Delta Air Lines, on February 9, announced its intention to contribute US$100,000 to the American Red Cross to support the operations and response of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC).
Delta has rallied support from its customers and the public in a bid to help the earthquake victims through a link on their website. They urged people living outside of the United States, but hoping to donate toward this worthy cause, to do so via the website. All contributions will be sent to the IFRC.
The donation marked for disaster relief purposes is in addition to the US$1million contributed by the airline to the Red Cross yearly. It will be used to support search and rescue operations; offer first aid and psychological support; perform emergency medical evacuations; transport injured people to hospitals; distribute blood and plasma to affected regions; and deliver hot meals and basic aid items, such as tents and blankets, for those injured and evacuated.
Tad Hutcheson, Delta’s Managing Director of Community Engagement, remarked: “The most important way to help is through financial giving, as the American Red Cross and the IFCRC have the resources and infrastructure to obtain and deliver goods, supplies and trained volunteers to the places and people that need it most”.
Partnering with the Red Cross for 80 years
The American Red Cross and Delta have a long-standing partnership dating as far back as 1941. The US$100,000 stipulated for disaster relief in Turkey and Syria is inclusive to the carrier’s US$1million grant to the American Red Cross as an Annual Disaster Giving Programme partner. Over the years, the airline has also lent additional assistance to hurricane relief in the US, earthquakes in Haiti, and organised blood drives.
