Mr. David Andrews, Chairman of the Irish Red Cross, said that the funds donated to this Red Cross relief fund in Britain would be used to help those who have suffered most as a result of the extensive flooding.

'Our hearts go out to the thousands of people in Britain, many of whom have Irish relatives, who have suffered so much in the past two months. We in the Irish Red Cross feel it is important that we support our colleagues in the British Red Cross who are working hard to restore essential services including accommodation, food and water as well as sanitary services to those areas most affected,' he explained.

'All of us have seen the terrible damage to homes and property on television and I suppose, deep down, many of us in Ireland feel that we have been lucky to have escaped this awful devastation. The donation has been sent to the British Red Cross and I know that the funds will be put to immediate use in areas most affected by the floods,' he said.

Mr. Andrews added 'that the Irish Red Cross and the British Red Cross have a history of cooperating and partnering on projects overseas. Presently the two Red Cross societies work together in implementing poverty reduction projects in Niger in West Africa as well as collaborating in disaster response around the globe. Solidarity with our closet neighbour in such difficult times reflects the true spirit of the Red Cross Movement'.

The International Department of the Irish Red Cross made contact with its counterparts in the British Red Cross last week as the situation in flood hit areas continued to deteriorate. The British Red Cross has thanked the Irish Red Cross for its generous financial support in such a time of need.

Red Cross volunteers, from all over the UK have been arriving at the worst hit areas to help those affected. As thousands of people remain without running water, the Red Cross is getting necessary supplies to people with very limited mobility.

However, many people -particularly the elderly, ill and those with limited mobility - cannot get to those water sources or carry the water to their homes. So the Red Cross has been working for several days to ensure that those people get the water, food, and hygiene kits they desperately need.

Volunteers have been going out in 4x4s, Red Cross ambulances, and boats, to deliver water, food, and hygiene kits to people who cannot get these supplies any other way. The coastguard has been working with British Red Cross teams to get emergency supplies out as swiftly as possible.