More than 600 Red Cross and Red Crescent workers from nearly 40 countries have helped support thousands of Haitian Red Cross volunteers after the devastating earthquake in Haiti.

Each Red Cross and Red Crescent society team has its own roles and expertise, and together they’re continuing to deliver food, water, health care and relief supplies to Haitian earthquake survivors.

The American Red Cross deployed more than 100 people to Haiti, including local resident Steve McAndrew, who briefed Greater Los Angeles Red Cross volunteers and staff members in February about his experiences.

Local resident Steve McAndrew (r) a member of the American Red Cross International Services leadership team in Haiti, works closely with Red Cross Red Crescent representatives from around the world, including members from the Iranian Red Crescent Society.

A member of the American Red Cross International Services team, Steve was one of the first responders to arrive in Haiti. As a relief coordinator, he was responsible for overseeing the distribution of relief supplies to the urban settlements and surrounding areas where Haitians have lived since the quake. McAndrew said that working with Red Cross representatives from around the world, who speak different languages and have different disaster response specialties, was challenging. However, what unites all Red Cross workers are the organization’s seven Fundamental Principles — Humanity, Impartiality, Neutrality, Independence, Voluntary Service, Unity, and Universality.

According to McAndrew,  these international principles allow Red Cross representatives to fulfill their Red Cross humanitarian mission in a peaceful, strategic and thoughtful way with limited security. Working together, the global Red Cross network forms a very powerful engine for relief.

Update on Red Cross Relief Efforts in Haiti

• As of March 10,  American Red Cross is increasing its total financial commitment to $106.4 million. The latest allocation of funds by the American Red Cross includes $16.1 million to support the construction of transitional shelters that will be coordinated by the global Red Cross network; $3.7 million will go to Habitat for Humanity for the purchase of emergency shelter materials, and $4.6 million will support cash grants to 16,000 families so they can buy essential items as part of a program to be run in close coordination with Haiti’s largest microfinance institute, Fonkoze.
• All humanitarian organizations, including the Red Cross, are racing against the clock to provide waterproof shelter to everyone who needs it before the rainy season begins in April. In almost two months since the Haiti earthquake which left an estimated 1.3 million homeless, the Red Cross and partner agencies have provided emergency shelter materials to more than 650,000 people or 1 out of every 2 survivors.
• As of March 3, the Red Cross delivered more than 30 million liters of safe drinking water in 110 different settlements since the earthquake. That translates to approximately 1.5 million liters per day – enough for 290,000 people. To address sanitation needs and prevent the spread of disease, 580 latrines have also been installed.
• In the area of health care, nearly 33,600 people have been treated by Red Cross health care facilities and mobile teams. The American Red Cross has also donated more than 900 units of blood for earthquake survivors. In partnership with the Haitian government and UN agencies, approximately 60,000 people have been vaccinated, including against measles.
• The Red Cross also has the unique responsibility and expertise to help reconnect separated families in Haiti. Caseworkers are helping people register at the official family linking Web site, place phone calls to loved ones abroad and find family members scattered throughout different settlements in Port-au-Prince. So far, nearly 33,000 people have been assisted in this way.