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Chile Earthquake: Information and Updates.
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The American Red Cross has increased its pledge to $500,000 for relief operations in Chile following the 8.8 magnitude earthquake on February 27, and we are prepared to provide additional relief supplies, trained personnel and financial assistance.
Quick Links
Conditions in Chile
The Work of the Red Cross in Chile
For People Seeking Loved Ones in Chile
Support the International Response Fund
 
 
Conditions in Chile:
  • Chilean officials report that more than 2 million people have been affected by the earthquake, 500,000 homes have been seriously damaged and approximately 1.5 million houses may have sustained damage. It is believed that adobe structures and indigenous populations were among the worst affected. Major aftershocks continue to rock the area.
  • Communications and electricity are progressively being restored in Santiago but still remain out in the hardest hit areas, hampering relief operations. This has also significantly affected hospitals and health centers especially in the cities of Concepcion, Talca and Curico where many hospitals are unable to function. The government is installing field hospitals and will launch a health campaign.
  • In Santiago, the country’s capital, the international airport is operational. Major ports have also been damaged and bridges connecting the central regions of the country have collapsed limiting access to the affected regions.

The Red Cross continues its response throughout the affected area.

  • The American Red Cross is providing 5,000 water-carrying cans, following an appeal for relief supplies from the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent societies (IFRC). 
  •  The Chilean Red Cross has activated volunteers who are distributing food, hygiene articles and blankets to survivors. The volunteers are also providing mental health support to the affected people. In addition, the Chilean Red Cross has called upon the local people to donate blood in order to keep up with demand from hospitals. 
  •  A five member regional Red Cross team of disaster experts is in Chile to provide technical support for Chilean Red Cross response activities and to perform damage assessments, emergency relief and communications support.
  • The global Red Cross network has a response plan that will provide relief supplies, emergency shelter, basic health care, and water and sanitation for 15,000 families for six months.
  • The Chilean Red Cross is mobilizing its volunteers to distribute food, hygiene articles and blankets to survivors. It has also called upon Chileans to donate blood in order to keep up with demand from hospitals. 
  • A five member regional Red Cross team of disaster experts is in Chile to provide technical support to Chilean Red Cross response activities and in making damage assessments as well as health, relief and information management.
  • The Chilean government has reported that it will accept international aid in several sectors: 4 field hospitals, tents, telecommunications equipment, electrical generators and search and rescue teams.
For people seeking information on loved ones in Chile:
The International Committee of the Red Cross has launched a Family Links Website aimed at enabling persons in Chile and abroad to register the names of relatives with whom they wish to restore contact. It will progressively incorporate information offering responses to those queries.

People seeking news from their loved ones can register the name of sought persons directly on the site at: http://www.familylinks.icrc.org/chile/eng
·         The information given on this website is not confidential and can be viewed by anyone.
·         The majority of postings on the Family Links website are from people who are searching for loved ones.
·         As the Red Cross in Chile is able to collect information on those who are safe and well, we expect to see more “safe and well” postings from Chile. We do not know when this will happen, but Tracing specialists are en route to Chile, and this is a priority.
 
Instructions for using the Family Links website
·         First search the list. Try various spellings of the name.
·         If your relative is not on the list, click on “Register Your Relative”
·         Family members should search the list regularly to see if their loved one has registered.
·         If there are multiple search results, multiple people may be seeking the same individual and could have extra information.
 
Inquiries regarding US citizens living or traveling in Chile
Inquiries concerning U.S. Citizens abroad should be referred to the U.S. Department of State, Office of Overseas Citizens services, at 1-888-407-4747or 202-647-5225. An email address is also available for US citizen inquiries: ChileEarthquake@state.gov. Please provide as much information about the individual (full name, birth date and birth place, location and contact information in Chile, any special circumstances) to assist us in locating the U.S. citizen. 
 
Additional Family Linking Resources Available
Google has launched its Person Finder tool for the Chile Earthquake: http://chilepersonfinder.appspot.com/

 

Support the American Red Cross International Response Fund to Help in This and Other Disasters

Following a request for international assistance from the Chilean Red Cross, the American Red Cross is now accepting donations specifically for response and recovery in Chile. This includes Chile-designated donations through www.redcross.org, through calls to 1-800-REDCROSS, and by texting “CHILE” to 90999. People can also call 1-800-257-7575 to make a donation in Spanish.

You can help the victims of countless crises, like the earthquakes in Chile and Haiti, around the world each year by making a financial gift to the American Red Cross International Response Fund, which will provide immediate relief and long-term support through supplies, technical assistance and other support to help those in need. The American Red Cross honors donor intent. If you wish to designate your donation to a specific disaster, please do so at the time of your donation by mailing your donation with the designation to the American Red Cross, P.O. Box 37243, Washington, D.C. 20013 or to the Connecticut Chapter. Donations to the International Response Fund can be made by phone at 1-800-REDCROSS or 1-800-257-7575 (Spanish) or online at www.redcross.org.

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