Our Mission

International Services—Providing Humanitarian Relief around the World

In Haiti, Red Cross workers from the U.S. and around the world help survivors of the devaststing earthquake.

The American Red Cross is one of more than 180 Red Cross and Red Crescent societies that answer the call everyday to help alleviate human suffering. We promote cost-effective, community-based programs that target some of the world's most vulnerable people providing rapid, effective and large-scale humanitarian aid.

In fiscal year 2009, we responded to disasters and emergencies in 67 countries around the world, helping an estimated 126 million people.

Currently, the American Red Cross is engaged in a robust response to the devastating earthquake that struck Haiti on January 12.

Working alongside Haitian Red Cross volunteers, we immediately began conducting damage assessments, performing first aid, and distributing relief items such as water cans, tarps and blankets, as well as providing funding for the global Red Cross response.

American Red Cross President and CEO, Gail McGovern, visited Port-au-Prince days after the earthquake struck, witnessing firsthand the difficulties Haitians are enduring.  She stepped in to help coordinate relief efforts and begin planning long-term recovery work, such as restarting the local market economy and addressing housing needs.

“Our focus now is on the immediate relief for the people of Haiti, but make no mistake, this is going to be a massive long-term recovery operation,” McGovern said.

This is the largest, single-country, relief operation in global Red Cross history in terms of number of Red Cross emergency relief teams deployed.  With support from generous donors, our efforts will continue for months and years ahead, for as long as the Haitian peopled need us.

In Haiti and around the world, the Red Cross is not only responding to disasters but also proactively preparing communities for future emergencies, promoting the importance of international humanitarian law and helping families locate loved ones missing due to war, natural disaster or civil unrest.  Additionally, we are instrumental in prevent the spread of deadly diseases, like measles, malaria and HIV/AIDS.  Since 2001, our global partnership has helped vaccinate more than 700 million children worldwide, resulting in a 78 percent decline in measles deaths globally.

Donors can help the victims of countless crisis around the world, like the earthquake in Haiti, each year by making a financial gift to the American Red Cross International Response Fund, which will provide immediate relief and long-term support through supplies, technical assistance and other support to help those in need.

Last year, the American Red Cross of Northwest Indiana Chapter reunited 3 local families that had been separated, in some cases for decades, from their loved ones due to armed conflicts overseas.

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Like No Other Organization - Disaster Services - Health and Safety Services - Biomedical Services - Service to Armed Forces - International Services - I Want to Help