On the morning of the 5th September, the website had already registered over 65,000 names. Relatives looking for missing loved ones, and evacuees in the US who want to inform their loved ones of their location, can register with the “Family Links Registry” at www.familylinks.icrc.org/katrina Thousands of people are thought to have lost contact with family members in the aftermath of the tragedy. The site, run jointly by the American Red Cross and the Geneva-based International Committee of the Red Cross, enables family members to exchange news – a central task the Red Cross undertakes in times of tragedy and conflict. Those without internet access can use the service by telephoning the United States on 1 877-LOVED-1S (00 1 877 568 3317).
British citizens in the UK who are concerned about relatives in the USA can also call the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in London on 020 7008 0000, or 020 7008 1500 outside normal working hours. Foreign nationals who are unable or unwilling to contact their Embassy directly can call the British Red Cross International Tracing and Message Service on 0845 053 2004, or by email at: Diese E-Mail-Adresse ist vor Spambots geschützt! Zur Anzeige muss JavaScript eingeschaltet sein!. The American Red Cross has launched the largest ever relief effort in its 125-year history to meet people’s immediate needs. The organisation is providing shelter to some 94,000 people in more than 300 centres in 9 states. It will provide half a million hot meals a day to those affected by the disaster. It has 205 emergency response vehicles in the affected region, providing 5,000 meals a day. More than 3,000 Red Cross volunteers are helping on the ground. The organisation is providing blankets, beds and food to those who have been evacuated from New Orleans to Houston, Texas.
The British Red Cross is appealing for help to fund the American Red Cross’ relief effort. Credit card donations can be made to the Hurricane Katrina Appeal by calling 08450 53 53 53, by going to, or by sending cheques to Hurricane Katrina Appeal, British Red Cross, Freepost LON18968, Sheffield, S98 1ZA. Donations in US dollars can be made directly to the American Red Cross at www.redcross.org.
The Family Links Registry website is public and as such the American Red Cross and the ICRC cannot verify the accuracy of the information posted on them, nor can they be held responsible for the way third parties make use of the information posted. Users are therefore urged to use the service responsibly, in good faith and strictly in accordance with the Red Cross Movement’s humanitarian objective. Information posted by the public on the site is not confidential.
Quelle: Publictechnology, 07.09.2005
