American Red Cross Sends Worker to Assist Flood Relief Efforts in Sudan

The American Red Cross is deploying a disaster relief worker to Sudan to assist the flood relief efforts. According to the Sudanese government, more than 35,000 families have been affected by the floods. However, the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (International Federation) warns that if the rains continue as expected, Sudan could experience the worst floods in living memory with some 2.4 million people affected across 10 of Sudan’s 26 states along the Nile River and in eastern Sudan.

By sending the disaster relief worker to Sudan, the American Red Cross is partnering with the International Federation, the Sudanese Red Crescent and other humanitarian organizations in the field to ensure that relief and recovery efforts will reach the people who need them most, as quickly as possible.

Nathan Cooper, the Emergency Response Unit (ERU) Officer at the American Red Cross will be sent to Sudan as part of an elite FACT (Field Assessment and Coordination) team. The FACT team will assess the needs of flood survivors and determine how best to coordinate resources. Their work is fundamental to the success of an international disaster relief operation and will focus on temporary shelter, basic health care, and water and sanitation.

“Seasonal flooding is common in the summer in Sudan and the Horn of Africa, but the amount of rain could hit record levels this year,” said Nathan Cooper of the American Red Cross. “Providing assistance now will help survivors recover quicker and return to their normal daily activities in time for the upcoming planting season.”

The American Red Cross continues to contribute to the work of the Red Cross movement in Sudan. In addition to deploying a disaster relief worker, last month the American Red Cross contributed $200,000 to assist the International Committee of the Red Cross’ (ICRC) work providing emergency assistance to survivors of the conflict in Sudan and to help the Sudanese Red Crescent expand its capacity in providing emergency services to those in need. During last year’s floods in Sudan and Ethiopia, the American Red Cross contributed $95,000 and deployed two relief delegates to assist in the disaster response. The floods late last year in Ethiopia and Sudan affected more than 450,000 people.

Cooper is a six year veteran of American Red Cross international disaster operations and has provided emergency assistance on behalf of the American Red Cross in Indonesia, Guatemala, Sri Lanka, the Caribbean and Mexico. He also assisted in domestic American Red Cross emergency operations in response to hurricanes Katrina, Dennis and Emily. Cooper is originally from Salt Lake City, Utah.