Red Cross out of supplies in Haiti.

In Haiti, American Red Cross Exhausts Medical Supplies  

A young earthquake survivor is given first aid in a shanty town on the outskirts of Port-au-Prince, Haiti by an American Red Cross worker. (Matt Marek/American Red Cross / AP Photo)

By Frank James

The Associated Press reports:

WASHINGTON (AP) - A spokesman for the American Red Cross says the aid organization has run out of medical supplies in Haiti.

Red Cross spokesman Eric Porterfield said Wednesday that the small amount of medical equipment and medical supplies that were available in Haiti has been distributed.

The Red Cross is sending more medical supplies to Haiti, but Porterfield says he does not know when they will arrive.

Porterfield says he doesn't know if the depletion of medical supplies is preventing victims in critical condition from being treated.

In a press release the ARC issued Wednesday, it details some of its early disaster response:

The Red Cross is contributing an initial $1 million from the International Response Fund to support the relief operation, and has opened its warehouse in Panama to provide tarps, mosquito nets and cooking sets for approximately 5,000 families.

In addition to Red Cross staff already in Haiti, six disaster management specialists are being deployed to the disaster zone to help coordinate relief efforts. At this time, the American Red Cross is only deploying volunteers specially trained to manage international emergency operations.

There has been an outpouring of support from the public. To help, people can make an unrestricted donation to the International Response Fund at www.redcross.org or by calling 1-800-REDCROSS (1-800-733-2767). The public can also help by texting "Haiti" to 90999 to send a $10 donation to the Red Cross, through an effort backed by the U.S. State Department. Funds will go to support American Red Cross relief efforts in Haiti.