns that if the rains continue asexpected, Sudan could experience the worst floods in living memorywith some 2.4 million people affected across 10 of Sudan's 26 statesalong the Nile River and in eastern Sudan.

By sending the disaster relief worker to Sudan, the American RedCross is partnering with the International Federation, the SudaneseRed Crescent and other humanitarian organizations in the field toensure that relief and recovery efforts will reach the people whoneed them most, as quickly as possible.

Nathan Cooper, the Emergency Response Unit (ERU) Officer at theAmerican Red Cross will be sent to Sudan as part of an elite FACT(Field Assessment and Coordination) team. The FACT team will assessthe needs of flood survivors and determine how best to coordinateresources. Their work is fundamental to the success of aninternational disaster relief operation and will focus on temporaryshelter, basic health care, and water and sanitation.

"Seasonal flooding is common in the summer in Sudan and the Hornof Africa, but the amount of rain could hit record levels this year,"said Nathan Cooper of the American Red Cross. "Providing assistancenow will help survivors recover quicker and return to their normaldaily activities in time for the upcoming planting season."

The American Red Cross continues to contribute to the work of theRed Cross movement in Sudan. In addition to deploying a disasterrelief worker, last month the American Red Cross contributed $200,000to assist the International Committee of the Red Cross' (ICRC) workproviding emergency assistance to survivors of the conflict in Sudanand to help the Sudanese Red Crescent expand its capacity inproviding emergency services to those in need. During last year'sfloods in Sudan and Ethiopia, the American Red Cross contributed$95,000 and deployed two relief delegates to assist in the disasterresponse. The floods late last year in Ethiopia and Sudan affectedmore than 450,000 people.

Cooper is a six year veteran of American Red Cross internationaldisaster operations and has provided emergency assistance on behalfof the American Red Cross in Indonesia, Guatemala, Sri Lanka, theCaribbean and Mexico. He also assisted in domestic American Red Crossemergency operations in response to hurricanes Katrina, Dennis andEmily. Cooper is originally from Salt Lake City, Utah.

See http://www.redcross.organd http://www.ifrc.orgfor moreinformation related to this response.

You can help those affected by countless crises around the worldeach year by making a financial gift to the American Red CrossInternational Response Fund, which will provide immediate relief andlong-term support through supplies, technical assistance and othersupport to help those in need. Call 1-800-RED CROSS or 1-800-257-7575 (Spanish). Contributions to the International Response Fund maybe sent to your local American Red Cross chapter or to the AmericanRed Cross International Response Fund, P.O. Box 37243, Washington, DC20013. Internet users can make a secure online contribution byvisiting http://www.redcross.org. The American Red Cross honors donorintent. If you wish to designate your donation to a specific disasterplease do so at the time of your donation.

SOURCE American Red Cross