In response to ongoing flooding in Pakistan, and in the wake of a cyclone that devastated Pakistan's Balochistan province the last week of June, the American Red Cross sent teams of specialized relief workers overseas to help with the relief effort. Travis Betz (pictured left in Pakistan), the Greater New York Chapter's Director of Logistics and Field Communication, is part of the Red Cross International Response Team.

Travis left New York on Tuesday, July 3, for a month-long deployment as a Field Assessment and Coordination Team (FACT) member to Balochistan, Pakistan and surrounding flood areas to provide much needed aid on behalf of the American Red Cross. The Balochistan area is one of the poorest areas in Pakistan, and was hit hardest by the cyclones and floods in Pakistan over the past weeks. Travis will be working in affected communities, assessing the damage and working with those on the ground to coordinate appropriate supplies and relief to individuals and families affected.

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), and Pakistan Red Crescent teams, who were among the first responders, estimate that at least 800,000 people have been affected by the flooding, including hundreds of thousands now without homes. Initial responders have already begun the distribution of 7,500 food packs (each pack feeds a family of seven for a week), and 2.1 tons of medical supplies to those in need.

This is Travis' second international response. In July of last year, he worked with the Indonesian Red Cross under the auspices of IFRC as a Relief Delegate for Bantul Province in Java, Indonesia, helping distribute food and supplies to Indonesians affected by the massive May 27, 2006 earthquake. Along with other international Red Cross workers, Travis also helped provide relief to Pangandara in West Java, the area devastated by the July 2006 tsunami.