It's the worst natural disaster to hit the United States in a century and tonight possibly thousands of Belizeans living in New Orleans are caught up in the chaotic aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. There's really no way to know how many Belizeans survived, how many died, or how many are affected because communication is almost non-existent.
A message board set up by the Belizean Embassy in Washington is filled with postings from worried family members. Now there's another way Belizeans can try to contact their relatives. The Belize Red Cross has launched a local appeal for financial contributions. In addition, Red Cross Chairman for Disaster Management Eamon Courtenay says they are also offering to track down families.
Eamon Courtenay, Red Cross Chairman for Disaster Management
"We have launched an appeal for cash because, as most people can see on the television, its very difficult for us sending supplies, and even the Red Cross of the United States and the President of the U.S.A. have appealed for cash to be sent. So that is the appeal that we have launched.
The second thing that we have done, and I want to emphasize this, is one of the services that the Red Cross offers is what we call tracing, which is Belizeans here who have relatives or friends abroad, but primarily relatives, who they have not heard from, who they don't know what condition they are in, we can assist. You can call the Red Cross or visit the Red Cross and we will take the necessary information and send it to the American Red Cross. The American Red Cross has a tremendous tracing capacity and they will look for those people, get back the message to us, and then we can get back to the family. So we are saying to anybody here who has not heard from families or relatives and they are worried, to get in contact with the Belize Red Cross and we will trace their relatives for them and try to find out what their status is.
One thing you have heard already is that the United States has a lot of money and they can take care. Well the television is showing you that they cannot take care, they are being overwhelmed. Secondly, all people, regardless of where they come from, are in need right now in Louisiana, Alabama, and Mississippi. The appeal from the Belize Red Cross is not to help only 5,000 Belizeans, or however many Belizeans are there, it is to help those who are most in need."
To trace your family member you can contact any Red Cross office. Financial contributions can be made at the following banks and account numbers: First Caribbean: 10028703; Scotia Bank: 9133246; Atlantic Bank: 210674607; and at Alliance Bank: 1919.
You can still post messages on the Belize Embassy Message Board.
