“Thanks to the generosity of thousands of donors, the ICRC, supported by the Brazilian Red Cross, has raised 4,63 million Brazilian reals – some 2.47 million US dollars,” said Felipe Donoso, the head of the ICRC’s regional delegation in Brazil. “This represents a significant proportion of the private donations received worldwide.”

These donations have enabled the ICRC and the Haitian Red Cross to help thousands of survivors get in touch with their families using satellite telephones and a special website where they can register their details. Red Cross staff have reunited 29 unaccompanied children with their families and are still working on 164 cases. In cooperation with the Haitian Red Cross, the ICRC has distributed food and essential items to over 30,000 victims. The organization has also resumed the humanitarian activities it carried out before the earthquake, including visiting people held in places of detention and police stations.

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies continues to lead the Red Cross and Red Crescent emergency operation in Haiti for victims of the earthquake.

“The ICRC now has sufficient funds to cover the emergency activities planned for Haiti in 2010. As a result, donations will no longer be accepted for this country after 8 June,” said Mr Donoso. In other countries, however, such as Afghanistan, Iraq, Somalia and Colombia, the ICRC’s ability to help people adversely affected by different crises depends on the ongoing support of government and private donors.