American Red Cross Northern Minnesota Region - Annual Report FY13 | Page 11

Around the World

Addressing Needs on a Global Scale
The American Red Cross works with its partners in the global Red Cross and Red
Crescent network each day to meet needs around the world. This includes responding to
disasters and other crises; preparing communities for future emergencies and improving
their resiliency; and addressing critical health issues.
The American Red Cross works with local Red Cross partners and communities to build
the skills of first responders, formulate emergency plans, establish evacuation routes,
strengthen early warning systems and teach adults and children how to stay safe with
trainings, drills and public awareness campaigns.
Working with our partners in the global Red Cross and Red Crescent network, the
American Red Cross helped an estimated 1.3 million people affected by floods, storms,
droughts, conflict and other disasters in 24 countries in fiscal year 2013 (July 1, 2012 –
June 30, 2013) by providing relief supplies, financial assistance and disaster response
and recovery specialists.
In Syria, the American Red Cross has supported the ongoing Red Cross and Red
Crescent response to the conflict that has impacted more than 6.8 million people1 since
March 201 The Red Cross and Red Crescent is providing food, relief supplies and basic
1.
health care to those affected by the crisis within Syria and supporting the basic needs of
those fleeing to neighboring countries.
The American Red Cross continues to work alongside our partners to help Haiti recover
and build the resilience needed to cope with future disasters. A number of postearthquake projects were completed last year, including a water and sanitation project that
provided improved water sources and sanitation facilities to more than 90,000 people, and
the construction of two hospitals.
The Measles & Rubella Initiative, a partnership the American Red Cross helped establish,
is reducing measles deaths worldwide by helping to monitor the spread of the disease
and conducting massive, countrywide vaccination campaigns. Since 2001, the Measles
& Rubella Initiative2 has helped vaccinate more than 1.1 billion children in 80 countries,
making it one of the world’s most successful global health partnerships.

A young child in Ethiopia shows a Red
Cross health worker her bravery before
receiving a measles vaccine.

2013 at a Glance
• An estimated 1.3 million
people received disaster
assistance from the American
Red Cross in coordination
with its global Red Cross
and Red Crescent network
partners.
• More than 98 million children
were protected against
measles.
• 6,354 people turned to the
Red Cross to find missing
loved ones following armed
conflicts and disasters.

1

As of September 2013

2
The Measles & Rubella Initiative includes the American Red Cross,
United Nations Foundation, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention, UNICEF and World Health Organization.

Northern Minnesota Region