As the US Gulf Coast braces itself for the onslaught of Hurricane Gustav, this time thousands of volunteers are swinging into action to offer their support to evacuees. The American Red Cross is playing a major part, having prepositioned supplies into the region to shelter 500,000 people for six days. Some 3,000 disaster response volunteers and staff are already in place.  Visit site

Télécoms Sans Frontières (TSF) provides vital communications to people who have lost absolutely everything - a vital link for aid agencies and a lifeline to friends and relatives from Iraq and Niger to Sri Lanka and Nicaragua. TSF has been out on more than 70 missions to 50-odd countries and it has 20 full-time staff and twice that number of volunteers.   Visit site

On these pages you will find information about how you can volunteer with IFRC's 186 National Societies around the world and help in their mission to assist the lives of the most vulnerable. The International Federation does not recruit volunteers to work overseas, as it works through its National Societies. The International Federation instead focuses on supporting volunteering development in our member societies.   Visit site

Sunday is International Children's Day, and this year people around China have one common concern: children in the earthquake-hit regions. We know that many children suffered in the devastating quake but there are still many of them who survived, and they are eager to get back to study and playing with their friends. Children are the most vulnerable group in our community and much attention needs to be paid on them.  Read entry

The best way to prevent epidemics in quake affected areas is to guarantee the safety of drinking water and the treatment of waste. IFRC has paid much attention to that and sent a health delegation to follow it up. Today I will go with the British ERU to Jiulong and Banqiao Townships of Mianzhu City, which were destroyed by the tremor, to investigate where to locate the water purification system and set up mobile toilets in order to ensure sanitation.  Read entry