International Social Services

The American Red Cross is part of the International Red Cross Red Crescent Movement. This Movement is comprised of three groups - the International Committee of the Red Cross, the Federation of Red Cross Red Crescent Societies, and 178 individual National Societies (like the American Red Cross). Working together, these three groups provide worldwide services to those who are in need of humanitarian relief during times of natural or human-caused disaster, or during times of armed conflict. For example, when, let's say, a major earthquake strikes a country like Turkey, people's lives and the economy of their country are turned upside down in a matter of moments. Suddenly, there are no homes, no utility services, no regular sources of food, a loss of communication, and in many cases, large numbers of injuries and/or deaths. Immediately, the Red Cross mobilizes from within the affected area or country, and determines just what has happened, who is affected, and what is needed in order to provide immediate relief. Contact is then made with the Federation of Red Cross Societies, and relief in many forms is coordinated through and delivered by individual National Societies working together as a team in disaster relief. For additional information on what is happening around the world on the disaster relief front, check the International Disaster News page.

Within hours, help is on the way, and remains throughout the immediate crisis, as well as throughout the recovery period which can take many years.

The results of this coordinated effort to provide relief results in supplies of food and water, temporary shelter, physical and mental health care, family linking services, assistance with communication needs, community and infrastructure rebuilding, and so much more. So, by now you may be thinking, "This is really wonderful, but how does the Mid-Rio Grande Chapter fit into all of this?"

The Mid-Rio Grande Chapter provides family linking and emergency communication services to those families living in our community whose family members abroad are affected by disaster or armed conflict. We are here to help those families send Red Cross Messages when there are no other normal avenues of communication with immediate family during the crisis. In fact, Red Cross messages are the only means of communication for some families for extended periods of time, and are important to the welfare of family members in both the affected country and here in our local community. Just imagine what it would be like for you to suddenly be separated from someone you loved dearly, with absolutely no way to communicate with them, or even learn of their fate. For more detailed information on how to initiate a Red Cross Message or a Family Tracing, please contact the chapter at 505-265-8514.

And in addition to these international social services, the American Red Cross also operates a tracing program for victims of the Holocaust - the only program of its kind in the world. Why would we provide this kind of service for something that occurred over sixty years ago? It helps to bring closure for families whose remaining members have never really learned the fate of their loved ones, when dates or places of death can not be confirmed.  For those of the Jewish faith, this is a very important means of closure. And, believe it or not, there have even been family reunions! The American Red Cross has helped to link brothers, sisters, cousins after more than fifty years of separation. These cases often take many years to trace, and even in the event that cases become apparently unsolvable, they are never closed, as new information surfaces throughout Europe periodically.  For additional information about this service, please contact the chapter at 505-265-8514.

During times of armed conflict, family's lives again are impacted, when separation occurs, or military actions wreak havoc on homes, farms and communities. At times such as these, the Red Cross provides humanitarian relief to those affected . . . from prisoners of war to affected civilians. As a matter of fact, one of our local Red Cross volunteer staff recently returned from a year-long international assignment in Kosovo, where he delivered community mental health counseling to the affected population of the area.

World health crisis have become a growing concern today, and the American Red Cross, in partnership with the ICRC and the Federation, is working to help with the eradication of pandemic diseases such as measles and HIV/AIDS.  For more information on both of these projects, visit our Measles Initiative page and our HIV/AIDS World Projects page.

And you can support and benefit from of a portion of these humanitarian services by donating to the International Disaster Relief Fund or by learning about International Humanitarian Law (IHL).

Thank you for visiting the International Services page.  Below are additional links to information about International Services and Issues.

Founder of the Red Cross Movement
Glossary of international terms in the Red Cross
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