Cover Ears, Sing La-la-la

Red Cross bird flu appeal draws meagre response, despite need to prepare

Fri Jun 16, 1:43 PM ET

GENEVA (AFP) - The meagre response by donors to an international Red Cross appeal to help prepare for a feared flu pandemic sparked by avian influenza is preventing the organisation from stepping up efforts, it said.

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies said it has won almost no backing in the two months since it called for 17.4 million Swiss francs (13.4 million dollars, 11 million euros).

The federation said it had gathered just 3.2 percent of the funds required, as the media spotlight has shifted in many countries.

"Avian flu and a possible human pandemic are a real threat. Though the media headlines have disappeared the risk has not," says Dr Pierre Duplessis, the federation's bird flu chief.

"We need to put preventive measures in place now as this will help communities worldwide to be better prepared should a crisis occur. An investment of 17 million Swiss francs is a good investment to save lives."

A key plank of the federation's plan is to train 50,000 people to respond to the deadly H5N1 strain of avian influenza.

The funds are also needed to cover the costs of informing communities about the risks of bird flu and pre-positioning relief supplies to deal with new outbreaks, the Red Cross said.

Since utterly no one is paying any attention to this threat, having no resources to bring it to their attention is helpful. By the time the world wakes up to avian influenza, it'll be too bloody late.