International Services

The American Red Cross helps vulnerable people around the world to prevent, prepare for and respond to disasters, complex humanitarian emergencies, and life-threatening health conditions.

The American Red Cross accomplishes this goal by working within the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement —the world’s largest humanitarian network with 185 national Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, one of which is the American Red Cross. Other components of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement are the International Committee of the Red Cross (www.icrc.org ) and International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent (www.ifrc.org).

International Programs

Restoring Family Links

The American Red Cross works with other members of the Movement to locate missing loved ones during or after war, civil unrest or a disaster in another country. Not only do we accept tracing requests from tri-county residents who lost contact with family members who are citizens overseas, but we search locally for people whose overseas relatives are searching and are believed to reside in the Lowcountry. Our national headquarters in Washington, D.C., acts as the conduit to and from other Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies and the ICRC. This service is provided free of charge for more information contact the chapter 764 2323 ext 372.

Holocaust Tracing Program

As Holocaust survivors and their families continue to age, the importance of making our tracing services accessible to them becomes increasingly urgent.

With the former Soviet Union’s 1990 release of Nazi-era documents to the Red Cross, we can now determine the fate of more victims and survivors of Nazi persecution. For many, sadly, no information is available even with access to these records. For others, a search can bring closure in the confirmation of a loved one’s death, or even the miracle of a reunion.

A search begins with a call or letter to the American Red Cross Carolina Lowcountry Chapter – 743 2323 ext 372. For more information on the American Red Cross Holocaust Tracing Program, visit the web site for our Holocaust War Victims Tracing and Information Center in Baltimore, Maryland. www.redcross.org/services/intl/holotrace

Worldwide Message Delivery Services

In times of war and disaster, many people are unable to contact relatives because of disrupted or unreliable postal or telephone services. Through an international network of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies and the ICRC, we an attempt to send a Red Cross Message with a current address to a family member in another country and through the same means deliver a reply message to the inquirer.

International Humanitarian Law

Most victims of war neither wear a uniform nor carry a weapon; they are civilians tragically caught in the middle. The Geneva Conventions of 1949, four treaties signed by almost every nation in the world, and the 1997 Additional Protocols, strive to establish humanitarian standards for the protection of wounded and sick combatants, wounded, sick and shipwrecked combatants as sea; prisoners of war; and civilians. The American Red Cross also offers Exploring Humanitarian Law –a curriculum for the High schools that meet the educational standards. The Red Cross offers workshops in International Humanitarian Law (IHL). Classes are offered quarterly for anyone interested and are free of charge. For more information call 764 2323 ext 372.

International Disaster Welfare Inquires

When a disaster strikes, normal ways that families keep in touch with each other may be unavailable for some time. People in the United States who are anxious about the welfare of their relatives in a disaster-stricken area can call on the Red Cross. When the national Red Cross or Red Crescent society of the affected country is able to accept inquires, that society will look for family members and forward any information about their welfare through Red Cross channels to the originating chapter.

Note: If your family member is an American Citizen living or traveling abroad in Non-U.S. territories, please call American Citizen Services, U.S. Department of State, Washington, D.C. at (888) 407-4747 or (202) 647-5225.

Measles Initiative

Each year, a disease barely remembered by most Americans kills nearly one million children, a half million of those in Africa alone. This fact makes measles the leading vaccine-preventable cause of death among children in Africa. Measles kills more children than AIDS, tuberculosis or malnutrition. In a place where health conditions are extremely poor, living conditions are more than difficult, and access to health care is minimal, measles can be easily prevented with a simple vaccination that costs less than a dollar per child. Link to the Measles initiative www.measlesinitiative.org The chapter offers speakers to community groups and encourages youth involvement to help support youth in other parts of the world.

Malaria No More

Malaria kills 3,000 children every day and claims almost a million lives a year in Africa. Yet malaria can be prevented and treated. Every 30 seconds a child dies of Malaria in Africa.

In December 2007 the American joined a new partnership with Malaria No More.
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With support from Malaria No More, American Red Cross plans to mobilize 50,000 trained Red Cross and Red Crescent volunteers and workers in Sub-Saharan Africa in 2007 and 2008 who will educate and train more than 10 million people on malaria control, including the proper use of bed nets, the elimination of mosquitoes, and the need to seek prompt treatment for children and others with symptoms of the disease.

The Carolina Lowcountry Chapter volunteers will help promote awareness for the Malaria No More partnership which will continue along with the Measles Initiative. For more information visit the Malaria No More web site. www.malarianomore.org