Chile FAQ

March 18, 2010  

Q: How is the American Red Cross responding to the earthquake in Chile?

A:

• Since the earthquake struck Chile on February 27, the American Red Cross has raised approximately $1.8 million (as of 3/17/2010) for the Chilean relief and recovery efforts. The American Red Cross has contributed $1 million for emergency relief supplies such as tarps, water carrying cans and hygiene kits for distribution by the Chilean Red Cross.
• The Red Cross global network dispatched a team of regional disaster specialists to Chile to provide technical support in damage assessments, health, relief and information management. The American Red Cross is working with Chilean Red Cross to provide assistance to address additional needs of earthquake survivors.

Q: Why is the American Red Cross response to the Chile earthquake so different -in these first few days- from its response following the Haiti earthquake?

A:

• While the devastation from the earthquake in Chile is widespread, the country did not experience the same extent of mass destruction seen in Haiti's January earthquake which left its densely populated captial, Port-au-Prince, in rubble. Even though the earthquake was more powerful in Chile, much of the infrastructure was built to a higher building standard and the government had civil authorities have a greater capacity to respond.
• The Chilean Red Cross has extensive experience responding to earthquakes and other disasters. They immediately activated their disaster teams following the earthquake and continue to work in close coordination with the government's National Emergency Office. Internationally, the American Red Cross provides assistance at the request of the Red Cross in that country. We are working with the Chilean Red Cross to set priorities for additional assistance.

Q: Is the American Red Cross prepared to handle another disaster?

A:

• Yes. As the largest humanitarian network in the world, the Red Cross has both the experience and the capacity to respond to multiple disasters at teh same time.
• Today, we are supporting the Red Cross resopnse to the earthquakes in Chile and Haiti, but also the response to a number of other disasters around the world.
• There are many ways the American Red Cross can support countries during a disaster: financially, with trained personnel and with relief supplies. We are prepared to help in other ways if/when the Chilean Red Cross makes such a request.
• We have done this before. In 2008, the Red Cross responded to a cyclone in Myanmar and a massive earthquake that struck China just days later. Last year, the Red Cross responded to a series of major disasters that hit the Asia and Pacific region within a week: back-to-back typhoons in southeast Asia, an earthquake in Indonesia and a tsunami impacting America Samoa and Samoa.

Q: Did the American Red Cross have staff on the ground in Chile like you did in Haiti?

A:

• No. We did not have American Red Cross staff in Chile, although we have disaster specialists in Peru and Panama. The global Red Cross network sent a regional disaster expert from Buenos Aires, Argentina to Santiago, Chile. In addition, a small regional Red Cross disaster team is in Chile to provide technical support in damage assessments, health, relief and information management. Other Red Cross disaster specialists from Red Cross national socieites in the region are assessing the response on the ground.

Q: Are you fundraising for Chile?

A:

• Following a request for international assistance from teh Chilean Red Cross, the American Red Cross is accepting donations specifically for the response and recovery in Chile. This includes Chile-designated donations through www.redcross.org, through calls to 1-800-REDCROSS, and by texting "CHILE" to 90999. People can also call 1-800-257-7575 to make a donation in Spanish.

Q: Are you activating text "CHILE" to 90999 to raise money for Chile Relief?

A:

• The American Red Cross has activated a mobile fundraising campaign for Chile relief. Mobile donors can text "CHILE" to 90999 to make a $10 donation to the American Red Cross for our support of the relief efforts in Chile.

Q: Will the Red Cross use money donated for Haiti to provide relief in Chile?

A:

• No. We honor donor's wishes. Money donated for Haiti will go to Haiti until the last dollar is spent there. And money donated to Chile will go to Chile.

Q: We understand the Chilean Red Cross is collecting blood for the victims of the earthquake. Will the American Red Cross be sending blood to Chile?

A:

• There has been no international request for blood products from teh Chilean Red Cross and we believe this need can be addressed within Chile.

Q: If I have Chilean family members who are missing in the affected regions what should I do?

A:

• The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has launched a Family Links Website aimed at enabling people in Chile and abroad to register the names of relatives with whom they wish to restore contact. People seeking news from their loved ones can register the name of the missing individuals directly on the site at: http://www.icrc.org/familylinks.