Below is information for you to reach out to the Red Cross for assistance to contact your families abroad following the Earthquake in Ecuador







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 The American Red Cross continues to provide assistance following the devastating earthquakes in Ecuador and Japan.







ECUADOR



The American Red Cross in cooperation with the Ecuadorian and Colombian Red Cross has activated its Restoring Family Links services to assist local residents whose family may be affected by the April 16, 2016 earthquake off of Ecuador’s northwest coast. Please note that inquiries are only for immediate family members (parents, siblings, children, spouses, fiancées, grandparents or legal guardians) who are not U.S. citizens. A flyer with the below information is attached in English and Spanish for easy distribution.







To initiate a search for non-U.S. citizens:



Interested family members would need to submit the following information:



a) Your full name, relationship to the sought person, and your contact number.



b) Full name of family, sex, age, any particular features or clothing worn (if known)



c) The last known address



d)  Contact telephone number of the sought family to include the city







For family in Ecuador, please send this information to: [log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>



For family in Colombia, please send this information to: [log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>



If someone is unable to initiate a tracing inquiry using either of the methods above, please contact the American Red Cross in Greater New York at [log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>.







For inquiries concerning U.S. citizens:



Please contact the U.S. Department of State, Office of Overseas Citizens Services, at



a)      1-888-407-4747<tel:1-888-407-4747> and



b)      http://www.usa.gov/directory/federal/overseas-citizens-services.shtml







Additional Search Options:



Google has initiated their Person Finder website for the Earthquake in Ecuador. Here, one can submit a request for a search or provide information about someone:  https://google.org/personfinder/2016-ecuador-earthquake







Red Cross Operations in Ecuador:



In addition to Restoring Family Links, the Red Cross network is on the ground in Ecuador assisting local residents:



           •          The Ecuadorian Red Cross responded to the earthquake immediately, activating 800 volunteers to conduct search and rescue activities and provide first aid. Ecuadorian Red Cross teams are currently conducting damage assessments in affected areas.



           •          International Federation of Red Cross (IFRC) Pan-American Disaster Response Unit, based in Panama, activated its Emergency Operations Center and a team of disaster specialists deployed to Ecuador to assist the Ecuadorian Red Cross response.



           •          The American Red Cross deployed one disaster specialist to Ecuador to support humanitarian assessments.







Mental Health Support Available for Local Residents



The American Red Cross in Greater New York has trained disaster mental health professionals available to provide emotional support to local residents who may have been affected by this earthquake. Please contact our chapter at 1-877-REDCROSS (877-733-2767<tel:%28877-733-2767>) if you know someone who may need to access this service.



JAPAN

Two major earthquakes that have struck the Kyushu island of Japan – within a span of two days – have left at least 32 people dead, more than 2,000 injured and dozens missing. Local authorities continue to distribute relief goods. The Government has started to distribute additional food items to cover 900,000 meals, sufficient to meet needs for three days. The Japanese Red Cross Society has deployed twelve emergency medical teams to affected areas to provide emergency medical assistance and manage the distribution of relief items.



Restoring Family Links has also been activated to assist local residents whose family may be affected in Japan. Please note that inquiries are only for immediate family members (parents, siblings, children, spouses, fiancées, grandparents or legal guardians) who are not U.S. citizens.







To initiate a search for non-U.S. citizens:



Please contact the American Red Cross in Greater New York at [log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>.  Interested family members would need to submit the following information:



a) Your full name, relationship to the sought person, and your contact number.



b) Full name of family, sex, age, any particular features or clothing worn (if known)



c) The last known address



d)  Contact telephone number of the sought family to include the city







For inquiries concerning U.S. citizens:



Please contact the U.S. Department of State, Office of Overseas Citizens Services, at 1-888-407-4747<tel:1-888-407-4747> and http://www.usa.gov/directory/federal/overseas-citizens-services.shtml







Mental Health Support Available for Local Residents



The American Red Cross in Greater New York has trained disaster mental health professionals available to provide emotional support to local residents who may have been affected by this earthquake. Please contact our chapter at 1-877-REDCROSS (877-733-2767<tel:%28877-733-2767>) if you know someone who may need to access this service.







We will continue to monitor developments in Ecuador and Japan. We will provide more information from our Red Cross network as it becomes available. Thank you for your support and for sharing this information with your constituents and networks.



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Contact myself or anyone above with any questions you have







Best,



Ryan A. Sankar



President of the American Red Cross at Hunter College