As families across the Caribbean struggle to reach loved ones following the destruction of Hurricane Melissa, the American Red Cross is urging those unable to make contact to seek help through its Restoring Family Links program.
“Families separated by international crises can turn to the Red Cross and Red Crescent Network’s Restoring Family Links program for help,” said Krista Coletti, Regional Executive of the American Red Cross South Florida Region. “The three short words ‘I am alive’ may be all that is needed to ease the minds of distraught loved ones.”
The program helps reconnect people who have been separated internationally due to disasters, conflict, migration, or other humanitarian emergencies, once normal communication channels have failed. To start the process, individuals must be able to provide key details about the missing family member, including their name, date of birth, physical description, last known location, and information about their last contact before the crisis.
Those seeking help can call the Red Cross helpline at 1-844-782-9441, or reach out to their local Red Cross chapter and request the Restoring Family Links program. A Red Cross caseworker will then guide them through completing a tracing form and ensure the case is forwarded to the appropriate Red Cross or Red Crescent office in the country where the person was last seen.
Each year, the American Red Cross helps hundreds of families worldwide reunite with missing loved ones through this program. Searches can involve on-the-ground fieldwork, data analysis, and coordination with humanitarian and government partners. In some cases, forensic science and emerging technologies are used to locate individuals or confirm their safety.
The Red Cross notes that while the tracing process can take time, its global network of volunteers and partner organizations is committed to providing families with information—and hope—after separation caused by disaster.
