Washington, DC - Today, Congressman Mike Honda (D-CA) issued the following statement on International Red Cross Day:

“Today, I am proud to celebrate International Red Cross Day, an occasion on which we mark the many contributions that the Red Cross, Red Crescent, and Red Star of David, have made to humanity. Whether it is organizing blood donations, providing shelter during a storm, or bringing aid to war zones, this international organization is an institution upon which our entire global community relies. 

“As Chair of the Congressional Ethiopian American Caucus, I facilitated a briefing on recent Red Cross activities in Chad, Sudan, and Ethiopia. I am very proud of the important work done in these nations, led by Chairman Bonnie McElveen-Hunter, Bruce Biber, Deputy Head of Regional Delegation (US & Canada), and Shimelis Adugna, president of the Ethiopian Red Cross Society.

“The crisis affecting Sudan’s Darfur region has been one of the greatest challenges of the relief and development community to date.  In addition, recent devastating flooding in Ethiopia has affected more than 200,000 people and left thousands homeless. I am grateful to the Red Cross for its tireless efforts abroad, as well as here in the United States. In the days following last week’s devastating tornadoes in the Midwest, the Red Cross was there, providing shelter and assistance to those whose homes were destroyed and families displaced. I cannot thank this organization enough, for transcending politics and international boundaries, and providing assistance to people when they need it the most.”