Relief supplies are arriving more frequently and in larger quantities, and, although some bottlenecks still remain, aid is reaching the survivors in the capital city of Port-au-Prince and outlying areas.

The Red Cross has so far transported aid on more than 38 flights and additional planes, ships and trucks carrying Red Cross humanitarian assistance are expected every day.

Shelter remains an urgent need on the ground and the U.S. military and naval groups along with humanitarian organizations are assisting in meeting those needs. Tent cities are being erected to help those left homeless by the January 12 earthquake.

This immediate relief includes providing family-sized tents and kits with tarps, ropes and tools to construct shelter; however, a strategy for meeting long-term housing reconstruction needs is being developed.

The American Red Cross is currently distributing other relief items – such as hygiene kits, blankets and water containers – for up to 1,000 families (6,000 people) daily.

Locally, the American Red Cross in Miami-Dade, Broward, Monroe and Palm Beach counties has assisted 9,065 U.S. citizens who have been flown to South Florida by the United States government and we have offered mental health services and support to 168 people.

Last Friday, 70 American Red Cross Creole-speaking volunteers joined the USNS Comfort offshore in Haiti. While aboard, they are serving as interpreters for patients receiving medical care from the U.S. military.

Local Haitian Red Cross volunteers are providing first aid support as well as emotional support for traumatized survivors. A special area has been established at each medical center where volunteers are comforting children, many of who are too young to even understand what happened.

This is already the largest single-country relief operation in global Red Cross history. The number of emergency response teams in or en route to Haiti equals those that responded to the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami – an emergency that spanned 14 countries.

People can donate in support of the relief effort in Haiti at www.redcross.org or by calling 1-800-REDCROSS. Mobile donors can text “Haiti” to 90999 to make a $10 contribution.