US Red Cross Lauds IRCS Sympathy Over Hurricane Sandy

Tehran, Nov 5, IRNA – General Counsel of American Red Cross, in a letter to the Iranian Red Crescent Society (IRCS), praised Tehran's sympathy with victims of the Hurricane Sandy on Monday. David Meltzer also appreciated the IRCS offer of relief teams and humanitarian aid to the hurricane-hit areas. "On behalf of the American Red Cross, I wish to thank you for your letter of condolences and sympathy following the devastation and loss of life caused by Hurricane Sandy along the eastern coast of the United States," the letter wrote. "We at the American Red Cross are aware of the experience and strong capability of the Iranian Red Crescent Society in disaster response and value the opportunities our societies have had to work together in the past. Expressions of solidarity from national societies such as yours are very meaningful and we appreciate your offer of IRCS relief teams and other assistance should the need arise," Meltzer's letter of appreciation continued. IRCS had sent a letter of sympathy to the American nation and the victims of the Sandy, voicing its readiness to dispatch relief teams to the affected areas. According to an estimation provided by New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg on Sunday, 30,000 to 40,000 people in New York city alone are in need of housing, following massive flooding caused by the super-storm. The governor believed that about 730,000 people in the state of New York, including more than 130,000 in New York City, are still without electricity even though almost a week has passed since the storm hit the city and it could take another week before all residents have electricity. In addition, it is reported that at least one million people in the state of New Jersey are also without electricity and much of the state is under fuel rationing. The death toll from the storm has reached 110 in 15 US states and Canada, and the damages are expected to be billions of dollars./end