Global Impact Report Fiscal Year 2013 A Message From the President and CEO Over the past year, people throughout Central African Republic or Hurricane Sandy in the the world have needed help from the Caribbean, which was our largest single international American Red Cross and our global response in the past year. None of these crises earned Red Cross and Red Crescent part- major headlines, and, not surprisingly, donations were ners, from high-profile crises such much lower than for higher-profile disasters. as the conflict in Syria to droughts, storms and conflicts that received The Red Cross responds even when there is little public little media attention. Through it all, attention or media coverage. I am proud that the Ameri- the Red Cross was there to meet the can Red Cross and our partners were able to help those humanitarian needs of vulnerable people, delivering aid to suffering from the effects of silent disasters this past year those affected by crises and helping communities be better because of the flexibility and trust granted to us by donors prepared for future disasters. who made unrestricted disaster relief gifts. All of this is made possible by your generous support, Even while responding to ongoing disasters, we continue which extends the reach of the American Red Cross and to scale up our disaster preparedness programs around the its humanitarian mission beyond our country’s borders. world. We have teamed up with the International Federation We are honored to carry your compassion and goodwill to of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies to establish the those who are in need or in danger around the world. Global Disaster Preparedness Center, which has kicked off several exciting initiatives, such as a pilot expansion of a The Red Cross and Red Crescent has a unique, neutral role Red Cross first aid mobile app to other countries and a in our world; we help those who are suffering no matter who research grant program with the Response 2 Resilience they are, no matter where they are. Institute at Tulane University and a network of other universities around the world. These grants allow aspiring I am inspired by the dedication of the Syrian Red Crescent researchers to explore disaster preparedness and resilience staff and volunteers who put their lives on the line each topics with specific relevance to their local communities. day to come to the aid of others, regardless of their political affiliation. Since the conflict began, 20 Syrian Red Crescent The Red Cross harnesses the power of humanity— employees and volunteers have lost their lives delivering on neighbors coming to the aid of neighbors—to alleviate the promise of this fundamental principle of the Red Cross. suffering around the world with our Red Cross and Red This is what the Red Cross is at its core, and the American Crescent partners. I’m deeply grateful for your support, Red Cross is honored to support the Syrian Red Crescent which makes this vital work possible. Thank you. as it helps those in need. The American Red Cross also came to the aid of an estimated 1.3 million people affected by disasters and crises, such as the drought in Zimbabwe, violence in the Gail McGovern Mission The American Red Cross prevents and alleviates human suffering in the face of emergencies by mobilizing the power of volunteers and the generosity of donors. Cover photo: Every year, preparedness programs of the global Red Cross and Red Crescent network in disaster-prone Bangladesh save thousands of lives. Cover photo: Yoshi Shimizu/IFRC A Message From the Senior Vice President, International Operations The mission of the Red Cross generation and ensure more reliable infrastructure. We help initially captivated me in 1975 on my communities identify and prioritize their needs, connect to first disaster response—a 40-unit and coordinate with local government agencies and other apartment fire in south central Los service providers, and increase community cohesion so Angeles. The care and compassion neighbors can work better together in the face of adversity. of that Red Cross disaster action team stayed with me as I’ve responded with In our role as a convener, the Red Cross adds value by hundreds of Red Cross workers in the bringing together diverse players to take on work that no decades since. one organization or entity can do alone. As we continue and expand this role, we will forge new strategic partnerships In January 2013, after more than 30 years working in the with other organizations to help achieve humanitarian goals. humanitarian field, I was privileged to take the helm of With a local Red Cross or Red Crescent presence in more the American Red Cross International Services team. than 185 countries, we are well placed to bring partners The opportunity to help carry out the Red Cross mission together to harness the power of international programs overseas is an honor and great responsibility. Our simple and effectively deliver on the promise of our mission. yet powerful mission—helping people in their greatest hour of need—inspires me every day. This approach emphasizes strengthening the local Red Cross and communities themselves to lead efforts to The American Red Cross has been expanding its interna- increase community resilience—from designing a strategy tional work for years, particularly in disaster preparedness, to delivering the results—instead of predetermining that we to help communities around the world safeguard them- will work only with local Red Cross partners who want to selves against disaster and disease. We have seen the carry out the type of programs we want to do. breadth of vulnerabilities that communities face and have realized that preparing people for large-scale disasters isn’t Building community resilience is no small undertaking, enough; we must help communities better withstand and but the need is great and we must set ambitious goals. quickly recover from damaging events of any size or type, Many people depend on the Red Cross, so we must including the smaller scale emergencies and hardships that continue to step up to the plate and deliver. they face every day. Thank you for your support and for the trust you place in This is why we are more intentionally and holistically focus- us to carry out this very important work. ing on building community resilience—the ability to survive, adapt and bounce back—which we believe better addresses some of the underlying causes of risk. Because some risks may not have to do with disasters at all, we also help communities improve health conditions, increase income Senior Vice President, International Operations 1 Kenya Red Cross Responding to Disasters Every year, millions of people around the world experience the devastating effects of disasters, and about 80 percent of them are affected by ‘silent’ disasters that never make headlines, such as floods, droughts and epidemics. Working with our partners in the global Red Cross network, the American Red Cross helps meet the urgent needs of those impacted by disasters, including some of the most underserved communities, by providing relief supplies, financial assistance and disaster response and recovery specialists. This year, your support allowed us to help an estimated 1.3 million people affected by flooding, storms, droughts, conflict and other disasters in 24 countries. Where we helped this year Tropical Storms and Floods: Argentina, Bangladesh, Canada, Cuba, Haiti, Jamaica, Kenya, Mozambique, Nigeria, Panama, Philippines Conflict and Population Movement: Burundi, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Occupied Palestinian Territories, Syria, Turkey Food Insecurity: Malawi, Zimbabwe Epidemic: Sierra Leone Earthquakes: China (FY14), Haiti Key Populations Receiving Restoring Family Links Services From the American Red Cross: Bosnians, Burundians, Congolese, Eritreans, Ethiopians, Iraqis, Kyrgyzstani, Somalis, World War II survivors 2 Responding to Floods and Storms “At first we thought the storm would just bring rain, so we didn’t really worry about it,” said Cito Provenza, a Cuban Red Cross volunteer. His elderly father was home alone when Hurricane Sandy hit. “The house was completely blown backwards, but luckily my father stayed under his mattress and close to the last remaining wall.” With more than 2.5 million people across the Caribbean affected by Hurricane Sandy, many Red Cross volunteers in those countries dealt with the destruction of their own homes, even as they worked around the clock to provide assistance to others in need. Cuban Red Cross “Our volunteers have been working tirelessly from the onset A woman sits with her daughter in front of a home damaged of the hurricane. This fills us with pride because they are by Hurricane Sandy in Cuba. providing assistance despite the fact they have been affected,” said Dr. Luis Foyo Ceballos, director general of the Cuban Red Cross. “ There is only one Red Cross, Sandy’s devastation across the Caribbean did not get the and we are all part of it.” media attention the storm received in the United States; however, it was the largest international disaster response The American Red Cross is often in the position of of the American Red Cross this past year. providing aid after an international disaster. It does, however, occasionally receive assistance from Red In addition to helping people affected by Hurricane Sandy in Cross partners in other countries. Jamaica, Haiti and Cuba, the American Red Cross supported Red Cross partners as they responded to nine other major Superstorm Sandy wreaked havoc across the Eastern floods and storm events this year. Your support allowed the Seaboard of the United States, causing billions of Red Cross network to deliver supplies such as tarps and dollars in damage and killing more than 70 people.