The American Red Cross was quick to respond to a comment by U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, D-Fla., who joined a congressional delegation to Haiti earlier this week.
Wasserman said the group was “actually pretty struck by the fact that we didn’t see the Red Cross anywhere, at all.” She made the remark to Florida radio station WTFL, as reported by the Hill.
The American Red Cross, which raised some USD409 million for its Haiti relief efforts, asserted that it “has been on the ground” in Haiti since the earthquake struck on Jan. 12 and has spent USD110 million to provide food, water, shelter, health and family services to those affected by the disaster.
“Our efforts have touched the lives of close to two million people,” the relief group said, as quoted by CBS’ Political Hotseat.
The organization said its efforts may not be that visible because it works through local Red Cross workers and volunteers.