It is estimated that since 2002, the URC has provided assistance to more than 900,000 people. This has included:

• the distribution of seeds and tools
• the provision of household items, including soap
• construction and repair of water and sanitation facilities
• raising awareness of domestic fires and first aid training
• raising awareness around hygiene and health issues, including HIV.

British Red Cross support

The British Red Cross has supported the Uganda Red Cross relief and recovery operation since 2002. Plans for 2009 include supporting up to 150,000 people through:

• A minimum of 23,000 households to benefit from sanitation work - latrine construction, refuse containers, bathing shelters and hygiene promotion. Water springs will also be protected to ensure clean drinking water.
• Livelihoods support through seed vouchers, seed fairs and agricultural materials to at least 4,500 people .
• HIV and domestic violence awareness to at least 20,000 people.
• Insecticide-treated nets and awareness-raising activities to prevent the spread of malaria for up to 2,000 people.
• Activities to build the ability of at least 20 communities to prepare for future disasters.

ICRC support

The ICRC works closely with the Uganda Red Cross to carry out water and sanitation work, support health clinics, and distribute seed vouchers and agricultural materials to support people both in the camps and those moving back to their home villages. They also help families caught up in the conflict trace their loved ones and exchange family news.

An Indonesian Red Cross project is helping women and children come to terms with psychological trauma caused by the earthquake in Padang on 30 September.

Elly says: "When something like this happens you think about emergency relief and providing the material things. It's easy to forget the massive psychological impact a disaster like this earthquake can have on people - it's important they also receive help with this."

Helping children with puppets

Puppet shows are giving children an opportunity to explore how they feel about the earthquake. Elly said: "Yesterday, we had around 50 children take part aged from a few months to about 15 years old. We want to encourage them to go back to school when term starts on Monday.

"We also brought little cartoon booklets about preparing for a disaster and what to do if something happens. We talked about what they did when the earthquake happened and then went over what are the right and wrong things to do."

Arie Anggraini is a teacher who works in a school that has been damaged. She said: "Many of the pupils are too scared to leave their parents and come back to school, but the puppet show made a big difference. You could see the pupils really enjoyed it and it was so good to see them laugh again!"

Trapped by rubble

Women have been particularly hard hit by the earthquake as they were the ones at home with the children when it happened. The psychosocial team's group counselling sessions give women the opportunity to talk about how they've coped in the aftermath.

During one session, Arie explained what happened to her when the earthquake struck. "I was at home with my mother, father and younger brother. I felt the whole house start to shake and I ran outside as fast as I could. But my mother was in the kitchen at the back of the house and couldn't get out in time. I was really afraid and crying. My mother was trapped with rubble crushing her legs. We managed to get her out, but she had to be taken to hospital and she still can't walk."

A chance to talk

When Yidya and Elvana, members of the psychosocial team, bring the women together, it's clear this is the first chance many of them have had to really talk about what happened. One woman shakes her arms and shouts and has tears rolling down her face.

Once everyone has had a chance to speak, Yidya and Elvana talk about ways the women can cope with stress and offer counselling.

Arie said: "The women all came early and were really keen to get involved in the session. It is good for them to talk through and for me too - to come to terms with what happened. I am really grateful to the Red Cross for coming."

Read stories from survivors of the Indonesia earthquake

In the event that we raise more money than can be reasonably and efficiently spent, any surplus funds will be used to help us prepare for and respond to other humanitarian disasters either overseas or here in the UK.

A Sudanese woman living in Glasgow has been reunited with her family, thanks to the international tracing and message service of the British Red Cross.

She was forced to flee her home but had to leave the boys in the care of a relative. Her mother helped her escape to the UK, but she missed her step-sons terribly, and asked the Red Cross to help her trace them.

The Scottish Refugee Council arranged visas for the boys, and they were reunited in Glasgow. In 2006 the British Red Cross successfully traced 539 individuals.