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The Red Cross announced it surpassed 1 billion dollars of spending in 2008. There is some debate as to why expenditures hit a record high. Is it because of the increased need for relief or because of the increased ability to reach relief victims?

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) is based in Geneva and was founded in 1863. “We had a record expenditure last year,” Jakob Kellenberger, the president of the ICRC said.

“Afghanistan, Somalia and Pakistan are three examples of countries where natural disasters and high food prices have made life even harder for poor people already struggling to cope with the effects of war.”

“Much of this suffering could have been avoided if conflict parties had improved their compliance with international humanitarian law.”

Italian Red Cross Responds to Earthquake in L’Aquila

Italy — At least 217 people died in an an earthquake centered around L’Aquila. Overnight, more than 100 people were rescued from under fallen buildings. It is estimated that thousands of people are without homes.

The Red Cross says:

The American Red Cross will continue to monitor the situation and communicate with our sister society, the Italian Red Cross, and the International Federation, and stands ready to provide further assistance if requested. The Italian Red Cross has not yet asked for international assistance.

At 3:30 a.m. a powerful 6.3 magnitude earthquake struck the city of L’Aquila in central Italy, 75 miles northeast of Rome. It’s the worst earthquake to hit this region in nearly 30 years.

According to recent reports at least 90 people have been killed and 400 injured. The numbers of dead and injured are expected to grow as search and rescue efforts continue. Tens of thousands of people have become homeless in the city which has a population of 70,000.

Italian Red Cross rescue teams were on the scene of the disaster within an hour after the earthquake struck, searching for people trapped in the rubble and providing emergency care for the injured.

The Italian Red Cross has established a field hospital to relieve the burden on local health facilities which are under an enormous strain due to the sudden upsurge in demand. Also, the Italian Red Cross has set up mobile kitchens with the capacity to provide 10,000 meals a day run by a team of 16 Italian Red Cross staff and 30 volunteers. Two soup kitchens providing up to 400 meals a day have been mobilized to respond to the needs of L’Aquila Hospital, whose patients are being evacuated to other cities.

Thirty-six ambulances from the Italian Red Cross are on rotation to evacuate injured people from L’Aquila to hospitals in Tagliacozzo, Pescina and Avezzano. They are also providing care for children evacuated from an orphanage in San Gregorio. Additionally, five psychological support teams from the Italian Red Cross are now on the ground to help deal with the emotional needs of survivors.

Additional resources, including 30 search and rescue dog units, five other psychological support teams and three veterinary teams, are on standby depending on the needs.

With up to 10,000 buildings in the city believed to be badly damaged or destroyed, the Italian Red Cross foresees growing problems with shelter, warm clothes and food provisions for the survivors.

“Once we have addressed the need to reinforce emergency health care in the region, the next major challenge, apart from urgent search and rescue, is to find a solution for the thousands of homeless survivors,” says Tommasso Della Longa, Head of Communication for the Italian Red Cross.

Working in close coordination with the Italian Civil Protection, the Italian Red Cross has activated its national operations center, as well as four regional offices, to respond effectively to the growing needs of survivors.

In consultation with the Italian Red Cross, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) is currently assessing which assistance can be best provided right now to supplement and support the efforts of the Italian Red Cross.

Since 1968 the International Federation and member National Societies have supported the Italian Red Cross three times after earthquakes in 1968, 1976 and in 1980. In 1980 some 3,000 people lost their lives after a deadly quake hit the region of Naples. In 1992 a quake in Umbria claimed 13 lives and countless cultural treasures. The most recent deadly quake was in 2002 when 30 people died, including 27 pupils and their teacher, in the southern Italian town of San Giuliano di Puglia.

UPDATE
Now, calls are being made for a criminal investigation into building techniques. The structural integrity of many buildings is being called into question over shoddy construction. Some evidence points to corrosive sea sand being used in concrete mix.