American Red Cross - Banned from the City of New Orleans

db: Interviewed on the BBC Worldservice [radio] Lesley Simmons, spokesperson for the Red Cross, expressed her frustration - in diplomatic fashion - with the Department of Homeland Security's decision banning her organisation from entering the city of New Orleans. The reason given for this decision is that the presence of the Red Cross would make it 'difficult' to move residents out of the city.

The Red Cross is a 'first response' organisation - and would have been positioned to provide the suffering residents of the city with food, clothing, blankets etc.. As of Sunday morning the ban is still in place.

From American Red Cross website FAQ's:

# access to New Orleans is controlled by the National Guard and local authorities and while we are in constant contact with them, we simply cannot enter New Orleans against their orders.

# The state Homeland Security Department had requested--and continues to request--that the American Red Cross not come back into New Orleans following the hurricane. Our presence would keep people from evacuating and encourage others to come into the city.