Red Cross Responds To Panama Floods Affecting Thousands

American Red Cross
Monday, 28 July 2003

On July 12, 12 Panama communities endured intense rain and high tides flooding the Rio Cristal, Rio Caimito, Rio Indio and Rio Aguacate rivers. The Panamanian Red Cross mobilized volunteers from five different branches to conduct a search and rescue operation. The American Red Cross was also able to make supplies available immediately through the pre-positioned stocks at the Pan-American Disaster Response Unit (PADRU) warehouse in Panama.

Red Cross volunteers successfully saved 20 residents and assisted a pregnant woman who went into premature labor. The Panamanian Red Cross also established a shelter and emergency clinic at a community center in the town of Nuevo Arraiján. Relief efforts throughout Panama continue in response to what has been described as the worst flooding to strike the country in 30 years. Within a few hours, water levels had returned to normal but more than 980 homes had sustained damages. Almost 5,900 people were affected in the district of Arraiján, located approximately 12 miles west of Panama City, prompting President Mireya Moscoso to declare a state of emergency.

"I've never seen anything like it," said Pergentino Vega, a Panamanian Red Cross worker. "We saw cars and houses almost completely covered with water."

As the search and rescue operation ended, the Panamanian Red Cross conducted detailed assessments on residents' needs, and distributed clothes, blankets, canned goods and baby food. The Panamanian Red Cross also launched a local appeal to collect school supplies so affected children could continue their studies. Once the scope of disaster had been measured, the Government of Panama began distributing household items such as pillows, irons, cooking sets, refrigerators and furniture. The distributions were organized in close coordination with the efforts of the Panamanian Red Cross, which requested support from the American Red Cross and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (Federation).

As part of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement response, the Federation provided 300 kitchen sets, consisting of supplies such as utensils, cups and plates, while the American Red Cross donated 6,000 bed sheets and 500 hygiene kits, containing items such as toothbrushes, soap and shampoo. An American Red Cross delegate is currently working closely with the Panamanian Red Cross to organize the relief distributions.

"The Panamanian Red Cross specifically requested those supplies because of the detailed plan it coordinated with the government," said Steve McAndrew, Disaster Delegate for the American Red Cross International Disaster Response Unit. "For example, the government is distributing mattresses, so we are complementing that with bed sheets."

PADRU is a services and coordination center, organized by the Federation, which is located in the region because of the high tolls disasters take on Central America and Caribbean residents. Over the past ten years, an estimated 50 million people in the Americas have been impacted by national disasters and more than 80,000 residents have lost their lives. Recognizing the region's vulnerability, PADRU was established to provide technical and material support for disaster management to the region's National Red Cross Societies, such as the Panamanian Red Cross. The PADRU staff provides specialized expertise in such areas as water and sanitation, telecommunications, and logistics, which helps ensure regional disaster response operations are conducted efficiently and effectively as possible.

"The distributions began last Thursday and are expected to last several days," McAndrew said. "We're hoping to have met the relief needs of all affected families by the end of the week."

As part of the world's largest humanitarian network, the American Red Cross alleviates the suffering of victims of war, disaster and other international emergencies, and works with other Red Cross societies to improve chronic, life-threatening conditions in developing nations. We reconnect families separated by emergencies and educate the American public about international humanitarian law. This assistance is made possible through the generosity of the American public. To help the victims of this and other disasters, financial contributions can be made to the American Red Cross International Response Fund by calling 1-800-HELP NOW or 1-800-257-7575 (Spanish) or making a secure online credit card contribution by visiting our Online Donation Page. Contributions also may be sent to your local American Red Cross chapter or to the American Red Cross, P.O. Box 37243, Washington, DC 20013.

For more information, or to contact American Red Cross, see their website at: www.redcross.org